Souvlaki, the Greek for meat skewers, is a great summer meal, and is traditionally eaten with tzatziki and Greek salad. This is another one of my family’s favorite summer meals, and doesn’t take long to make, either. This is also a great meal to meal prep for the week as you can make a number of items from the leftovers.
We make this dish during the winter on a griddle and in the summer, outdoor on the grill. You can always additional vegetables to the skewers for some additional options. Feel free to use the marinade on the veggies as well. We love to add tomatoes and onions. Fresh herbs really complete this dish along with a nice iced tea. Enjoy!
LAMB SOUVLAKI AND TZATZIKI
Category: Dinner
Calorie Count: 601
Macronutrient ratio: Carb-induced calories—4%
Protein: 39 grams Carbohydrates: 7 grams Total Fat: 46 grams
Ingredients
Souvlaki
- 1 1/2 pounds lamb leg or shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 white onion sliced (or substitute yellow onion if so desired)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup mixed herbs chopped (I prefer a mix of rosemary, mint, and thyme)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice fresh
- 1 cup olive oil
- salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon duck fat or other fat of choice
Tzatziki
- 1 cucumber
- 2 cups yogurt full-fat
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest freshly grated
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons dill fresh chopped
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by making your souvlaki by putting your lamb chunks in a big bowl, adding all of your other souvlaki ingredients but the duck fat. Stir to coat your meat chunks in the marinade before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours.
- After the lamb chunks have marinaded appropriately, thread the chunks onto your skewers, roughly 4 per skewer. If you have leftover marinade, you can save it for a future batch (store in the refrigerator for up to several days.) Heat a large frying pan or griddle pan with your fat over medium-high heat, adding the skewers in a single layer once hot. Cook 8-10 minutes, turning regularly with a fork until cooked through and browned on all sides. You can also use an outdoor grill.
- At the same time, you can prepare your tzatziki. Start by grating your cucumber into a bowl, adding your yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, and dill, salting and peppering to taste. Mix until combined, serving immediately with your skewers.
Notes
Tools Needed:
- Large bowl
- Plastic wrap
- Skewers (8)
- Large frying pan (or griddle plan)
- Bowl
- Serving plates