Donair
Donair is a popular Canadian takeout meal that can be easily made at home. Similar to Gyro, but made with all beef, served in pita and topped with veggies.
Servings: 8
Calories: 259kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
Donair
- 1 medium onion
- 3 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- vegetable or canola oil
- 8 large pitas (use gluten free pitas to make this recipe gluten free)
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes, sliced or chopped
Sweet Sauce (see notes)
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ⅓ cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Donair
- Heat oven to 375°F (160°C). Peel and chop 1 medium onion, pulse in food processor until pureed. Scoop onion puree into the center of 2-3 layers of paper towels, cheesecloth, or large coffee filters. Gather the edges, and squeeze out all the liquid from the onions. Return onion solids to the food processor and discard the liquid.
- Add 1 pound of the ground beef, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon paprika to the food processor and process until it forms a paste. Add another 1 pound of beef and process again until smooth. Add remaining 1 pound of beef, and process again until smooth, scraping down the sides of the food processor to ensure that everything is smooth. Form the mixture into a log and place onto a broiling pan/rack. Bake for 2 hours, flipping loaf over at the halfway point.
- After 2 hours, remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Wrap cooled loaf in plastic, chill for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Add a little (a couple of teaspoons) of vegetable oil to a large non-skillet over medium heat. Slice donair meat into 1/4" thick slices, add to pan, and reheat until desired texture (If you like crispy edges, cook a little longer than you would if you don't).
- Brush or spray pitas lightly with water. Heat in a hot skillet until warmed through.
- Pile the reheated meat onto the heated pitas. Top with onions and tomatoes. Drizzle generously with sauce. Wrap in wax paper, parchment paper or foil to hold it together while eating. Serve immediately.
Sweet Sauce
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
Skip sweet sauce to make this recipe dairy free.
Nutrition
Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 550mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 291IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 4mg
