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The main dish, Mediterranean

Pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes

Pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes is a Greek dish for 6 people, made of skewers marinated in oregano and roasted lemon potatoes. It takes 35 minutes of active work, the marinade is made the night before and the potatoes go in the oven just before guests arrive. It's an easy recipe, at €3.90 per person, and it works thanks to the time the pork spends marinating in lemon.

Pork skewers marinated in oregano and lemon, with Greek style potatoes, a little taverna feeling right on your table.

Pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes
For
6 people
Work
35 min
Total time
1 h 40
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.90
Calories per person
610 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Pork marinated in lemon and oregano turns tender and fragrant, and a quick turn on the grill gives it light color without drying it out. The potatoes slowly caramelize in the oven with lemon, turning soft inside with lightly browned edges. A cool tzatziki on the side brightens up the whole plate.

This is a dish that fits a summer dinner with friends, set up outdoors, or a family meal in spring. The skewers are meant to be eaten with your hands, tucked into pita bread or alongside the potatoes, while the tzatziki gets passed around the table. A simple menu built around a tomato salad or grilled summer vegetables rounds it out nicely.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 2 steps, 15 min
  2. The same day 1 step, 10 min
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step, 1 h
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step, 10 min

The night before, marinate the pork and thread the skewers, then let them wait in the fridge until the next day. The same morning, make the tzatziki, which keeps well chilled. Just before guests arrive, put the potatoes in the oven for an hour, and grill the skewers at the very last moment so they reach the table hot.

The ingredients

6 people

Butcher

  • Pork tenderloin or shoulder 1.2 kg

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lemons 3
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Potatoes 1.2 kg
  • Cucumber 1

Pantry

  • Dried oreganooften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 8 tbsp
  • Wooden skewersoften in the pantry 12
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Greek yogurt 300 g

Allergens Lactose

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Cut the pork into cubes and marinate it with the juice of two lemons, the oil, the oregano and the crushed garlic. 15 min

    Don't go past twenty four hours, the lemon would eventually start cooking the meat.

  2. Thread the cubes onto skewers and cover in the fridge.

    Soak the skewers in water first, they won't burn in the oven.

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Grate the cucumber, squeeze out the water and mix with the yogurt, garlic, a drizzle of oil and salt to make a tzatziki. 10 min

    Press the cucumber well in a kitchen towel, the tzatziki stays thick.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Cut the potatoes into wedges, toss them with the oil, lemon and oregano, and roast at 200°C. 1 h

    Add a splash of water to the dish, the potatoes will turn soft and almost candied.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Grill the skewers in a pan or under the broiler for a few minutes on each side. 10 min

    Turn them often to color them without drying them out.

Our tips to get it right

  • Choose pork shoulder over tenderloin if you want even juicier skewers, it holds up better to quick grilling.
  • Cut the pork into even cubes, about an inch and a half, so they all cook at the same rate on the skewer.
  • If you're grilling the skewers in a pan, make sure it's very hot and don't crowd it, otherwise the meat steams instead of browning.

The variations

  • Swap the pork for chicken, the marinating time stays the same but it will need slightly less time on the grill.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the meat with halloumi cubes or summer vegetables like zucchini and bell pepper, threaded on the same skewers.
  • For kids, serve the meat and potatoes off the skewer, straight on the plate, with the tzatziki on the side for anyone who isn't a fan of garlic.

What to serve it with

  • Warm pita bread
  • Tomato and red onion salad
  • Dry white wine or homemade lemonade

Storage

Leftovers keep for two days in the fridge in a sealed container, with the meat and potatoes stored separately from the tzatziki. Reheat the meat and potatoes in the oven or a pan, and serve the tzatziki cold as is. Freezing isn't recommended, the yogurt and cucumber in the tzatziki don't hold up well.

Questions about this recipe

Can you cook the skewers on a barbecue?

Yes, a barbecue works very well and adds a light smoky flavor. Keep the same cooking time, a few minutes per side, and watch closely so the pork doesn't dry out.

Do you really need wooden skewers?

Wooden skewers soaked in water work great and won't burn during cooking. Reusable metal skewers also work and skip the soaking step entirely.

How should you plate this for guests?

Arrange the skewers on a large platter with the potatoes around them and the tzatziki in a separate bowl. Add a few lemon wedges and some fresh oregano if you have it for color.

Can you substitute the Greek yogurt in the tzatziki?

Plain full fat yogurt works too, but drain it a bit longer since it's runnier than Greek yogurt. The tzatziki will stay creamy without turning watery.

Can pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 35 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 2 steps, the same day, 1 step, before the guests arrive, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes?

Allow 1 h 40 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 35 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "easy".

How many calories are in pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes?

About 610 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does pork souvlaki with lemon potatoes cost?

About €3.90 per person, that's €23.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

To round out your menu

Build a menu

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