Doner kebab

Seasoned meat stacked in layers on a vertical spit, slowly roasted and shaved into thin slices. It is served in flatbread or over rice with salad and sauces.

Doner kebab

Doner Kebap in Hanoi: Dragfyre, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Doner kebab developed in Anatolia, in Turkiye, where the meat was cooked on a vertical spit, and later spread throughout Europe and the world. Bursa and Istanbul have their own traditions, and the dish is now an everyday street food.

Explore the cuisine of Türkiye.

Recipe

Make Doner kebab at home

Serves 6Time 1 hour 30 minutes, plus marinating

Ingredients

  • 2 lb thinly sliced lamb or beef (or chicken thigh)
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 onion, grated
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Flatbread, tomato, lettuce, onion and sauces to serve

How it's made

  1. Combine the yogurt, onion, garlic, oil and spices.
  2. Marinate the meat for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  3. Press the meat tightly into a loaf pan, or stack on a skewer for the oven.
  4. Bake at 375F for 1 hour, or roast on a rotating spit.
  5. Rest for 10 minutes, then slice very thin.
  6. Crisp the slices in a hot skillet for 2 minutes.
  7. Pile into warm bread with salad and sauces.

Variations

  • Iskender kebab: Served on bread with tomato sauce and yogurt.
  • Chicken doner: A lighter option.
  • Doner wrap (durum): Rolled into thin lavash bread.

Cook’s tip: Press the meat firmly and slice paper-thin; thin slices sear quickly and stay juicy.

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About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Doner Kebap in Hanoi: Dragfyre, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)