Greek Chicken

[bookworm]

Well, this is the greek dinner we like best. I've tried a couple of other things, but they just arent' as good. First off, you have to buy fresh pitas to go with it, and then when everything else is cooked, you warm them with a little butter or oil on a flat skillet (according to my DH). The main course consists of lemon rice and greek chicken (like souvlaki).

Chicken marinade: (I usually add more of everything, because we have so many of us who love this, we need more!!)
2 tsp. minced garlic (I use the bottled kind)
1 tsp lemon juice (I juice the lemons used for zest in rice)
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil (I only have basic virgin, it works)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 lb chicken breasts- I cut into strips, but you can leave whole or chunk for kabobs or whatever

place all ingredients in a zip-bag and shake- I like to marinade most of the day and then grill on the bbq until done.

Lemon rice- (we've had a lot of debate over this, but this is the closest recipe to what DH eats at restaurants that I've found. If anyone has a better recipe, please post it!!)
2-4 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups long grain rice (DH prefers I use Minute Rice, so that changes everything, but you can do as you like)
1 tsp lemon zest, freshly grated
4 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped (fresh? no, I use bottled)

melt butter in skillet, add rice and stir, about 2 minutes until grains are nicely coated with butter. Add lemon zest, pepper and broth, simmer uncovered over low heat for about 40 min. or until liquid has absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat

add lemon juice and stir

let stand 5 minutes.

We also like to make a cucumber sauce (tzaziki) to go with it, although, again, it's not nearly as good as restaurant tzaziki. Here's what I do:

1 med. cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
8 oz. plain (non-fat) yogurt- I hear greeek yogurt is different than american, but I don't know where to buy it, so I use whatever Macey's sells
1 clove garlic (again, I use bottled), minced
pepper to taste
lemon juice to taste

let cucumber drain for a while, can sprinkle with a little salt to help bring out liquid, press out liquid with back of spoon and drain. Place in bowl with other ingredients and mix well- chill until served.

good cooking, ladies and gents!

[Dia Minha]

BW, this looks so yummy. It looks like everything exceptthe pita bread is on my core list of foods. I love finding new core recipes. No point counting. Well, except for the pita, but that isn't to hard. I can't wait to try this.

Dia

[bookworm]

it is really reallly yummy... I didn't make up the recipes, either, lest you all think I'm super-talented. I find recipes on the internet and then I adjust them according to our tastes. I love lots of garlic and pepper, and lemon or lime juice in almost everything. yummmm...

[Meticulous madness]

Okay, maybe YOU guys should be cooking for us?!! Forget the BBQ in our back yard!

This sounds really good.

I tried Greek chicken pita sandwiches once (made in the crockpot, and then adding yogurt at the end). It wasn't very good and I've been hesitant to try anything else since. I really love Greek food, though!

The lemon rice sounds so good. Thanks so much.

[Meticulous madness]

Sorry. Quick question...

In the cucumber sauce, why do you let it drain? And how?

[bookworm]

You let the cucumbers drain- they hold a ton of water and the sauce is really runny if you don't drain them.

[5ft Diva]

Sounds good, BW. Thanks for sharing! I'll have to make this for BS (maybe for his b-day that's coming up).