Grilled salmon kebabs are packed with flavour from the lemon, garlic and herbs.  Serve these kebabs as an appetizer with tzatziki or make a Greek bowl or pita for a complete meal!

Grilled salmon souvlaki with yogurt-based tzatziki sauce is suited as a summer appetizer or can be turned into a complete meal by adding rice, Greek salad, and/or pita! We've prepared this recipe on the BBQ but also have an indoor version using the broiler setting on the oven!

GRILLED SALMON KEBABS WITH TZATZIKI

INGREDIENTS

SALMON KEBABS

• 1 lemon, juiced and zested
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh herbs (eg. dill, oregano, mint, parsley)
• 1 pound (454g) salmon or 4 small filets of salmon

TZATZIKI

• ¼ cup cucumber, grated
• ½ cup Greek yogurt*
• ¼ lemon, juiced
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
• Optional: 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

*a higher milk fat (MF) yogurt will yield a creamier tzatziki. We recommend between 2-10% MF Greek yogurt. 

DIRECTIONS

1. Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before assembling the kebabs. Alternatively, use metal skewers!
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients of lemon juice and zest, garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs.
3. Cut the salmon into two inch cubes. Place the salmon in the marinade and toss to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
4. While the salmon marinades, prepare the tzatziki by combining grated cucumber with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and fresh dill and mint. Place in the fridge while the salmon kebabs cook.
   
   
   • Outdoor Grill Option: Pre-heat an outdoor grill to at least 400F. Once the grill is hot, clean the grill well with a wire brush. Oil the grill surface by saturating a paper towel with oil and using the grill tongs to rub it all over the bars. It may smoke but it should not ignite. If it does ignite, let the grill cool for a few minutes with the lid open and coat with oil again. Turn off half of the burners and place the salmon skewers on the half without active burners. Close the lid and let it cook until the salmon flesh turns opaque or about 3 minutes. Then, flip the filet and set on the hot side of the BBQ for 2-3 minutes. This method prevents the salmon from sticking to the grill.
     
     
   • Broiling Option: Heat the oven broiler. Arrange salmon skewers on a large baking sheet and place about 5 to 6 inches below the broiler. Cook on one side for 4-5 minutes, turn over and cook another 4 minutes or until the salmon is opaque throughout.
     
     
5. Serve the salmon kebabs with the homemade tzatziki as an appetizer. Alternatively, prepare a Greek bowl or Greek pita.
   • Greek Bowl: Prepare a bowl with a base of rice, then top with Greek salad, salmon kebab, tzatziki, and a dollop of hummus.
   • Greek Pita: Heat a pita in the oven. Then add Greek salad, a salmon kebab, and tzatziki or hummus to the pita. Wrap and enjoy!

DIETITIAN THOUGHTS

At Vitality Nutrition our nutritionists encourage clients to build balanced meals using the Fundamental Four model we teach inside our online course and nutrition coaching programs. The Fundamental Four includes four food groups that each offer unique benefits to blood sugar management, energy levels, sport performance and recovery, and more. We love preparing a Greek pita wrap or bowl to complete this recipe with volume, carbs, and fats

• Protein: salmon kebabs and Greek yogurt tzatziki
• Fat: feta, olives, and olive oil
• Volume: Greek salad with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and cucumber
• Carbs: pita bread or rice

Our dietitians teach you to build meal and snack ideas that are unique to your personal goals whether that be managing a chronic condition, changing body composition, improving energy, building a healthy relationship with food, supporting hormones, or navigating changes in the lifecycle like a pregnancy, breastfeeding, peri-menopause or menopause, and more! Balanced meals like the Greek plate described above our one of several foundational habits to get you started on your journey.
 

KITCHEN TOOLS

Links to kitchen tools we used in this recipe. 

• Wooden skewers
• Mixing bowl
• Grater for grating garlic and zesting lemon
• Baking tray
• BBQ tools

MORE RECIPES!

Looking for more salmon recipes? Try our salmon burgers, maple glazed salmon, or fiesta salmon rice bowl.

If you are looking for support from a Registered Dietitian to plan balanced, nutritious, and quick meals then click here to learn more about our services. Our team of Registered Dietitians supports clients in-person in Saskatoon and Regina and virtually across Saskatchewan as well as virtually in Western Canada including Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Kelowna, Victoria, Vancouver, and beyond!