Growing up, a lamb souvlaki (or kebab) marked the end of a night out. The garlicky sauce with the rich lamb was the perfect savoury treat. Getting older, I’ve learned that souvlaki is not just good at the end of the night – but any time of day!
And slow roasted lamb souvlaki is a fun treat for a dinner party that allows guests to be in control of their meal.
Souvlaki is Greece’s answer to street food and traditionally uses pork or chicken. Stuffed with slow-cooked meat, tzatziki, tomato and chips, nothing beats scoffing down a paper-wrapped souvlaki in the heart of Athens.
Well, we may not be in Athens, but you can whip up your own souvlaki at home with our lamb souvlaki recipe.
My Oven Roasted Lamb Souvlaki
When you first see this video, you’ll notice one thing – it is long. Yes, it is a bit of a labour of love to make the perfect oven-roasted lamb souvlaki. But, it is so worth it.
And none of the elements are particularly hard, it can just be a bit of a day in the kitchen. So fill up your wine glass, get some great music going and you’ll have the time of your life followed by some incredible flavours.
How To Make Lamb Souvlaki
The longest part of my lamb souvlaki recipe is the prep. But once you have all the elements together the hardest thing is wrapping everything up into a delicious parcel. Here are the components for how to make lamb souvlaki!
The lamb – of course!
The most important part of this meal? Roasted lamb! What’s a slow cooked Greek lamb souvlaki sans-lamb? You can use my slow roasted garlicky lamb recipe to really nail this dish and create some magic. It is very garlicky but there are so many other flavours going on that you won’t even notice, it all complements one another.
Tabbouleh (herby salad)
I like to add a little more dimension to my souvlaki with Tabbouleh. There are a few variations of it, some with bulgur wheat or even quinoa if you want to make it into a stand alone salad.
But as this one is going into the lamb souvlaki itself, keeping it simple and without all the grains will make it part of the flavour building rather than becoming overly filling. Because, trust me, this is a filling meal. This recipe was sent to me by my dear friend Maya and it’s one we turn to more times that I can count.
Crispy roasted potatoes
Traditional Greek street-souvlaki is stuffed with perfectly salted, hand-cut chips. At home I like to add my crispy potatoes into a slow roasted lamb souvlaki. Why? The texture, the crunch. They add flavour and texture. They’re herbaceous and delicious (and, of course, garlicky!).
Tzatziki
Sometimes people will do hummus in their souvlaki, but I really enjoy mine with a strong tzatziki. Occasionally used as a dip for carrots or cucumber, tzatziki is a traditional Greek staple and an essential addition to your slow cooked Greek lamb souvlaki.
It’s a yoghurt and cucumber sauce with lots of lemon juice and dill. The tartness will cut through the fattiness of the lamb – and also give it some moisture.
Pita Bread
Now, the final key to the perfect lamb souvlaki is the pita bread! I prefer to use a pillowy pita bread, rather than a thinner large wrap. The thickness is essential to soak up the delicious juices from the lamb and is the perfect vessel to hold it all together.
FAQ’s For My Slow Cooked Greek Lamb Souvlaki
Can I prepare my lamb souvlaki in advance?
You can prepare the lamb in advance! And all the other side dishes – if you were having a dinner party or lunch then some can be made the day before to cut back on cooking time that day.
What else can I add to my lamb souvlaki?
You can add so many things to this – a lovely bitey feta or some chilli sauce would also suit it to give it some kick.
Can I use my slow cooker for lamb souvlaki?
If you’re short on time, you can use a slow cooker for lamb souvlaki. Use the same recipe as your guide and modify based on your slow cooker recommendations. Using a slow cooker for lamb souvlaki makes the meat wonderfully tender, creating a dish that’s both easy to prepare and delicious to eat.
Ready To Get Cooking?
Follow my recipe for how to make lamb souvlaki.
If you have any questions or would like to leave a review, please do so here! I always love answering your food and recipe related questions and hearing your feedback on my recipes.
If you make this slow cooked Greek lamb souvlaki, please tag me on Instagram, Tik Tok or Pinterest so I can see your wonderful creations!
Slow roasted lamb souvlaki
Ingredients
Slow roasted lamb
- 2.5 kg lamb shoulder bone in, room temp
- 40 garlic cloves peeled
- 4 sprigs rosemary
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 2 cups olive oil
- 4 anchovy fillets
- 1 tbsp baby capers
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 250 mL white wine
- salt + pepper
Crispy roasted potatoes
- 4 large russet potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes
- 6 cloves garlic
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 3 sprigs rosemary
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup grapeseed or vegetable oil
- salt + pepper
Tzatziki
- 1 cup plain Greek yoghurt
- 1 cucumber grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 2 tbsp dill chopped
- salt + pepper
Tabbouleh
- 2 large parsley bunches leaves removed from stems and finely chopped
- 1 bunch spring onions sliced
- 2 tomatoes diced
- 1/2 red onion finely sliced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- salt + pepper
Souvlaki assembly
- Flat bread
Instructions
Slow roasted lamb
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius / 410 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a small pot on a low heat, combine the 20 garlic cloves, 2 sprigs rosemary, 2 sprigs thyme and the olive oil. Bring to a slow simmer and simmer for 30 – 45 minutes or until the garlic is soft and slightly golden. Remove half of the olive oil and reserve for another use. In the same pot on the same heat, add the anchovies, baby capers and lemon zest. Cook for 5 minutes or until the anchovies have melted into the oil. Drain the oil and set to the side. Place the garlic mixture into a mortar and pestle. Pound into a paste.
- Using a sharp knife, score the fat of the meat into a criss cross pattern. Try to not cut through to the meat. Rub the garlic and herb mixture all over, pushing it into the slits. Scatter the rest of the herbs and garlic into the bottom of a dutch oven or roasting tin that will hold the lamb as snugly as possible. Place the lamb on top of the herbs and garlic. Pour over the reserved olive oli, lemon juice and white wine. Season with a very generous amount of salt and pepper. Cover very well with alfoil or a lid and place into the oven. Immediately turn the heat to 140 degrees Celsius or 300 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 4 hours or until the lamb is extremely soft and tender and falling off the bone.
- Once the lamb is cooked leave it to rest for 15 minutes before breaking it apart. Serve with some fresh bread and all of the juices from the pan.
Crispy roasted potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius
- Wash the potatoes in cold water then place them in a bowl and cover with cold water until they are fully submerged. Leave the potatoes to sit in the water for 10 minutes, giving them a bit of a wash to remove as much starch as possible. Drain into a colander and rinse under cold water.
- Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water and add a very generous amount of fine sea salt. Add the rosemary, thyme and garlic cloves that have been slightly smashed. Place the pan on high heat and wait for the water to boil. Once boiling, cook the potatoes for 5 – 8 minutes or until fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes into a colander and discard the garlic cloves and herbs. Rough up the potatoes by mixing them with a spoon to increase their surface texture. Cover the colander with a tea towel and leave the potatoes to steam for 15 minutes.
- While the potatoes are steaming, add the oil to a baking dish and place into the oven for 5 minutes or until piping hot. Remove the tin from the oven and very carefully pour the potatoes into the tin with the hot fats, you will hear a delightful sizzling sound. Stir the potatoes through the hot fats then bake for 45 minutes, tossing them and basting them with the oil every 15 minutes.
- Remove the potatoes from the tin and serve with the lamb.
Tzatziki
- Grate the cucumber and place into a tea towel. Give it a big squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
Tabbouleh
- Place all ingredients into a large bowl and mix to combine. Season well with salt and pepper. Taste the salad to ensure you have enough seasoning and dressing and adjust to your liking.
- Leave to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow all the flavours to combine.
Souvlaki assembly
- Drizzle a pan with olive oil and on a medium heat, heat the wrap for 1 – 2 minutes on each side or until slightly golden and toasted.
- Assemble the soulvaki by spreading 3 of the cooked garlic cloves from tin that the lamb was roasted in onto the wrap. Followed by a layer of tzatziki. Top with a generous amount of lamb, followed by tabbouleh then finished with crispy potatoes. Serve immediately.
Three years ago, during my trip to Crete, Greece, I had the pleasure of trying souvlaki for the first time. It was love at first bite! Ever since then, I’ve been preparing souvlaki at home every couple of months. However, this slow roasted lamb souvlaki recipe takes it to a whole new level. The flavors are much more pronounced, and I absolutely love it!
Thank you so much!
Looks amazing! Can you confirm if it’s 40 garlic cloves or 20?
It’s 40 🙂
I’m so keen to make this, but am having trouble getting hold of bone-in shoulder. Would it work with bone-in leg instead?
It would but the cooking times would be different! Just ask your butcher on their advice!
Can you substitute beef I stead, if so what cut of beef please?
You could use beef however, I have never tried it myself! Probably best to chat to your butcher about the best cuts for a piece of slow cooked beef.
Had this on my “to-cook” list for some time and finally had the opportunity to make it. It was a huge hit!
The flavors in the lamb were some of the best I’ve had and the other parts were just as good. I loved how fresh everything tasted. I’ll do the garlic/herb combo by itself from now on and I loved the idea of spreadable roasted garlic. Wouldn’t change a thing.
So happy to hear that! Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment.
Best lamb I’ve ever made! What a combo!
Thank you!
So, it’s anchovy fillets, not anchovy fillters…… nice recipe thought. Am looking forward to making it
That has been updated!