One of my first food memories, actually just one of my first memories, is of a small pizza place under the MacDonald bridge in Dartmouth. It was only about two or three blocks from my family home, and I have a memory of trying my first bite of donair from there. We moved from Dartmouth when I was almost four, so that first donair experience would have been when I was about three. I have loved them ever since.
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Over the years, I have done my fair share of experimenting with donair flavours. I even once put a donair-spiced scallop dish on a menu. And so, I wanted to make a donair, without making a donair. I wanted the same flavours but in a different package. To do that, I went back to the origins of the donair but kept the flavours that I've loved for my whole life. And so, I present to you my Halifax-Style Donair Kabobs with tomato salad and yogurt sauce.
What is a Halifax Donair?
If you aren't from Nova Scotia, you may be wondering to yourself, "What is a Halifax Donair?". Let me enlighten you. A Halifax Donair is made from spiced beef that is cooked on a vertical spit. Thinly shaved and wrapped in a soft Lebanese-style pita with fresh diced white onion and tomato, and finished with a sweet and tangy sauce made of sweetened condensed milk, vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder.
It is the kind of thing you usually only eat after a long night out, or on a Friday night in with friends. Every pizza place in the province, except for some of the big national chains, sells donairs. And just about every Nova Scotian, at least from a certain generation forward, has a deep-seated love for them. I happily include myself in this group.
Other places in the world have donair, often spelled doner kebab, or gyros, which are similar. But none are quite like the Halifax Donair, which was introduced to the region by Greek immigrants in the 1970s. It was originally served as a lamb gyro with tzatziki sauce, but the recipe was changed to what it is now to suit local tastes. Since then, it has been a local favourite and has now begun to spread across the country. However, only one city can truly claim it as their own. It is, after all, the official food of Halifax.
If you're a fan of Greek-inspired flavours, you might also enjoy my lamb gyro bowl or my tzatziki recipe for a more traditional take on Mediterranean spiced meat dishes.
Making The Donair Kabob Meat Mixture
Okay, let's get cooking. Start with a pound of lean ground beef. Add some flour (I used gluten-free all-purpose flour), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, dried onion or onion powder, cayenne, oregano, salt, and pepper. See the recipe above for all the measurements.
Mixing and Tasting The Donair Meat
Mix the meat well. I mean really well. You want to knead it for about five minutes or until it develops a tacky look and texture. This will give the meat the right texture when cooked. The kneading process develops the proteins in the meat, which is what gives donair its characteristic firm, slightly springy texture rather than a crumbly one like a regular burger.
Break off a little piece of the meat and cook it in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Taste it, and adjust the seasoning as needed. This is a good habit to get into whenever making anything with ground meat like meatloaf or burgers. Season the meat, cook off a little piece and taste it. It takes 30 seconds and can save you from serving under-seasoned food.
Making Donair Kabobs
The picture below shows six skewers, but the recipe above only makes four. I apologize for the confusion. I adjusted the recipe because the salad and the sauce were only enough for four.
Divide the meat into four evenly sized balls. Wrap each ball around a metal or pre-soaked wooden or bamboo skewer. Gently squeeze the meat to spread it out the length of the skewer in an even layer. Make sure the meat is packed firmly so it doesn't fall off the skewer during grilling. If you find it sliding, wet your hands slightly and press more firmly.
Grilling The Donair Kabobs
Heat your grill to 400 degrees F and let it sit for about 10 minutes to get the grates nice and hot. Cook the skewers for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating every 2 to 3 minutes until cooked. The meat should be firm to the touch with a little spring back when fully cooked. Take the Donair Kabobs off the grill and serve immediately.
Garlicky Yogurt Sauce
Traditional Donair Sauce is made with sweetened condensed milk, onion powder, and garlic powder. It is delicious but not great if you are trying to watch your waistline. So, I wanted to make a slightly healthier sauce. I made a version with non-fat Greek yogurt as the base. It is sweetened with honey, soured with lemon juice, has plenty of garlic, a bit of onion powder, and tastes delicious.
Mix all the ingredients, cover the bowl and put it in the fridge for an hour to let the flavours develop. This sauce works with any spiced meat and goes great on salad bowls too.
Tomato and Onion Salad
I have to tell you, the surprise breakout star of this meal is by far this really simple tomato and onion salad. I loved the Donair Kabobs, the Garlicky Yogurt sauce was fantastic, but this salad was amazing! Fresh vine-ripened tomatoes with garlic, red onion, parsley, white wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper. That's all there is to it, and I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes one of your new favourite summer side dishes. It has become one of mine.
Just like with the sauce, mix all the salad ingredients, cover the bowl, and let it sit in the fridge for an hour before serving for best results. The resting time allows the tomatoes to release their juices and mingle with the vinegar and oil, creating a beautiful, flavourful dressing all on its own.
Putting It All Together
All the components of this meal are good on their own, but when you take a bite with a bit of the meat, some of the salad, and a touch of the sauce, that is when the magic happens. The flavours come alive, and you really get that Halifax Donair experience. Minus the hangover and sauce dripping all over your hands, arms, and clothes.
A Taste of Home on the Grill
I've wanted to make this for a long time, and I am so happy that I finally got the opportunity. It was well worth the wait. This recipe holds a special place in my heart because it connects me to some of my earliest memories and to the city that shaped so much of who I am.
I think you'll be happy if you make any of the components of this meal, but if you make them all and serve it together, you will be over the moon. The donair meat on its own is brilliant, the yogurt sauce is endlessly versatile, and that tomato salad genuinely surprised me with how flavourful something so simple could be. Fire up the grill and give this one a try. I promise you won't regret it.
The Recipes
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef 454 g
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion flakes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and mix well. Knead the meat mixture for five minutes or until it develops a tacky texture and appearance.
- Divide the meat in four and form each fourth of meat around a 12-inch skewer. If you are using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 1 hour before skewering the meat.
- Wrap the meat around the skewer and gently squeeze it to spread it out in an even layer around the length of the skewer.
- Heat your grill to 400°f.
- Grill the skewers on the hottest part of your grill for 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked through. Flip them every 2 to 3 minutes.
- Take the skewers off the grill and serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ c Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for an hour before serving.
Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 cups large diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon thinly sliced garlic
- 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for one hour before serving.
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