Chicken Souvlakia Pita Sandwiches

This is one of my families favourite sandwiches. Flavourful chicken topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, feta and tzatziki, then wrapped in a grilled pita, sooo good!!! Finding good Greek pita bread is sometimes a challenge. Greek pita does not have pockets and looks like semi-cooked pizza dough. It is light and soft and so good. I buy my pita from a chain restaurant called Opa. They sell their pita in bags of 8 or 16  in the restaurant. I have frozen and thawed it and it retains its freshness. I make my own Tzatziki but you can buy good quality store bought Tzatziki.

Chicken Marinade:
6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
½ Cup Olive oil
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Teaspoon dried oregano
1 Teaspoon ground cumin
1 Teaspoon salt
½ Teaspoon ground black pepper
½ Teaspoon hot pepper flakes
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
Wooden skewers

Sandwich Ingredients:
Greek pita bread
Chopped fresh romaine/lettuce
Chopped fresh tomatoes
Chopped fresh cucumber
Chopped red onion
Minced jalapeno (optional)
Crumbled feta cheese
Tzatziki (recipe to follow or store bought)

Cut chicken into 1 ½ inch chunks.
Combine oil,lemon juice,oregano,cumin,salt,pepper,hot peppers and garlic.
Reserve ¼ Cup marinade to baste chicken when cooking.
Add chicken to marinade ingredients and stir to coat evenly.
Marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Soak wooden skewers in water.
Once marinating is complete, thread chicken onto skewers.
Chicken can be either barbecued or broiled.
Heat and grease BBQ over medium high heat. Cook skewers, turning every 3-4 minutes for approximately 10-12 minutes until chicken is no longer pink inside.
When chicken is just about fully cooked brush with reserved marinade.

Sandwich Assembly:
Add approximately 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil to a frying pan over medium heat.
Grill pita for a couple minutes until golden on each side.
Slide chicken off the skewers and put in centre of pita.
Top with the lettuce, onion,cucumber,tomato, jalapeno(optional),feta and tzatziki sauce.

Tzatziki
2 Cups plain yogurt
1 long english cucumber
1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
1 Tablespoons white wine vinegar or plain vinegar
½ Cup sour cream
1 freshly squeezed lemon
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons fresh dill
freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste

Put yogurt in a cheesecloth lined sieve and place it over a bowl.
Grate the cucumber skin and all and add the salt, toss.
Place cucumber in a sieve and set it over a bowl.
Refrigerate both both the cucumber and yogurt for 3-4 hours so the yogurt and cucumber can drain out the liquid.
Remove yogurt from the cheesecloth and place in a bowl.
Squeeze as much fluid out of the cucumber as you can, add to yogurt.
Combine the rest of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper.
Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavours to blend.
Recipe Link:Chicken Souvlaki Pita Sandwich
Recipe Link: Tzatziki (Homemade)

Combine marinade ingredients and add chicken.

Thread chicken onto wooden skewers that have been soaked in water.

On a greased grill over medium heat cook chicken.

Just before chicken is cooked remember to baste with reserved marinade.

Chop cucumber,red onion,red pepper, and lettuce.

Fresh Greek pita.

Greek feta and Greek Tzatziki.

Homemade tzatziki (see recipe link).

Heat a small amount of oil in fry pan over medium heat.

Cook both sides until golden.

Remove chicken from skewer.

Add vegetables, cheese, and tzatziki.

Fold pita and enjoy!!

For the home made Tzatziki, grate cucumber with salt.

Put cucumber in sieve and place over a bowl.

Line a sieve with cheese cloth, add yogurt and place over a bowl to drain.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Stir to combine.

Yum!!