Chicken Souvlaki and a menu
Chicken Souvlaki is the star of this easy make ahead meal. What meals have you been sharing lately? Do you tend to get together with friends and family more during the Spring and Summer? I know I do! Here’s a simple and delicious Menu for gathering people together around the table!
Menu: Appetizer - hummus, tzatziki, olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, served with pita wedges Chicken Souvlaki Wedge Salad on Skewers Rice Pilaf Naan Bread Dessert - homemade Brownie Batter Ice Cream with fresh smashed strawberries
I have no qualms about taking shortcuts on certain menu items; for example I stopped at a local Mediterranean restaurant and purchased the hummus, tzatziki and the pita bread. They are just as good or better than I can make and it saved me time and I dare say money! Because time is money! Right?!
I love having friends over to enjoy our pool, but when its a beautiful summer day the last thing I want to do is spend the whole day inside cooking, so I like to make meals that can be prepared ahead of time. Chicken Souvlaki, can easily be prepared up to two days in advance, and the skewers can be put together a few hours before the guests arrive.
For dessert you don’t have to make homemade ice cream you can purchase a good quality chocolate or vanilla ice cream and serve with strawberries or raspberries. As much as I love to bake, sometimes I just run out of time to make a pie! Gasp! You can never go wrong with ice cream, and if a guest cannot eat ice cream, they can always nibble on the fruit.
The leftovers from this meal are phenomenal! I will tell you the salad recipe makes quite a large salad, which is perfect for a healthy light lunch the next day!
TIP: Keep appetizers simple. I know it’s tempting to make every yummy appetizer you’ve found on pinterest in the last month for your guest, but let’s try to refrain. Unless you want to make a meal out of appetizers, which is a great idea, but an entirely different topic! I served hummus, tzatziki, olives, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes with pita bread wedges. Perfect for nibbling, but won’t fill you up! And they double as the accompaniments to dinner, when it’s time to eat move the appi’s right to the table with your meal.
A few other easy appetizers:
Do you have a super easy appetizer? I’d love to hear what it is….please share with us below!
Peace, Love, and Applesauce (which by the way is another great little dish to serve your guests!), Sheila
Chicken Souvlaki
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Breasts trimmed and cut in to 1 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Parsley chopped fine
- 5 Lemons juiced and zested
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tablespoon dried Oregano
- 3 Red Peppers seeded and cut into 8 large pieces
- 3 Green Peppers seeded and cut into 8 large pieces
- 1 large Red Onion trim ends off, peel off outer skin and cut into large pieces
- 12 8 inch bamboo skewers soak in water for 1 hour before using
Instructions
- Step 1: Whisk together olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, and oregano. Place chicken pieces in a large glass bowl or a heavy duty zip-loc bag and pour marinade over chicken. Allow chicken to marinade for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.You can do the next step up to 2 hours before you are ready to grill.
- Step 2: Place 2 pieces of pepper and one piece on onion on a skewer, followed by 5-6 pieces of chicken, end with 2 more pieces pepper and a piece of onion. You can use more or less onions and peppers. Just make sure to place the vegetables only at the ends of the skewers and not in between chicken pieces.
- Step 3: Grill chicken skewersGas Grill = Turn all burners on high and allow grill to get very hot. Turn two burners down low and leave the main burner on high. Place chicken skewers on the hot side of the grill, turn occasionally, allow to cook for 15-20 minutes or until chicken temperature registers at 160 degrees.
- Charcoal Grill = The bottom vent needs to be wide. Light large chimney starter mounded with charcoal briquettes. When top coals are partially covered with ash you can pour the coals evenly over half of the grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat gill until hot about five minute. Place chicken skewers on the hot side of the grill, turn occasionally, allow to cook for 15-20 minutes or until chicken temperature registers at 160 degrees.
So the lemon, oil, parsley, and honey are the marinade right? Thanks Sheila! This looks super yum. I love having make-ahead recipes for company, too! And the Med. salad looks perfect! I have an uncle from Bulgaria and my aunt has had a stroke and can’t cook anymore. 🙁 He would looooove this. I’ll have to make it next time they’re coming over.
My easy go-to appetizer lately is mixing half humus and half Jack’s salsa–both from Costco. 🙂 I had it at a demo one time and fell in love. Cole and I ate a whole bowl of it when we got home. 🙂 It makes the humus just a little less dry and more flavorful. Love it! And we eat it with chips or veggies–cucumbers, carrots, snap peas, peppers.
LOVE that idea! We love hummus. I will have to give that one a try soon! Thanks for sharing, hope your summer is going well!
Chicken Souvlaki always reminds me of Festival downtown GR. And the whole menu looks amazing!
We have missed the Festival the last couple years! I always stand in that line!
Umm…where was my dinner invitation?!?! This looks AMAZING!!!!! So glad you got to Med Island!
That place is my new favorite place! That Iranian flatbread TDF!! Best pizza crust ever.
We make these frequently using chicken and sometimes with lamb. It’s a favorite meal around here. Good idea for buying from a restaurant you love. We don’t have to make everything as long as everything tastes good. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more!
Couldn’t agree more, Sheila! Time is so precious and summer time is especially so. I’m having a dinner party tomorrow night – Taco Bar – and am purchasing one of the salsas and the tortillas from our local market. It’s homemade in THEIR kitchen so that’s close enough for me!
PS I love leftovers and these look delish!!
xoxoxo
I used to think I had to make everything homemade. Now I’m over myself! I make what I make best and leave the rest to others! Have fun at your party!
This sounds SO delicious!
Thanks! It really was!