What Is Souvlaki and How Does It Compare to Gyro?

Are you ready to explore the delicious world of souvlaki? Here's everything you need to know about this timeless Greek dish that has survived centuries.

What Exactly Is Souvlaki?

Souvlaki is a popular Greek street food made of marinated meat grilled on a skewer. While pork is the traditional choice, chicken, lamb, and beef are also common variations. Souvlaki can be enjoyed as a kebab, wrapped in a warm pita with your favorite toppings, or served over a bed of fresh vegetables.

How to Say Souvlaki

Unsure how to pronounce souvlaki? You can confidently order by saying "soov-lah-kee." Listen to the correct pronunciation at Merriam-Webster.

Souvlaki vs. Gyro

Souvlaki and gyros are both beloved dishes in Greek cuisine, but they are distinct from one another. Here's how you can differentiate them:

• Souvlaki is marinated pork, chicken, beef, or lamb grilled on a skewer. It's typically served on a skewer, but you can also eat it in a warm pita or over salad.
• Gyros are made with stacked meat (usually pork, but other meats are common) that has been cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Gyro meat is traditionally stuffed into a warm pita with tomato, red onion, a few French fries, and a healthy dose of tzatziki.

The History of Souvlaki

Souvlaki's origins date back to Ancient Greece, with the first recorded reference to the dish found in Homer's The Iliad:

"Then Achilles carved the meat, skewering it on spits. The godlike son of Menoetius ignited the fire, and as the flames died down, he spread the embers, positioned the spits, and sprinkled divine salt before placing them over the stones to cook."

What we now call souvlaki was likely originally known as "obeliskos," derived from the word "obelus," which means "spit" or "skewer."

The contemporary name is a diminutive of souvla, meaning "skewer." In southern Greece and Athens, it's often referred to as kalamaki, which roughly translates to "small reed."

How to Prepare Souvlaki at Home

It might seem daunting at first, but creating restaurant-quality souvlaki at home is easier than you think. While recipes may vary, here's a general guide to making souvlaki:

1. Marinate your cubed meat in a Mediterranean marinade, typically made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and other herbs and spices. The longer the meat soaks, the richer the flavor will be.
2. Skewer the marinated meat cubes onto a heat-resistant skewer.
3. Grill the meat over medium heat. Feel free to baste with the remaining marinade as it cooks, but discard any leftover marinade with about 5 minutes left on the grill to ensure the meat is fully cooked and safe to eat.
4. Serve the souvlaki on the skewer, in a warm pita, or over a bed of fresh vegetables.

Souvlaki Recipes

Feeling hungry after all this talk about souvlaki? We've got you covered with some of our top souvlaki recipes that are sure to satisfy!

• Pork Souvlaki
• Lamb Souvlaki
• Chicken Souvlaki