Halifax Donair
User Reviews
4.7
Halifax Donair
Description
The Halifax Donair recipe blends ground beef with spices including coriander, onion and garlic powders, oregano, thyme, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. The meat is kneaded and shaped tightly into a loaf, then baked and rested to develop flavor and firm texture. Thin slices of the baked meat replicate the donair’s signature thin, tender, and slightly crisped meat pieces.
The donair sauce combines evaporated milk, sugar, garlic powder, and white vinegar and is prepared ahead to allow the flavors to meld into a sweet and garlicky dressing that balances the robust meat. This sauce can also be made with sweetened condensed milk for a thicker consistency.
Serve the sliced meat and sauce on pita bread with chopped tomato and onions, creating a handheld sandwich that blends meat, sauce, and fresh vegetables. Leftovers can be stored separately for up to four days, making it suitable for make-ahead meals or donair-style pizza toppings.
Ingredients
Donair Meat
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon oregano dried
- ½ teaspoon thyme dried
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper ground
Donair Sauce
- 10 ounce evaporated milk (1 can)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup white vinegar
To Assemble
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 4 large pita bread
Instructions
Make Donair Sauce
- Make sweet sauce: Whisk all the donair sauce ingredients together, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. You’ll want to make this in the beginning, to give the sauce ingredients time to blend together.
Donair Meat
- Make the meat mixture: Add all the donair meat ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer and mix using the dough hook for about 5 minutes on medium low.
- Form the meat mixture and cover with foil: Form the meat into a loaf that’s about 8 inches in length. Make sure to knead it and roll the loaf so that it’s as tight as possible and all the air is out of it. Cover the loaf tightly with aluminum foil, rolling the ends tightly, so that it forms an even log. If you have skewers, thread 2 skewers through the log. Transfer the loaf to the fridge and let it rest for 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
- Prep oven and baking sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the log on the baking sheet, propping the skewers on the edges.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 1½ hours. Remove the foil from the donair log and place the skewers back on the baking pan. Bake for another 30 minutes or until browned all over. Let it cool before slicing.
Assemble Sandwich
- Cut the meat: Remove the skewers from the donair meat log and cut off one end so that you can stand the log up. Shave the meat thinly about ⅛ inch in thickness.
- Prep the pita breads: Steam the pita breads or warm them in the microwave so that it’s easier to make donair wraps.
- Crisp up and reheat the meat: Heat a bit of oil in a large skillet and cook the shaved meat until warmed through but not crispy.
- Assemble donairs: Place the donair meat onto a pita bread, add chopped tomatoes and onions, then drizzle with donair sauce. Roll up the pita tightly and enjoy!
Notes
- Prepare the donair sauce early to allow the flavors to meld properly before serving.
- Sweetened condensed milk can substitute evaporated milk for a thicker sauce without flavor change.
- Crisping sliced meat before serving enhances texture but is optional.
- Donair meat can be repurposed as a pizza topping with pita, sauce, tomato, and onion.
- Store ingredients separately in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 401 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1donair | |
| Calories | 401kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 84mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 859mg | 36% |
| Potassium | 637mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 356IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 159mg | 16% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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