Lamb Skewers (Greek Souvlaki)

By bdeedman

Ingredients

• Marinade
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 ⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 1 ⁄2 cup dry red wine
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano leavesGuest of Honor
• Guest of Honor
• 3 lbs lamb
• Veggies
• 4 tomatoes (cut into wedges)
• 2 onions (cut into strips)
• 1 ⁄2 lb feta cheese (cubed)
• 1 ⁄2 cup olive oil
• 1 ⁄2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove (crushed)
• 2 tablespoons dill (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• Tzaziki
• 2 cups yogurt
• 1 ⁄2 cup cucumber (peeled, seeded, grated)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Pita Prep
• 12 pita breads
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Preparation

Step 1

For the marinade: Combine first 8 ingredients.
Cut lamb up into 1/2" thick, 1" wide, 3" long strips.
Pour marinade over lamb and chill overnight. Turning occasionally.
For the veggies: Combine the next 10 ingredients and let chill over night.
Skewer meat. If using wooden skewers, soak for an hour in water first. About 8 slices per stick.
Prepare grill. Add wood chips. Any type will do.
Grill until meat is done, brushing often with marinade. Meat should be brown around the edges, but still a little pink in the center. Don't dry the meat out.
Serve with warm pita. Guests should wrap a warm pita round the meat and pull the skewer our, then top their "taco" with marinated veggies, feta, and tzaziki.
For the tzaziki: Place the yogurt in cheese cloth. Twist to bind and squeeze the yogurt. Place in colander over a bowl to drain for an hour or so.
Peel and slice a cucumber down the middle, and spoon out the seeds.
Grate the cucumber. Squeeze out as much juice as you can.
In a bowl, mix the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, oil, salt, mint, and lemon juice. Let chill a few hours (over night is best).
For the pita: Buy pita flat bread (whole breads without the pocket).
Mix olive oil with paprika.
Brush each piece on both sides with a little of the olive oil.
Place on hot griddle and warm thoroughly (about a minute or so on each side).
Serve warm.