Description
This Homemade Doner Kebab recipe delivers the savory and aromatic flavors of traditional doner made with ground lamb and spices, baked to perfection and served with fresh toppings. Perfect for a flavorful meal served in pita or a bowl with garlic sauce and fresh veggies.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 450 grams ground lamb (or any ground meat)
- 1 grated onion (processed into a paste with 1 tsp water)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the kebab rolls evenly.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the grated onion paste, minced garlic, salt, sweet paprika, oregano, yogurt, and olive oil. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the spices and flavors into the meat.
- Divide Mixture: Split the meat mixture into two equal portions to form two separate kebab rolls.
- Shape Meat on Parchment: Place one portion of the meat mixture in the center of a sheet of parchment paper. Use water or oil on your fingers to prevent sticking, then press and spread the meat into a thin, even rectangle. Repeat this with the second portion on another parchment sheet.
- Roll Meat: Start at the long side of the rectangle and fold the parchment over the meat repeatedly, rolling until you have a flat rope shape, fully encased in parchment. This helps hold the shape during baking.
- Bake: Place the parchment-wrapped meat rolls onto a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes until fully cooked through and firm.
- Cool and Unroll: Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool slightly to handle. Carefully unroll the parchment and break the cooked meat apart into shreds or pieces like traditional doner.
- Crisp Meat: Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the shredded meat, then return to the oven briefly to get lightly golden and slightly crispy on top.
- Serve: Enjoy the doner kebab meat served inside pita bread or in a bowl. Top with fresh lettuce, pickles, tomato, red onion, and garlic sauce or toum for authentic flavor.
- Optional Garlic Sauce: Use store-bought garlic sauce or make your own by blending yogurt with salt, garlic, and mayonnaise to taste.
Notes
- Keep a small bowl of water or oil nearby when shaping the meat to prevent sticking to your fingers.
- You can substitute ground lamb with ground beef or chicken as preferred.
- Rolling the meat in parchment paper helps keep the kebab shape during baking and creates a uniform texture.
- Adding a squeeze of lemon juice before crisping adds bright flavor and helps caramelize the meat edges.
- Serve with fresh vegetables and garlic sauce for the best traditional doner experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
