Authentic Doner Kebab

Transport your taste buds straight to the bustling streets of Turkey with this Authentic Doner Kebab recipe, a true celebration of bold flavors and traditional cooking techniques. Tender slices of marinated lamb shoulder are infused with a perfectly balanced blend of yogurt, olive oil, garlic, and aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and allspice, then slow-roasted to achieve that signature smoky, caramelized finish. Served in warm pitas with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, sharp red onions, and a cooling dollop of tzatziki, every bite is a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. Perfect for impressing dinner guests or satisfying weeknight cravings, this homemade doner kebab delivers restaurant-quality taste that’s both irresistibly authentic and surprisingly simple to create.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:45 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:135 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1.5 kg Boneless lamb shoulder
• 250 ml Plain yogurt
• 50 ml Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 4 pieces Garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons Ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons Ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Ground allspice
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 medium Onion, grated
• 6 pieces Pitas
• 2 medium Tomato, sliced
• 1 small Red onion, sliced
• 150 g Shredded lettuce
• 200 g Tzatziki sauce

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the marinade for the lamb. In a large mixing bowl, combine the plain yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, ground allspice, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth.

Step 2

Add the grated onion to the marinade mixture and stir well.

Step 3

Cut the lamb shoulder into thin slices, approximately 1 cm thick.

Step 4

Place the sliced lamb into the bowl with the marinade. Ensure all pieces are well coated. Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight for best flavor infusion.

Step 5

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Step 6

Once marinated, stack the meat slices onto a skewer or a vertical roasting spit, pressing them together tightly to form a cylindrical shape. If using a spit, secure both ends to prevent the meat from falling.

Step 7

Place the skewered meat onto a baking tray lined with foil to catch any drips. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 90 minutes, or until the edges are crispy and the meat is fully cooked.

Step 8

During the last 10 minutes of cooking, wrap the pitas in foil and warm them in the oven or on a heated skillet.

Step 9

Remove the cooked meat from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Step 10

Thinly slice the cooked doner meat from the spit, cutting vertically downwards to create nice strips.

Step 11

To assemble the doner, take a warm pita, spread a spoonful of tzatziki sauce, add some sliced doner meat, and top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and sliced red onion.

Step 12

Fold the pita over the fillings and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	3022 grams (3022.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5782

Total Fat 373.60g	479%
Saturated Fat 134.10g	671%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.80g
Cholesterol 1155mg	385%
Sodium 8677mg	377%
Total Carbohydrate 280.90g	102%
Dietary Fiber 19.50g	70%
Total Sugars 41.50g
Protein 335.10g	670%

Vitamin D 124IU	622%
Calcium 1056mg	81%
Iron 44mg	245%
Potassium 6101mg	130%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 57.7%

Protein: 23.0%

Carbs: 19.3%