Greek Pork Skewers With Yogurt And Lemon
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Servings
10 pieces
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Calories
167 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Greek
Greek Pork Skewers With Yogurt And Lemon
Description
This recipe starts with toasting whole sesame seeds to deepen their aroma and then pounding them to release oils. The marinade combines freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and the crushed sesame seeds with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper for seasoning.
The pork shoulder pieces are rubbed with a lemon wedge and marinated for 15 minutes up to three hours, allowing the flavors to penetrate the meat and the yogurt to tenderize it. The pork is then threaded onto bamboo skewers, which should be soaked beforehand to avoid burning during cooking. The remaining marinade is kept for serving alongside the cooked skewers.
This preparation is reminiscent of souvlaki shops where these skewers are served with grilled bread and lemon, highlighting the Mediterranean style. The smoky paprika and sesame offer distinctive seasoning while lemon and yogurt give brightness and creaminess.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs pork shoulder cut into pieces of about 1⅓ inch / 3 cm
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for cooking
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 lemon reserve one used lemon half, juiced
- 1½ tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds full
- salt sea salt
- black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Toast the sesame seeds in a small non-stick pan over low heat, stirring constantly until they brown evenly. Be careful not to burn them.1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Pound the toasted seeds in the mortar to extract their aroma and oil.
- Juice the lemon and mix the juice with all the marinade ingredients (olive oil, yogurt, mustard, paprika, crushed sesame seeds, sea salt, and pepper).1 lemon juiced ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1½ tablespoons smoked paprika 1 cup Greek yogurt sea salt freshly ground pepper
- Rub the pieces of meat with a used lemon wedge and put them in a bowl.
- Put half of the marinade sauce in the bowl with the meat, mix well, and cover with plastic wrap—Marinate the meat for 15 minutes to three hours.Keep the rest of the marinate in the fridge for serving.
- If you are using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes ahead of threading.After marinating, thread the pork pieces on the skewers. Rest the skewers on a wire rack to drain some of the yogurt marinade.
Oven method
- This is my favorite method, especially in the winter (in summer, the grill wins). It cooks all the skewers in one go with minimal work.Preheat the oven to 220°C / 428°F. Brush a wire rack with olive oil and place it on a baking tray. The tray underneath will catch all the fats and juices and not stain the oven.Place skewers on the wire rack with the baking tray underneath. Cook skewers for 20-30 minutes. Turn the skewers two or three times to cook evenly on each side. At the last minutes of cooking turn on the broiler and broil for a couple of minutes.
Over the stove grilling pan
- Preheat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle some olive oil and cook the pork skewers fin batches of two or three for about about 15 minutes total. Flip the skewers twice to ensure even cooking.
Barbecue grill method
- Preheat the grill to a constant temperature of around 190°C / 375°F. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping them twice or thrice to ensure even cooking.
Notes
- Soak bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before threading to reduce flare-ups while cooking.
- If you lack a mortar and pestle, pulse the marinade ingredients in a food processor for about 30 seconds to combine.
- Traditionally served with grilled bread and lemon wedges for an authentic Greek experience.
- Toasting sesame seeds before crushing enhances their flavor and aroma in the marinade.
- The marinade tenderizes the pork while adding a smoky, tangy flavor from paprika and lemon.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10pieces
Amount Per Serving
Calories 167 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 167kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.001g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 38mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 67mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 250mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 523IU | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 41mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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