Recipe makeover #2: Souvlaki


Dear Howard, I am of Greek descent and love souvlaki.  I eat it at restaurants every other day!  But I am trying to lose weight and I don’t think that my eating habits are helping me.  What healthier item can I eat in its place to satisfy my cravings?
–Spiro M.

I love souvlaki as well -- tzadziki sauce is such a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, you’re right, This food is high in fats and calories and won’t do much for your waistline. As a matter of fact, one sandwich has about 950 calories with more than 50 % of the calories coming from fat, 19% of which are heart-unfriendly saturated fats. What I suggest is either having it less often or making this healthier version at home.

Typical Restaurant Souvlaki

The main ingredients:
2 lb. of beef
12 cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
6 TBSP. of olive oil
2 onions
Green peppers
Fresh mushroom
4 TBSP. lemon juice

Tsadziki sauce:
2 cups yogurt
1 cucumber
4 cloves garlic
2 tbsp.sp. olive oil
1 tsp. vinegar

All of this is then wrapped with pita bread.

Souvlaki Makeover

The main ingredients
1.5 lb. of lean beef
14 cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
3 TBSP. of olive oil
2 onions
Green peppers
Fresh mushroom
6 TBSP. lemon juice

Tsadziki Sauce
2 cups low-fat yogurt
1 cucumber
4 cloves garlic
1 tbsp.sp. of lemon juice
1 tsp. vinegar

Make this sandwich in a whole-wheat wrap instead of pita.

The new version has 525 calories per wrap and only 33% fat made up of 10% saturated fats. A much healthier meal but just as tasty!

Email us the dishes that you want to see made over healthy at Howard_Youhanan@mail.com