Pork shoulder makes the most amazingly flavorful and intensely meaty pork souvlaki! Thin slices of pork, a simple marinade, and a little time on the grill will have you enjoying this Greek specialty any time you’re in the mood.
Hello, all!
It’s spring here and I’m starting to grill. As soon as the weather gets warm enough for me to spend any time outside, I just can’t resist making all sorts of tasty grilled foods.
Like pork souvlaki! I’ve made souvlaki many, many ways over the years. Different meats, different cuts, and different marinades. And I have to say using pork shoulder makes for the meatiest souvlaki I’ve ever had.
Pork Shoulder Souvlaki
Pork shoulder is a part of the pig which is usually slow cooked, since it tends to be tough and it’s a muscle which gets a lot of use. However, it also has TONS of flavor. Flavor we want in a souvlaki!
And pork shoulder is well marbled with fat. This keeps the pork juicy as it cooks, unlike souvlaki made from pork loin. Pork loin is so lean it is difficult to cook without drying it out.
The way to get around the toughness is to cut the pork shoulder very thin and then fold up the slices onto the kebabs. This is not going to turn the shoulder into a tenderloin, but it will keep the meat fibers nice and short while also giving you lots of surface area for the marinade. Double bonus!
And by folding up the slices you will keep the pork juicy while also having enough time on the grill to get it all browned and flavorful around the edges.
Why use thin slices of pork?
- Increased tenderness from the short meat fibers
- More surface area for the marinade
- Allows folding which keeps the meat juicy
- Outer edges get all browned and crispy
How do you make pork souvlaki?
To make pork souvlaki, take pork shoulder and cut it into strips then toss the pork with a simple olive oil marinade and let it sit overnight. When ready, thread the pork onto skewers and grill until cooked through and crispy around the edges. Serve with tzatziki sauce.
Marinate the pork
The first step is to use those thin slices I keep talking about!
Cut the pork between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick and about 1 1/2 inches wide. Make sure to cut against the grain since you want short fibers. And hold onto to some of the fat you’re trimming off! Put that between the layers of pork in the skewers to keep the meat juicy.
To flavor the meat, use a very simple marinade: olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. That’s it! Make sure you marinate it at least 8 hours though. That is going to give you the best flavor.
Grill the pork
To grill the pork, thread the slices onto skewers, folding up the pork as you go. By folding you are making sure the pork will need some time on the grill and the outside bits will get browned and crispy.
Tzatziki Sauce
I have a few secrets to my tzatziki sauce and I’m willing to share them with all of you. š My daughter knows these secrets well since it’s usually her job to make the sauce while I cook the pork.
Secrets to tzatziki sauce
- Use small, thin-skinned cucumbers (sometimes called Persian cucumbers)
- Shred the cucumbers with a grater
- Squeeze out the juice!
- Use Greek yogurt, either full fat or low fat
What to serve with pork souvlaki?
- Greek Salad
- Pita Bread – store bought or homemade pita bread
- Hummus – you’ll love my smooth Israeli hummus!
Can you freeze pork souvlaki?
Once you have sliced the pork and mixed it with the marinade, you can seal it up and put it right in the freezer for up to 1 month. Just take it out and let it thaw in the fridge. Then you can put the meat on skewers and grill it up.
If you try my recipe for Grilled Pork Souvlaki, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And Iām happy to answer any questions you might have.
You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.– Happy Grilling, Annemarie
In this Greek dinner specialty, thinly sliced pork shoulder is marinated and then threaded into kebabs to make juicy and flavorful grilled pork souvlaki! Make a it plate with rice and salad or wrap up the pork in a pita for gyros.
- 1 1/2 lbs pork shoulder
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup grated cucumber
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, grated or finely minced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2-3 sliced tomatoes
- 4 cups lettuce
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumbers
- hummus
- pita bread
Trim the pork shoulder of excess fat. (Reserve the fat.) Cut the trimmed pork shoulder into slices about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick and 1 1/2 - 2 inches wide.
Place the strips of pork shoulder along with some of the reserved fat into a sealable bag.
Mix together the olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour the marinade into the bag with the pork and seal the bag.
Refrigerate the pork and let it marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
If using wooden skewers, begin soaking them 1 hour before you are going to use them.
Heat a grill on high.
Thread the pork onto skewers, fold the strips of pork up like an accordion. Add bits of fat between some of the strips.
Grill on high, turning occasionally, until the outside is browned and crispy and the inside is just a little pink.
Serve immediately with tzatziki sauce and any toppings you want.
Wrap the grated cucumber in a paper towel or some cheesecloth and squeeze it dry.
Combine the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and salt in a bowl and mix together.
Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl and either use immediately or refrigerate until you are ready to eat.
Tzatziki sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead. (It will last 4 days in the refrigerator but the quality drops off a bit after 2 days.)
- Cucumber: I like the small Persian cucumbers often found on trays or in bags in the supermarket. Another option is an English cucumber. If you can't find either, peel the cucumber and scoop out the seeds before grating.
- Garlic: If you are grating the garlic, use the smallest holes on the grater or a microplane. Also, you can tame the bite of the garlic by cooking the whole cloves in boiling water for 30 seconds before using them (parboiling).
- Pork Shoulder: Make sure you cut the pork against the grain so that you have short fibers in the strips of pork.
- Nutrition Info: Calories are an estimate and only for the pork and tzatziki sauce.
Daniela says
One of my favorite restaurants makes amazing pork souvlaki. I’ve always thought it was a super complicated and mysterious process, but now I know that it’s as easy as slicing some pork shoulder, marinating it, and grilling it. I can’t wait to make this when the weather finally turns warm!
Julie Menghini says
We love Greek flavors! I’ve never heard of Souvlaki before but it sure sounds delicious and that Gyro has me drooling! I love that you made this on the rill. Grilling like this means less cleanup and more flavor!