Rotisserie Greek Chicken Thighs with Homemade Tzatziki

Name: Rotisserie Greek Chicken Thighs with Homemade Tzatziki
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 2 h 45 min
Yield: 15
Cuisine: DESSERTS
Ingredients: 2 brown onions, finely chopped; 8 garlic cloves, finely chopped; ½ cup finely chopped fresh oregano leaves; 10 ½ tablespoons sea salt; 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper; 3 ⅔ cups olive oil; 1 tbsp paprika; 4 kg chicken thigh fillets, skinless, boneless; Toasted flatbreads, to serve; Salad mix, to serve (cucumber, lettuce, tomato, red onion); Lemon wedges, to serve; 2 cups grated cucumber (approx. 2 continental cucumbers); 2 cups Greek yoghurt; 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 2 tsp sea salt; ½ cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 6 tbsp (120mL) fresh lemon juice (approx. 3 lemons)

CategoryCharcoal, GasCuisineDESSERTSDifficultyBeginner

Yields15 Servings

Prep Time15 minsCook Time2 hrs 30 minsTotal Time2 hrs 45 mins

Looking for a recipe to feed a crowd? This recipe uses simple ingredients and a no-fuss cooking method. The chicken self-bastes as it rotates, in a marinade mix of onion, garlic, fresh oregano and paprika.

2 brown onions, finely chopped

8 garlic cloves, finely chopped

½ cup finely chopped fresh oregano leaves

10 ½ tablespoons sea salt

1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper

3 ⅔ cups olive oil

1 tbsp paprika

4 kg chicken thigh fillets, skinless, boneless

Toasted flatbreads, to serve

Salad mix, to serve (cucumber, lettuce, tomato, red onion)

Lemon wedges, to serve

HOMEMADE TZATZIKI

2 cups grated cucumber (approx. 2 continental cucumbers)

2 cups Greek yoghurt

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp sea salt

½ cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

6 tbsp (120mL) fresh lemon juice (approx. 3 lemons)

In a large bowl combine the onion, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil, paprika and chicken thigh fillets. Mix all ingredients together.

Set up your barbecue for indirect cooking over a medium- low heat (close to 180°C as possible) with a rotisserie, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Slide one rotisserie fork onto the rod and tighten. Keeping the chicken thighs spread, carefully thread each thigh onto the rotisserie rod, piercing the fillets onto the tines. Alternate the position of each thigh to form a circular shaped roast as you layer more onto the rod. (See notes for tip 1). Once all the chicken thigh fillets are threaded on, slide the other fork onto the rod. Compact the chicken thigh fillets between the two forks (you may need to loosen the first fork), centre the roast and tighten the forks.

Place the rotisserie rod with the chicken onto the barbecue and turn on the motor. Cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes over indirect medium-low heat or until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 74°C. (See notes for tip 2).

While the chicken is cooking, make the tzatziki. Squeeze the liquid out of the grated cucumbers, discarding the liquid. Combine the cucumber with the remaining tzatziki ingredients, adjusting seasonings to your personal taste. Cover and refrigerate until required.

Once the chicken has cooked, turn off the rotisserie and remove the rod (with tines and chicken still in place) from the barbecue with heatproof gloves and leave to rest for 15 minutes. Serve the chicken with toasted flatbreads, vegetables, lemon wedges and tzatziki.

TIP 1: It can be easier alternating the position of the chicken thigh fillets with the rod standing up vertically. Place a damp cloth on the bench, under the rod to prevent it from slipping.

TIP 2: If using a barbecue that requires a drip pan under the rotisserie set up, baste the chicken with the drippings during the cook.

Ingredients