Pork souvlaki whips up visions of juicy, tender meat. It’s a feast! We’re all about making meals memorable. What’s on the side matters as much as the main event.
In our kitchen, pairing is an art. We’ve stumbled and triumphed. Mistakes were made, lessons learned.
Our list? Crafted from those oops and aha moments. Seven sidekicks that elevate pork souvlaki from good to unforgettable.
Short, sweet, and to the flavorful point. We’ve got you covered.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Pork Souvlaki?
When you are hungry, a side dish is the last thing you care about.
You just want something fast. Pork souvlaki is convenient to eat and delicious.
The problem is too much of it can be nauseous.
After all, you are eating plain meat – how much of it can you have before you feel sick?
This is why no one in Greece eats souvlaki alone.
Even if you cook for someone else and they are not familiar with Greek cuisine, plain meat just will not do.
Everyone will wait for a side dish – even a slice of bread.
What to Serve with Pork Souvlaki? 7 BEST Side Dishes
As a general rule of thumb, anything that works with pork will work with pork souvlaki too.
Here are some interesting dishes, though.
1. Swiss Chard Spanakopita
If you are lucky, you might find frozen spanakopita in a local grocery store.
No matter how difficult it is to pronounce, it is super quick to prepare.
The dish is based on herbs and sauteed greens, as well as lots of feta cheese.
It goes in the oven, and it gives you savory flavor that you will never forget.
Textures are mixed – a bit of crunchiness, as well as a soft interior.
The flaky profile works wonders with the pork souvlaki, while flavors mix in perfectly.
2. Greek Chicken Salad
This is a classic salad, but the only difference is you can chuck some chicken in there.
After all, there is nothing wrong with mixing pork and chicken.
Pork souvlaki is quite soft in nature.
The salad will give it some crunchiness.
Feta cheese dominates and works well with the meat.
As for the veggies, they make the pork souvlaki feel much lighter than normally – in other words, you can have more of it.
Preparing this salad takes about five minutes, and despite its simplicity, it is super fulfilling.
3. Greek Style Baby Potatoes
Meat and potatoes – go for it, and you will never regret it.
Baby potatoes are great because chopping them in half will make them bite size.
Boiling them takes 10 minutes – you can then enhance them with chopped veggies.
In theory, this is a plain salad that will not disappoint.
Veggies will make pork souvlaki feel quite light, while the potatoes will give your dish a fulfilling profile.
In terms of flavors, think about the hearty potatoes, smoky meat and refreshing veggies.
Plus, each bite will give you softness and crunchiness at once.
4. Smoky Red Lentil Hummus
Sometimes, all you need for your pork souvlaki is a dip.
You just want to grab a piece out of the skewer, dip it into something tasty and enjoy it.
While this dish may not necessarily impress, the taste will make the difference – it has a homey profile that no one can overlook.
Get some smokey spices on top of classic hummus.
Give it a smoky profile to work with the pork.
While delicious, keep in mind that there is nothing to absorb the grease and juices, so this combo might feel a bit heavy – have it in moderate amounts.
5. Tangy Tzatziki
Tzatziki almost never misses from a Greek meal.
You can buy it from a grocery store or just make it yourself – even better when homemade.
Now, tzatziki will show you while meat and a dip work wonders.
First of all, it makes pork souvlaki feel lighter.
Second, it has a refreshing aroma – after all, it is based on yogurt and cucumbers.
The garlic in tzatziki makes the difference because nothing complements pork better.
Indeed, this is not a posh side dish to make your guests scream wow, but the delicious taste will make them appreciate your effort.
6. Marinated Green Beans and Tomatoes
This is basically a salad, but since it is marinated, it takes your pork souvlaki to a meal level.
Feel free to throw in some red onion and dill, and you have the perfect combo.
This is the type of refreshing meal that will reduce the nauseous profile associated with souvlaki.
Basically, you cannot have too much of it because it makes you sick.
But when you have some veggies as well, everything changes.
The crunchiness feels nice with the soft meat, and the meaty juices simply float around the marinated salad.
For maximum effectiveness, you should prepare this dish a day ahead – you want the beans to absorb the marinade.
7. Crispy Fashoulakia
This is a classic side dish in Greece.
Based on beans and a few other veggies, it is always used with sandwiches and barbecues.
Now, pork souvlaki goes in the second category.
The fashoulakia has a soft texture, yet vegetables tend to retain a bit of crunchiness as you start chewing them.
Veggies will make meat feel lighter, so you can have more souvlaki without feeling sick.
No matter what spices you use, you will not be able to overcome the pork smokiness, so the meat remains the main player.
Other than that, it takes 15 minutes to prepare this side dish.
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