Greek Food on a Cold Night

Weather in Austin has been dreary the last few days, we went from 85 and sunny to 40 and rainy in the span of 15 hours! You'd think I was living in Seattle or something?!?! Anyway, had to break out the winter clothing again, I say that as if I ever really put it away....last night it was damp and chilly and I was a lucky gal, my boyfriend (a cop who moonlights with the military) came home from a two week military training exercise/course so we had a quiet dinner and tv night, good fun for me! With his assistance, he's an excellent chopper and a pretty good cook, I whipped up the second dish from my 'I heart Food and Wine Magazine' kick...Pork Souvlaki with Tzatziki.

Pork Soulvlaki with Tzatziki

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds trimmed pork shoulder, cut into 3-by- 1/2-inch strips
1 large onion, cut through the root end into 1/2-inch wedges
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
2 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup Greek-style whole-milk yogurt
1/2 European cucumber, seeded and finely diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Warm pita, for serving

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, toss the pork strips and onion wedges with the olive oil, lemon juice, chopped oregano and half of the garlic paste. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and let stand for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix the yogurt, cucumber, mint and the remaining garlic paste. Season the tzatziki with salt and pepper.
3. Heat a large cast-iron griddle or grill pan until very hot. Add the pork and onion wedges along with any marinade and cook over high heat, turning once or twice, until the pork and onion are tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer the pork and onion to plates and serve with the tzatziki, lemon wedges and pita.

Warmed pita bread, seasoned and slightly grilled pork all were a delicious way to spend the evening at home and still feel like we'd gone to a local restaurant! Time to run upstairs and start packing...something about flying out at the crack of dawn tomorrow means I'd better get with it!