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Canadian Donair Kebabs

This Canadian Donair Kebab recipe is perfect for those of you that want to make this classic Canadian delicacy at home.

canadian donair kebabs

A Donair Kebab is the Canadian version of the Turkey Doner Kebab, the Greek Gyro or the Middle Eastern Shawarma. They all involve some sort of meat wrapped in a pita or a flatbread.

spices for donair meat
Spices for Donair Kebabs

This recipe is for the Canadian version which consists of spiced ground beef instead of pork or lamb wrapped in a pita slathered in a sweet Donair sauce invented in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in the 1970s.

beef mixture for donair kebabs
Beef Mixture ready for the Oven

I like to use pita bread when I made this kebab recipe but you can also use any round flatbread. If you are trying to make this recipe as authentic as possible you will want to use pita.

canadian donair kebabs

These Canadian Donair Kebabs are usually served wrapped in aluminum foil. They can get pretty messy to eat so the foil helps hold everything together. Obviously, this step is optional but I recommend having a bunch of napkins or paper towels on hand if you are not going to wrap them in foil.

  • Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
  • Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
  • Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
  • Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
  • Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.
canadian donair kebabs

You will need the following ingredients to make this Canadian Donair Kebabs recipe. For ingredient amounts please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Lean Ground Beef
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Dried Oregano
  • Paprika
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt
  • Ground Black Pepper
  • Egg
  • Evaporated Milk
  • Garlic Powder
  • White Sugar
  • White Vinegar
  • Sweet Onion
  • Tomatoes
  • Greek Pocketless Pita Bread
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, spices and egg.
  3. Shape the meat mixture into a loaf shape (like a large meatloaf) and place on the baking sheet. Cook for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  4. While the meat is cooking. In a small bowl, combine the evaporated milk with the garlic and sugar. Gradually add in white vinegar.
  5. Let the meat cool for about 20 minutes, this will make it easier to thinly slice. Thinly slice the donair meat.
  6. Warm your pita and fill with the slices of donair meat. Top with some donair sauce, onions and tomatoes.
Canadian Donair Kebabs

Canadian Donair Kebabs

This Canadian Donair Kebab recipe is perfect for those of you that want to make this classic Canadian delicacy at home.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Resting Time 20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Canadian
Servings 6
Calories 416 kcal

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Bowl for Mixing

Ingredients
 

  • 1 ½ lb Lean Ground Beef
  • 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tsp Onion Powder
  • 2 Tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1 Tsp Paprika
  • ½ Tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • ½ Tsp Salt
  • ¼ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 Egg
  • 6 large Greek Pocketless Pita Bread

Donair Sauce

  • 5 oz Evaporated Milk
  • ½ Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 3 Tbsp White Sugar
  • ¼ Cup White Vinegar

Toppings

  • 1 small Sweet Onion, diced
  • 1 Tomato, diced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, spices and egg.
  • Shape the meat mixture into a loaf shape (like a large meatloaf) and place on the baking sheet. Cook for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  • While the meat is cooking. In a small bowl, combine the evaporated milk with the garlic and sugar. Gradually add in white vinegar.
  • Let the meat cool for about 20 minutes, this will make it easier to thinly slice. Thinly slice the donair meat.
  • Warm your pita and fill with the slices of donair meat. Top with some donair sauce, onions and tomatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 33gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 633mgPotassium: 693mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 513IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 4mg

Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

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2 Comments

  1. I’m from the East Coast originally and will have to give your version a try. My current recipe doesn’t use an egg and the sauce has no sugar but I do use sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated.

  2. Since I am Canadian and I just love this site, I figured I would try the Donair, as I have eaten them in my home town. It was the best Donair that I have ever tasted. Very tasty and easy to make. A keeper in my house.

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