Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Souvlaki with Tzatziki

Immerse yourself in perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy goodness marinated with aromatic herbs and spices. This Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Souvlaki with Tzatziki recipe infuses Mediterranean flavors. The exquisite combination of succulent Sous Vide pork tenderloin drizzled with creamy, tangy, and refreshing Greek Tzatziki sauce. Every bite is a delightful symphony of textures and flavors; this dish can transport you to the sunny seashore of Greece.

As a devoted lover of Mediterranean cuisine, the tanginess and herbaceousness of Greek dishes always leave me craving more. I’ve been grilling chicken or pork Souvlaki over an open flame for years, But after discovering the magic of Sous Vide cooking, I changed how I make this recipe forever.  

Combining the best of both worlds, I created a sensational recipe combining traditional grilling with the modern Sous Vide technique. The final result is unbelievable.  The meats retain their juiciness, tenderness, and flavor are all infused into the meat. 

My family has become obsessed, begging for this dish week after week. They love how I pair these delicious skewers on a bed of Mediterranean Yellow rice, then drizzle with garlicky and tangy Tzatziki sauce. Dipping pork tenderloins cubes in homemade Hummus and Baba Ganoush or wrapping it with Pita bread is also great.

So today, I invite you to join me as I share my version of Souvlaki that’s done with Sous Vide.

What is Souvlaki?

• Souvlaki is a Greek dish that has become a superstar of Mediterranean cuisine, loved by locals and travelers alike. 
• Traditionally, Souvlaki is made with pork, but you can also find chicken, beef, or lamb versions. The meat is cut into bite-sized pieces and marinated in a magical blend of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and a medley of herbs and spices.
• This marinade gives the meat its irresistible flavor and helps to make it incredibly tender. People would thread pieces of marinated meat onto metal or wooden skewers and cook to perfection over an open flame. 
• The added char and smokiness flavor take this iconic dish to a new height. Souvlaki is often served with warm, fluffy pita bread, tangy tzatziki sauce, fresh Greek Salad, onions, Mediterranean yellow rice, hummus, Baba Ganoush, and a sprinkle of aromatic herbs.

What is the difference between Souvlaki and Kebab?

While Souvlaki and Kebab share the commonality of featuring grilled or skewered meat, some notable differences exist.  Let’s uncover the differences between these two iconic dishes: 

Souvlaki – Originated from Greece 

Kebab – Originated from the Middle East 

What is Tzatziki?

What is the benefit of cooking pork tenderloin using the Sous Vide method?

While traditional open-flame grilling offers the advantage of faster cooking and imparting a distinctive smoky char flavor, achieving perfect results without expertise can be challenging. Unless you’re a grilling expert who can precisely control the grill’s temperature, there’s a higher chance of ending up with dry, burnt, overcooked, or chewy meat. 

Here comes the help of Sous Vide precision cooking.  This innovative machine offers a winning combination of these cooking methods for Pork tenderloin Souvlaki enthusiasts. Sous Vide ensures perfectly tender and juicy meat while allowing for deep flavor infusion through marination. 

Before serving, you will finish the pork tenderloin on the grill to achieve a controlled char and smoky flavor, enhancing taste and visual appeal.

This culinary approach provides the best of both worlds, allowing for precise control over tenderness and flavor infusion while incorporating the desirable grilling qualities.

The result is a mouthwatering dish that showcases the tenderness, flavor, and visual appeal that make Pork tenderloin Souvlaki cooked with Sous Vide and charred on the grill so irresistible.

Why you’ll love this recipe?

This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, and although there are many components to prepare, they can all be done in just a few minutes. For convenience, Mediterranean yellow rice, hummus, Baba Ganoush, homemade pita bread, and Tzatziki can be made beforehand. The best part is that this dish tastes fantastic even when enjoyed a few days later, making it great for leftovers. Alternatively, you can marinate the protein, freeze it, and cook it later for an easy and delicious meal.

Ingredients that you’ll need: 

• Pork tenderloin: The star of the dish, pork tenderloin is a lean and tender cut that cooks beautifully with Sous Vide, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Fresh squeezed lemon juice: Adds a bright and citrusy flavor to the marinade, enhancing the overall freshness of the dish.
• Red wine vinegar: Provides a tangy and slightly acidic note, balancing the flavors and adding depth to the marinade.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Helps to tenderize the meat and contributes to a rich and luscious mouthfeel while infusing the pork with its distinctive Mediterranean taste.
• Minced garlic: Brings a savory and aromatic element to the marinade, elevating the flavor profile.
• Chopped red onion: It helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with its aromatic qualities.  It also provides a subtle sweetness and adds depth of flavor to the pork.
• Dried Mediterranean oregano: A quintessential Mediterranean herb, oregano infuses the pork tenderloin with a savory and earthy taste, complementing the other ingredients perfectly.
• Dried parsley: Adds a refreshing and herbaceous flavor, contributing to the overall freshness of the dish.
• Dried thyme: Imparts a subtle and earthy undertone, enhancing the savory notes of the pork tenderloin.
• Dried rosemary: It adds a savory and aromatic dimension to the dish.  The herbal essence adds depth and a hint of warmth to enhance its flavor profile. 
• Sweet paprika: It adds a subtle sweetness, mild smokiness, and vibrant color to pork Souvlaki
• Red chili flakes: Provides a hint of spiciness, adding a kick of flavor that balances well with the other ingredients.
• Sea salt: Enhances the pork tenderloin’s natural flavors and harmonizes all the ingredients.
• Black pepper: Adds a mild heat and a touch of complexity, elevating the dish’s overall taste.

Tools that are required for this recipe:

• Sous Vide Precision cooker
• Large 16-Qt stainless-steel pot or
• Sous Vide container 
• A Grill or
• Enameled cast iron grill pan
• Ziploc Bags (Freezer Gallon size) or
• Anova Vacuum Sealer Pro and Vacuum sealer bags.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Protein substitutions: 

Instead of pork tenderloin, you can use chicken breast or lamb for a different flavor and texture in your Souvlaki.

Here are some recipes from other excellent food bloggers that I think you should try:

• Salt & Lavander’s Ultimate Greek Chicken Souvlaki Platter
• Jo Cooks’ Lamb Souvlaki

No Sous Vide, no problem: 

You can still achieve flavorful results if you don’t have a Sous Vide precision cooker or prefer grilling your pork skewers directly. Simply extend the marination time to 24 hours, allowing the pork to absorb all the flavors. Grill the skewered pork tenderloin until the internal temperature reaches 145F, ensuring a deliciously browned and charred exterior.

How to make Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Souvlaki with Tzatziki sauce:

Step-by-step instructions on making the Souvlaki Skewers: 

Step 1: Prep the Pork tenderloin:

Start by removing the pork tenderloin from its packaging. Give it a quick rinse under cool water, then gently pat it dry using clean paper towels. Next, trim off the silver lining and any impurities, then carefully cut the tenderloin lengthwise into bite-size cubes, aiming for pieces approximately 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches, and set them aside.

Step 2: Prep the marinade:

In a large bowl, combine your wet and dry seasonings. Using a whisk, stir and mix the ingredients thoroughly until well incorporated.

Step 3: Marinade for pork tenderloin:

Place the cut pork tenderloin into the marinade and use your hands to ensure each piece is evenly coated. Transfer the marinated pork into vacuum-sealed or Ziploc bags. Refrigerate the bags for one hour to allow the flavors to infuse into the meat.

Step 4: Set up the Sou Vide cooker:

Begin by filling a large pot or Sous Vide container with water, ensuring the water line is sufficient to submerge the Sous Vide precision cooker fully. Attach the Sous Vide precision cooker to the container and set the cooking temperature to 150°F/65°C. 

Step 5: Cook the meat in Sous Vide: 

Once the water reaches the desired temperature, carefully place the bag of marinated pork into the heated Sous Vide water bath using the water displacement method. Allow it to cook for 2 hours, ensuring not to exceed the maximum or go below the minimum cooking time.

(Place 6 to 8 wooden skewers in the water bath.  Refer to the Pro-tip below for more details.)

Step 6: Resting the cooked pork: 

Once your pork cubes have finished cooking in the Sous Vide, carefully remove the bag from the water bath and allow it to cool, and rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. This resting period helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and tender final result.

Step 7: Skewering and grilling:

After the pork cubes are rested, retrieve the soaked skewers from the water bath and thread the cooked pork onto them. For added flavor you can also intersperse some purple onions between the pieces of pork for additional flavor. The skewers can be done on a traditional grill or using a cast-iron grill pan on your stovetop. Simply brown the meat slightly to create grill marks by grilling each side for 1 to 2 minutes. This will impart a delightful char-grilled flavor and appearance to the tender pork skewers.

In Conclusion

This recipe for Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Souvlaki with Tzatziki is a culinary masterpiece that combines the best of Greek flavors and modern cooking techniques. This succulent dish combines precisely cooked tender pork and tangy, refreshing tzatziki sauce. This dish is perfectly served on aromatic Mediterranean yellow rice blended with herbs and spices.  Whether you choose to grill the skewers or opt for the precise control of Sous Vide, the result is a dish that will delight and transport you to the sun-drenched shores of Greece.  Whether you are hosting a summer barbecue or enjoying a cozy dinner at home, this recipe will be a great choice that everyone will enjoy. 

I hope you will enjoy this dish, Opa! 

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