Recipes, Savoury, Street Food
Before we discuss anything else, know that this souvlaki has immediately shot to the top of my favourite-blog-recipes-ever list. It’s that good.
Let me break it down; super-juicy chargrilled chicken marinated in lemon and oregano, crispy oven-fries tossed with feta, tangy mustard aioli, quick lemon-pickled onions, fresh cucumber and parsley all wrapped up in a downy-soft pita bread. Tell me you’re not into this.
Now, let’s talk authenticity. I cannot vouch for it. I am not Greek and have never been to Greece (though GOOD LORD, I would love to go). But, there is a thriving Greek community in Australia. In fact Melbourne has the largest Greek community of any city outside Greece.
Of course one of the MANY benefits of having such an awesome Greek community is the food, which is brilliant even up here in Brisbane.
I know what you’re thinking, ‘…sure, blah blah, Greek community. But Sarah, I’m having a hard time believing that they put fries on their souvlaki in Greece’ *skeptical face*. Well, hold onto your monocles, because APPARENTLY they totally do.
For real! I was surprised too, but check out this article and you too will learn the glorious truth. Because really, we all know that fries improve any sandwich.
And these aren’t just any fries. They are your new best friend. Hot, crispy and cooked in the oven, because I can’t be bothered to deep fry, and then tossed with a salty and aromatic mixture of dried thyme, oregano and crumbled feta.
If you’re avoiding gluten, these fries alone, with some chargrilled chicken and a mixed salad of cucumber, parsley and these lemon-pickled onions is a completely delicious and satisfying meal.
If anything’s going to take the sting out of your Monday, it’s these guys. There are a lot of component parts, I know, but it’s all crazy-simple. No one job will take you more than five minutes to do.
The hardest part is getting your hands on good-quality pita bread; it’s gotta be soft, soft, soft, and that cardboardy supermarket nonsense will not do. If you want to make your own, I’ve been using this recipe, and they turn out beautifully. Anyway, I hope you try these. You’re missing out if you don’t!
Greek Chicken Souvlaki {street food monday}
Marinated chicken, feta fries, mustard aioli, pickled onions, cucumber and parsley all wrapped up on a pita bread. BEST. DINNER. EVER.
Author: Sarah Coates
Serves: 4
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- salt and pepper
For the fries:
- 3-4 medium sized potatoes
- canola oil (or another oil with a high smoke point)
- 2 oz (50g) feta cheese, crumbled
- a pinch each of dried thyme and oregano
For the aioli:
- 4 tbsp good quality mayonnaise
- 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
For the pickled onions:
- 1 small red onion
- pinch of salt
- juice of half a lemon
To serve:
- sliced cucumber
- picked parsley leaves
- pita bread
Instructions
- First, place the chicken thighs into a shallow, non-reactive bowl, with the oil, oregano, lemon juice, garlic and a big pinch each of salt and pepper.
- Set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to an hour - any longer than that and the acid will start to cook the meat.
- While the chicken is marinading, wash and slice the potatoes into chips, about half an inch (1cm) thick. Place into a saucepan and cover with cold water, and then bring them to the boil. Boil for two minutes, and then drain.
- While the chips are boiling, get a metal tray large enough to hold them and pour in enough canola oil to just cover the bottom of the tray. Place the tray into the oven, and set it to 400F/200C.
- Once the tray has been heating for at least 15 minutes, carefully add the drained chips, and shuffle them around so they sit in one layer. Bake for 15 minutes, then take them out and flip them over and bake for a further 20 minutes.
- While the chips are cooking, the chicken can be cooked on the stove top in a griddle pan, or on the barbecue. Either way, the chicken needs at least 7 minutes a side, to cook through completely. If you're not sure, cut a piece open, and if you need to, you can finish cooking the chicken in the oven with the fries.
- To make the aioli, simply stir all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- To make the pickled onions, simply peel and slice the onion into fine half moons, and then toss it with the salt and lemon juice, scrunching the onion lightly in your hands. Set aside for at least ten minutes.
- When the fries are done, take them out of the oven and drain briefly on paper towels, before tossing them with the crumbled feta and herbs.
- Slice up the chicken, and then take everything to the table, and let people pile up their own pita bread with aioli, chicken, fries, pickled onions, cucumber and parsley. These are great with a beer alongside or a shot of ouzo, if ya nasty.
Tags from the story
chicken, dinner, feta, fries, greek, lunch, pita bread, souvla, souvlaki, street food, wrap
53
Written By
Sarah Coates
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53 Comments
Looks amazing! Love this version of greek chicken
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Yes, fries make any sandwich better and YES to greek food. I made chicken Souvlaki a week ago and now I need these. SO awesome!! Love greek food!
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Thanks Tieghan! I saw your souvlaki – they looked AMAZING!
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Love this! And fries make everything better. I put them in my burritos. Damn.
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Sarah!!! I literally just read half of your blog post out loud to Jason, and then we both groaned and clutched our stomachs because we just ate dinner but TOTALLY want, like, three of these in our mouths immediately. I love all of your Street Food Monday posts, but this one is my favorite yet–sounds so amazing!
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Thank you lovely lady! I’m glad I’m hitting your food buttons!
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Well, that settles it. My Ekka Wednesday is now full of making and eating these. Stoked!
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I’ll say it, I’m jealous.
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You make Mondays my favorite!
ps I’mma need a tutorial for how you got that sandwich to stay in the wrapping. Mine would have been a mess!
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I’ve had fries in my souvlaki before and it was amazing!!! I can’t wait to make this. I am SO hungry right now just looking at the pictures. Cruel! :)
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So I’m moving in next door and will be over every Monday forever. Is that cool?
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This is my favorite series on the whole wide Internet. These look AMAZING.
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This looks incredible! I’ve definitely added it to my list of ‘got to makes’!
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This is my favorite series on the whole wide Internet. This looks AMAZING.
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So I definitely had a giant feast of Greek food last night.
but there’s no way I’m letting that stop me from making these tonight. Seriously, TOO good. Ugh.
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i am SO craving a souvlaki right now.. and those feta fries are pretty much the most amazing idea ever. looks delicious Sarah!
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I’m loving street food Mondays. And this sandwich, oh yeah!
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They totally put fries in gyros in Greece … and Turkey as well! Had the best gyro ever at the bus stop in Oia, Santorini in April of this year. You’re bang on with the soft pita and fries with the chicken and veggies. Sounds absolutely delicious!!!
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That’s fantastic! I’m so glad that I have the tick of authenticity from someone who’s actually been there! Thanks Gladi!
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Sarah!! I can also second that they have fries in Gyros. When I was in Mykonos in 2007 I had my first taste of one and it came with fries. I’ve been searching for a place here in brisbane that does it – paniyiri always lets me down – but definitely going to be making this recipe now!
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From one Sarah to another, this recipe rocks. Also, your website rocks. And also, the H in your name rocks. Ok, that’s enough rocks for now.
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I need this in my life yesterday…I’m gonna have to make this ASAP, greek Food is my favorite! Gorgeous and delicious! :)
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That’s a very interesting way of preparing oven fries. I must try it!
I admit that every time I’ve attempted to make oven fries, they turned out kinda soft and stuck to the baking sheet – a big old mess.
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Oh man, you just took me back to my greek vacay. Towards the end of our month-long trip, we were pretty poor and scrapping pennies. Souvlaki was our lunch (and sometimes dinner) everyday till we left. So good. Excellent street food select, yo!f
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Thank you for telling people about the fries in gyros! I married a Greek and have visited Greece a few times now and they totally put fries in the pitas. It’s just not *right* without them! Though a typical, down-and-dirty gyro will have the meat, tzatziki, fries, feta, tomatoes, and purple onions. Greek food is so simple, yet so so good! I’m going to have to make some pitas now!
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I’m drooling…looks so good!
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As usual, I am salivating over your food. My husband loves putting fries in his sandwiches so I am 100% sure he would be all over this!!
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Well, I’m Greek and have to say, well done!!
You’re welcome anytime in thessaloniki to show you around by Urban Hypsteria- lots of food to taste, trust me!
Cheers!Reply
oh my drool! obsessing over those fries, and the aioli, and, well really the entire thing! This looks amazing!
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Ah-maz-ing!! Your pictures alone are beautiful enough to eat! I am so excited to try these!! thank you for the recipe!
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I used to live in astoria, where I ate greek food daily. now that i live in LA i rarely eat it anymore, but this is inspiring me to start again at home….
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Where did you get such awesome looking pita breads? I’m in Brisbane too and the stuff I see around is not so great, it’s pretty much Lebanese bread or tortillas only. The wraps in the picture look exactly like what I get in a Greek restaurant!
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I made those myself, Ash, using this recipe: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-pita-bread-at-home-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-90844
and cooking them on the stove top.Reply
Good grief, lady. These look incredible! Now I just won’t feel like I’ve accomplished anything in my life until I make these! I know how you feel about it being the best thing you’ve made ever. I just made a banh mi and it was the best thing I’ve ever made ever!
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Sooooooooo beautiful!!! I love Greek food and this gives me so many awesome ideas! :D
Thank you for all that you do!
Pinned!
K-Reply
I have literally dreamed about these since i saw the recipe. I’m making these tonight! How have i not known about putting fries in these? Mind blown????
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I’m from Greece and this is actually a chicken gyros. They’re normally made with beef and are lush! We put beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, tsatziki and fries in a pita , and you can get them everywhere here in Greece
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Hi Emmy! I think it’s great how every Greek person seems to have a different opinion about these guys! Some say they’re perfect and authentic, some say they’re totally wrong – all I know is that these babies are delicious!
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I made this for dinner the other night: amazing!!! The pita was soft, delicious and easy to make. And the chicken – so tender and full of flavour. Thank you!
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That’s awesome! Thanks for commenting Bec – I’m so psyched that you tried this out and loved it!
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Making this as soon as we’re off phase one of the South Beach Diet…can’t wait!
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Oh hell yes!
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Oh my gosh! I made this a few weeks ago and it was so good that I had the leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. I’m already thinking about making it again.
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This is going on this weeks menu !!! Can’t what to see what other fun things come up on your street food Monday menu….:)
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OMG. Your recipes…
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i’m 100% greek, only been there twice, but yes they throw fries on their gyros and souvlaki! Best thing ever right?
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This is legit the best recipe ever and is now a staple in my house. Freaking phenomenal! Thank you!
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Yes… They do put fries in the souvlaki. Returned from santorini last August ….ate these and have been looking for a recipe ever since. Thank you
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GURL!!! This is everything. I’m pretty much dying for one of these right now! And those fries!!
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I’m am Greek…lived there and visit to see my family. These look wonderful. Early on they used beef and lamb. The last time I was there a couple years ago, they were using pork. You can marinate and spice the same way as chicken. I’ve done them both. Yes, they do put fries in their gyros! it’s the fast food of Greece. They only difference is that we use tzatziki sauce instead of the mustard. but the Turks in Europe make a similar type of wrap in which they use a spicy type of mustard/mayonnaise concoction. that might be why they use it where you live. but awesome recipe sarah!
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Made this tonight. was really tasty, everyone enjoyed it. had to make it with thighs on the bone but turned out totally fine, just needed cooking a bit longer.
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Love this one! ;)
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Thanks Pablo! xx
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