Mediterranean Grilled Chicken + Dill Greek Yogurt Sauce

Name: Mediterranean Grilled Chicken + Dill Greek Yogurt Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 cup chopped fresh dill, stems removed; 1 1/4 cup Greek yogurt; 1 tbsp olive oil; Juice of 1/2 lemon or lime; Pinch cayenne pepper, optional; Salt, if needed; 10 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp allspice; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/4 tsp ground green cardamom; Salt and pepper; 5 tbsp olive oil, divided; 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 1 medium size red onion, sliced; Juice of 1-2 lemons

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Spring. End of school. Memorial Day Weekend. All good causes for celebration; and of course, for my marinated Mediterranean grilled chicken!

Over the many years of my living in the United States, I have observed this: The month of May, like January, is a month of resolutions. All sorts of must-dos from rigorous detox and weight-loss efforts to de-cluttering and organizing projects.

Suddenly, the streets are filled with determined runners at all hours. And blocks are studded with garage sale treasures and treasure hunters. Summer is coming soon.

Me? My resolution this spring, and every season, is to eat well. And to feed those around me.

This time of the year, what mostly occupies my mind is the farmers market. The fresh bounty of green produce tucked under my arms. Warm-weather eats. And of course, the tantalizing aroma of this Mediterranean grilled chicken.

It’s all in the spices!

I like to use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. It’s a personal preference; and I feel that you simply can’t go wrong with boneless thighs, they are cheaper and juicier than chicken breasts.

To give it flavor, I make a nice rub with lots of minced garlic and spices like allspice, nutmeg and cardamom. Then the spiced chicken thighs are placed in a large dish with lemon juice, olive oil and red onions. I prefer to let the chicken marinate in the fridge overnight, but if that is not possible, then for 2-4 hours or so before grilling.

When I made this grilled chicken last week, I almost whipped up a side of Tzatziki sauce (which would have been excellent), but I took a little detour and made this dill Greek yogurt dip or sauce on the side.

There are many easy savory Greek yogurt applications that I enjoy, this dill Greek yogurt sauce is certainly one of them. Two ingredient stars: dill and garlic! If you are garlic-shy or garlic-friendly, you can certainly adjust the amount of garlic to your liking.

Every bite of this juicy, flavor-packed grilled chicken coupled with the dill yogurt sauce is absolute bliss! I hope you give it a try this weekend or sometime soon.

What else to serve with it? Try Greek potatoes or pita bread (homemade or store-bought) and a simple salad like Fattoush salad.

Here is the step-step-for this grilled chicken + dill Greek yogurt sauce:

(print-friendly recipe to follow)

First make the dill Greek yogurt sauce. Combine the minced garlic fresh dill, yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice and cayenne pepper in a food processor. Run the food processor until all the ingredients are well blended and a smooth thick sauce or dip develops. Test and add salt if needed. Transfer to a small bowl or container; cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or until ready to use. If moisture develops, simply discard it and give the dill yogurt sauce a quick stir before serving.

In a small bowl, mix together the minced garlic, spices and 3 tbsp olive oil.

Pat the chicken thighs dry and rub each with the garlic-spice mixture.Place the spiced chicken thighs in a large tray on a bed of sliced red onions with lemon juice and the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil (make sure the chicken is nestled well into the juice and onions). Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or overnight.

When ready, heat a gas grill to medium-high. Place the chicken thighs on the grill. Cover for 5-6 minutes, then turn the chicken over and grill for another 5-6 minutes covered.

Serve with a side of the dill Greek yogurt dip you prepared earlier!

What to serve with this grilled chicken? Try Greek potatoes or pita bread (homemade or store-bought) and a simple salad like Fattoush salad.