Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki

Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish of tender marinated pieces of chicken grilled on a skewer. (Souvlaki is Greek for skewer.) It’s traditionally served with tzatziki sauce, a combination of grated cucumber and Greek yogurt. I found this lightened recipe in an old Cooking Light cookbook that delivers all of the bright, citrusy flavors of authentic Souvlaki with very little fat, calories and WW Points.

Let’s face one undeniable fact about chicken: it’s a popular, low-fat protein that can be overused into mind-numbing tedium. However, this tangy combination of lemon juice and cucumber/yogurt sauce served with lightly charred grilled chicken and zucchini erases any feelings of fowl boredom. Leave it to Greek cooks to transform bland chicken into a flavor bomb!

A big bonus for me is that this recipe serves 2, just right for my household and enough for a leftover lunch or dinner for those of us cooking for one. An average-size boneless, skinless chicken breast weighs about 1/2 pound, just what you’ll need for this recipe. If you don’t have a grill, you can cook your souvlaki indoors on a lightly oiled grill pan on medium-high heat. You want a light char on both the chicken and the zucchini.

3 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. salt

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup grated cucumber, squeezed dry in a paper towel

1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. salt

1 garlic clove, minced

Combine first 5 ingredients in a zip-lock plastic bag; add chicken to bag, seal and shake to coat. Marinate chicken in refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.

Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Thread chicken and zucchini alternately onto each of 4 (8-in.) skewers. Add skewers to a heated grill and cook 8 minutes or until chicken and zucchini are lightly charred and done, turning once.

While chicken cooks, combine cucumber, yogurt, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 garlic clove, stirring well. Serve tzatziki with souvlaki.

Serves 2 (2 skewers and about 1/4 cup tzatziki)

WW Points per serving: 2