Feta Olive Chicken Skewers

Big Pete wanted chicken Souvlaki for dinner and I was thinking of creating something a little different. I took my chicken breasts and cut them into pieces and pounded them flat. I then put in a bit of feta, olive tapenade and some lemon juice and rolled them up and grilled them. They were really fantastic! They were moist with lots of flavour and it still tasted like a Greek dinner. You have to try these.

OPA!

You will need:

Chicken

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese -I prefer to buy Greek feta 
• 1/4 cup black olive tapenade (store bought or homemade)
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 clove garlic crushed
• 1/2 lemon- juiced
• 1/2 lemon- for grilling
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp granulated garlic 

Salad

• 1 cucumber- peeled and sliced into large chunks
• 1 tomato- sliced
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• squeeze fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp red wine/sherry vinegar
• 2 tbsp good olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 2-4 tbsp crumbled feta cheese

Step 1: cut chicken breasts into large chunks (the smaller you make them the harder it is to roll up) I sliced each chunk in half lengthwise and then pounded flat so they were all an even thickness and could be filled and rolled. I had 16 pieces from two breasts. I pounded the chicken in between two layers of plastic wrap.

Step 2: in a small bowl crumble feta cheese. Add black olive tapenade (mine is store bought), chopped parsley, crushed garlic, lemon juice,1 tsp oregano and chopped parsley  (leave the remaining 1 tsp oregano to sprinkle on top of rolls)Mix well.

Step 3: evenly divide your mixture among your chicken pieces. 

Step 4: press the mix into the pieces.

Step 5: carefully roll and then use one or two skewers to create a shish kebab. I made these smaller so that it was like having a stuffed Souvlaki!  You can make then larger and still use the skewers.

 I sprinkled the remaining 1 tsp dried oregano on top with some granulated garlic, salt and pepper. I also coated them with olive oil so they do not stick to the grill. Keep this other half of the lemon to squeeze over the chicken as it cooks on the grill.

Step 6: create a nice chunky Greek Salad. Chop cucumbers and tomatoes into large pieces. Chop fresh parsley.

Step 7: add red wine vinegar, olive oil, dried oregano, squeeze of fresh lemon, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Top with some additional crumbled feta.

Step 8: grill chicken on hot grill for a few minutes on each side until cooked. Squeeze lemon over chicken while cooking.

You can serve with tzatziki sauce or just a squeeze of lemon.

 It is juicy with lots of flavour from the feta and olives.

Poli kala!

(means very good)