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Meat, Maghreb and Middle East

Homemade döner kebab with fries and salad

This homemade döner kebab recipe serves 4 and features marinated ground beef baked in a loaf pan, then thinly sliced and served in bread with fresh vegetables and white sauce. It takes 1 hour 25 minutes, rates medium difficulty, and costs €3.00 per serving. The key to success is kneading the meat well and slicing it very thin.

Tonight we're making a real homemade döner kebab, thinly sliced marinated meat in bread with fresh veggies, white sauce and fries.

Homemade döner kebab with fries and salad
Total time
1 h 25
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
750 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Forget the idea of a quick kebab off a vertical spit, this version starts with thoroughly kneaded meat baked right in a loaf pan. The result really resembles what you'd get from a kebab shop, dense meat seasoned with cumin and paprika, lightly spiced with red pepper flakes, then pan fried after slicing until the edges turn crispy.

This is a dish kids and teens both enjoy, easy to customize since everyone builds their own sandwich at the table. Mon Chou designed this homemade version for an evening when you have a bit of time, perfect for a relaxed family dinner or a casual meal with friends, no takeout needed.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Ground beef 700 g

Dairy

  • Plain yogurt 200 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Lettuce 1
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Red cabbage 0.3
  • Red onion 1

Pantry

  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Red pepper flakesoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Bakery

  • Döner or pita breads 4

Frozen foods

  • Frozen fries 600 g

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Knead the beef thoroughly with the grated onion, 2 garlic cloves, the spices, 2 tablespoons of yogurt, salt and pepper.

    The more you knead, the more elastic the meat becomes, just like real spit roasted kebab.

  2. Pack the meat tightly into a loaf pan, pressing it down firmly, then let it rest in the fridge. 30 min

    Resting lets the spices soak in and helps the meat hold together.

  3. Bake at 180°C, then let it cool slightly before slicing it very thin. 45 min

    Use a sharp bread knife for thin slices, just like at the kebab shop.

  4. Mix the remaining yogurt with the crushed garlic and salt to make the white sauce. Cook the fries. 15 min

    Add a splash of lemon juice to the white sauce for extra freshness.

  5. Pan fry the slices in a very hot skillet until lightly browned, then fill the breads with lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, red onion and the sauce. 5 min

    The edges of the slices should turn slightly crispy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Grate the onion instead of chopping it, it releases juice that helps the meat hold together better while baking.
  • Let the meat cool completely before slicing it, cutting it warm makes it crumble and the slices fall apart.
  • Heat the skillet dry before adding the slices, they should sizzle right away so they crisp up instead of releasing water.

The variations

  • Swap the ground beef for ground lamb for a flavor closer to traditional kebab.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the meat with spiced chickpea patties using the same seasonings, sliced after cooking.
  • For a quick kids version, skip the loaf pan step and simply pan fry the seasoned meat like a burger patty, then stuff it in the bread.

What to serve it with

  • Homemade or oven baked fries
  • Salted yogurt drink
  • Mint tea

Storage

The cooked meat keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes very well already sliced, laid flat in a bag. To reheat, pan fry the slices in a hot skillet for a few minutes without drying them out.

Questions about this dish

Can you prepare the meat ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare and bake the meat the day before, then keep it in the fridge. Just slice and pan fry it right before serving.

Can ground chicken replace ground beef?

Yes, ground chicken works well with the same spices. The texture will be a bit more tender and it cooks slightly faster.

How do you get slices as thin as at a kebab shop?

Let the meat cool completely before cutting, ideally chilled for an hour. Use a sharp bread knife and slice with a steady, even motion.

Can the white sauce be made without yogurt?

You can replace it with light sour cream mixed with a bit of crushed garlic. The flavor will be milder and less tangy than the yogurt version.

How long does it take to make a homemade döner kebab with fries and salad?

Count 1 h 25 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a homemade döner kebab with fries and salad?

About 750 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a homemade döner kebab with fries and salad cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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