Chicken Souvlaki with Herbed Couscous

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Fennel adds a nice flavoring to the marinade in this healthy chicken souvlaki dish. The kabobs are perfectly paired with a veggie-packed, yogurt-dressed Israeli couscous.

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Mediterranean Couscous
Prep Time:
45 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 35 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings
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Ingredients

Chicken Souvlaki Kabobs

  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2-inch strips

  • 1 cup sliced fennel (reserve leaves, if desired)

  • cup dry white wine

  • ¼ cup lemon juice

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

  • Lemon wedges

Mediterranean Couscous

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • ½ cup Israeli (large pearl) couscous

  • 1 cup water

  • ½ cup snipped dried tomatoes (not oil-packed)

  • ¾ cup chopped red sweet pepper

  • ½ cup chopped cucumber

  • ½ cup chopped red onion

  • cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt

  • ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

  • ¼ cup snipped fresh parsley

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. Prepare kabobs: Place chicken and sliced fennel in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. For marinade, in a small bowl combine the white wine, lemon juice, oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Remove 1/4 cup of the marinade and set aside.

  2. Pour the remaining marinade over chicken mixture. Seal bag; turn to coat chicken mixture. Marinate in the refrigerator 1 1/2 hours, turning bag once.

  3. Meanwhile, if using wooden skewers, soak eight 10- to 12-inch skewers in water 30 minutes. Drain chicken, discarding marinade and fennel. Thread chicken, accordion-style, onto skewers.

  4. Grill chicken skewers, covered, over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, turning once. Remove from grill and brush with the reserved 1/4 cup marinade.

  5. Prepare couscous: In a small saucepan heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup Israeli (large pearl) couscous. Cook and stir 4 minutes or until light brown. Add 1 cup water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes or until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed, adding 1/2 cup snipped dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) the last 5 minutes; cool. Transfer couscous to a large bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup chopped red sweet pepper, 1/2 cup each chopped cucumber and chopped red onion, 1/3 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup each thinly sliced fresh basil leaves and snipped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper.

  6. Serve kabobs with couscous, lemon wedges and, if desired, reserved fennel leaves.

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine; updated March 2023

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

332 Calories
9g Fat
28g Carbs
32g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 2 kabobs and 3/4 cup couscous
Calories 332
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 32g 64%
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 83mg 28%
Vitamin A 1502IU 30%
Vitamin C 57mg 63%
Folate 46mcg 12%
Sodium 360mg 16%
Calcium 66mg 5%
Iron 2mg 10%
Magnesium 60mg 14%
Potassium 793mg 17%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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