Homemade Doner Kebab (Print Version)

Juicy spiced meat with fresh vegetables and creamy garlic sauce wrapped in warm flatbread for an authentic Turkish street food experience at home.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meat Marinade

01 - 1.1 pounds boneless lamb shoulder or chicken thighs, thinly sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
06 - 1½ teaspoons ground coriander
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon ground sumac
09 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - Juice of ½ lemon

→ Vegetables & Garnish

13 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 medium tomato, sliced
15 - ½ cucumber, sliced
16 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
17 - Fresh parsley, chopped

→ Sauce

18 - 3.5 ounces plain Greek yogurt
19 - 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
20 - 1 clove garlic, minced
21 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
22 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Bread

23 - 4 pita breads or flatbreads

# Steps:

01 - Combine yogurt, olive oil, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, sumac, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add sliced meat and toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight for maximum flavor penetration.
02 - Preheat oven to 430°F or heat grill to medium-high temperature.
03 - Thread marinated meat slices onto skewers, pressing tightly together. Place on baking tray or grill and cook for 35–45 minutes, turning occasionally until meat is browned and cooked through. Alternatively, sear in batches in a hot skillet until well-browned.
04 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until serving.
05 - Heat pita breads or flatbreads in the oven for 2–3 minutes until warm and pliable.
06 - Slice cooked meat thinly against the grain. Spread garlic sauce over warmed bread, layer with meat, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, and parsley. Roll or fold securely and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The yogurt in the marinade creates the most impossibly tender meat that practically melts in your mouth
  • Homemade sauce is infinitely better than anything from a bottle and comes together in seconds
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making this perfect for feeding a hungry crowd without stress
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting time for the marinade because those spices need time to really penetrate the meat
  • Slice the meat as thinly as possible against the grain for that authentic tender texture
  • Warm bread makes a huge difference so do not skip this quick step
03 -
  • If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes so they do not burn on the grill or in the oven
  • Let the meat rest for a few minutes after cooking before slicing to keep all those juices inside

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