Greek Tzatziki Sauce & Chicken Gyros

Chicken gyro night is everyone's favorite night!  No matter what kind of day you had at work, knowing that those delicious ingredients for the tzatziki sauce were melding together in the fridge.  Dinners that don't require much effort, but are healthy & delicious are very much welcomed in our house.  And this dinner is just that.


Greek Tzatziki Sauce
32 oz. plain yogurt
1/2 english cucumber, grated
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. EVOO
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. black pepper

Combine yogurt, cukes, garlic, lemon juice & EVOO in a bowl and stir.  Add salt & pepper.  Mix well until all ingredients are blended.  Cover tightly for at least 6 hours in refrigerator.

Grilled Chicken Marinade for Gyros
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 c. EVOO
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. thyme
salt & pepper to taste

Combine ingredients & pour over chicken breasts.  Let marinate for at least 1 hour.  Bake in oven for 25 minutes at 350ºF or until juices run clear.

Assemble gyros on a pita with grilled chicken & tzatziki sauce.  Other garnishes to add are red onion, hot sauce, balsamic vinegar, and feta cheese.  However the sauce is so extraordinarily delicious that it doesn't need any other garnish to add flavor.

Serve with couscous.  Couscous doesn't have much flavor.  Tonight I started with water and added a dash of salt, pepper, thyme & paprika and a splash of lemon juice to tie in all of the flavors of this greek-inspired dish.  No longer was that couscous bland.