Greek Tofu Skewers with Tzatziki and Feta

Extra firm tofu is marinated with red onion in a mixture of olive oil and the best quick and easy homemade Greek seasoning. Grilled until slightly charred and topped with tzatziki and crumbled feta, these skewers are a great grilled meat alternative!

You can do Greek without meat. And, these Greek Tofu Skewers with Tzatziki and Feta are just the way to do it!  Okay, I know I’m one of those foodies who tends to go on and on about food, but I really must with this particular gem. I’m not a huge fan of Greek food, only because I don’t care much for olives and they tend to be present in many Greek-inspired recipes. But, from time to time, I do enjoy a Greek salad or Moussaka! 

At the cottage this summer, I was self-assigned with the task of preparing meals for the three of us. Maybe task is a poor word choice – pleasure; fun; enjoyment; satisfaction?  You all know I love to cook!  Well, you all know by now that John.e is the vegetarian in our household, but since my daughter moved in with us at the beginning of summer, she has also become a part of the vegetarian cult movement.  (No, I’m not bitter!)

TWO VEGETARIANS – I’M OUTNUMBERED!

She’s 13 years old and I’m so proud of her for being strong enough to give up eating meat and fish. She grew up in a primarily meat-eating home, so it might not be an easy thing to do, but for her, it seems rather easy.  She got off the airplane on July 2 and the vegetarian lifestyle was adopted.

Now, I’m sure that living with John.e and me is making the transition much easier. After all, I prepare vegetarian food every day.  Every.  Single.  Day.  (No, I’m not bitter!)  To be honest, I’ve even tried to tempt her on two separate occasions with chicken and sausage.  She did not cave.

After her first week, all three of us watched a documentary called Vegucated on Netflix (which was very disturbing to watch for me) and I think that sealed the deal. So, on our seven day stay at the cottage, I was determined to prepare a week’s worth of vegetarian dishes.  These Greek Tofu Skewers with Tzatziki and Feta were born as a result.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Tofu – I’m using extra firm tofu that I have pressed to get the excess moisture out. You don’t have to press the tofu, but it does make it “meater” when cooked.
• Red Onion – Get yourself one red onion and cut into into one inch pieces. You will use the red onion for flavouring the tofu pieces.
• Olive Oil – Use your favourite olive oil.
• Greek Seasoning Blend – You can buy this in the store, but if you have a well-stocked spice rack, you might have everything you need to make it at home. See the section below.
• Tzatziki – Store-bought is fine, but I have an easy recipe right here.
• Feta – Buy a little block of salty feta and crumble it over the skewers once they’re grilled and have been plated.

TOFU – WE LOVE IT!

I cannot tell you how much I love tofu. The way it takes on the taste of whatever you cook it with or in, and how it maintains its shape and consistency if prepared properly is fantastic.  I must confess though, I’ve only ever cooked extra firm tofu.  It’s got a meatier texture which meets my desires for meat. I used it here in my Hot and Sour Soup. And, here in my Crispy Baked Tofu as well!

Look at these pictures! Are you not drooling?  I can’t wait to make these Greek Tofu Skewers with Tzatziki and Feta again!  Next time, I’ll be sure to bring a squeeze bottle to the cottage so I can drizzle the tzatziki rather than dollop.  Or maybe a dollop isn’t so bad; no one has every complained about too much tzatziki! 

LET’S TALK TOFU

We all love tofu in our home. I’m the only one who tends to pay more attention to the texture of tofu, however. Both John.e and McKenna tend to lean more towards a softer/silken tofu. I, on the other hand, prefer a firmer tofu.

Firm tofu is easy to find in just about any store. However, even the firmest tofu will still have a lot of water content. I’m going to tell you how to get that water content out without buying another kitchen gadget. If you have paper towels, a cutting board, and some heavy cans or bottles, that’s all you need.

Most firm tofu is sold in blocks that are roughly one and a half to two inches thick. Slice the tofu so that it is half that thick. Lay each slice on a few sheets of paper towel. Top each slice with a few more sheets of paper towel and place a cutting board right on top of that. Be sure the cutting board covers all of the tofu. Next, you’ll want to place something heavy on the cutting board. You can use large cans of tomatoes or beans. Or, do what I do. I fill a pot with water and set it right on top.

In essence, you’re trying to get as much moisture out of the tofu without breaking it apart. The more moisture you can extract, the firmer your tofu will be. Let the tofu sit for 20 minutes or so to drain. Easy right?

GREEK SEASONING BLEND

Who doesn’t love to have seasoning blends on hand for when the mood strikes? I, for one, have a fully stocked spice rack, and another dozen or so spices in our pantry. But, when I’m in a rush, I love to reach for a pre-assembled spice blend, much like this Greek Seasoning Blend. By having your own spice blends already made up at home, recipes like these Greek Tofu Skewers with Tzatziki and Feta are a breeze to prepare!

When I am not in a rush, I like to reach into my spice collection and measure out exact amounts for each one. I tend to do this a lot when cooking soups, stews, or anything else that takes time and effort. Oh, here’s another great idea. Take a look at this awesome Spice Rack Sauce recipe!

To prepare you own Greek seasoning at home, you will need oregano, paprika, onion powder, vegetable bouillon cubes, dried parsley, salt, garlic powder, ground black pepper, thyme, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The measurements can be found right here – Lord Byron’s Greek Seasoning Blend.

TZATZIKI SAUCE

Dips and spreads are generally considered indulgent and calorie-heavy, but I have a skinny version of tzatziki that it about to prove otherwise! Super flavourful and made mostly with pantry ingredients, my homemade Skinny Tzatziki Sauce is super thick, lucious, and delicious!

If you’re on Weight Watchers, Skinny Tzatziki Sauce is actually zero points! So, that for me was a win in itself. But, much to my surprise, the taste was phenominal! Traditionally, tzatziki uses a full fat yogurt. You can certainly do that if you wish, but if you do, you need to drop the ‘skinny’ part of this recipe.

Traditional tzatziki sauce can also have olive oil in it.  I didn’t add any olive oil to my recipe, because I didn’t feel it was needed, and again, most oils are not zero points on the Weight Watchers program.  I needed to keep this recipe as low in points as possible in order to keep it guilt-free.

The other ingredients – dried dill, salt, and pepper – are all zero points as well.  I think 99% of vegetables are zero points, so that means the fresh garlic and cucumber were both in my favour.  Oh, and of course, lemon juice is a fruit, and like most vegetables, most fruits are zero points too. This sauce – whether you are on a WW program or not, is wonderful!