How to make Döner Kebab, Germany's most popular street food.

thinly sliced lamb

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: pork loin

Chicken is leaner, while pork is often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has a higher smoke point and is healthier.

yogurt

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: sour cream

Greek yogurt is thicker and adds creaminess.

hot sauce

🥗Healthier: salsa

💰Cheaper: ketchup

Salsa provides flavor with fewer calories.

If your chicken thighs are bone-in, remove the chicken skin and bones. Optionally save the bones for stock and render chicken skin in a pot over low heat. The fat can be used for cooking the chicken later. If you have boneless chicken thighs, proceed from here.

Generously season the chicken on all sides with a sprinkle of salt. If you want to be exact, use 1% salt by weight relative to the total weight of the chicken meat. For example, 900 g of boneless chicken would need 9 g of salt.

Mix the remaining dry seasonings in a bowl. Evenly sprinkle the seasoning onto all sides of the chicken thighs, and then lay them flat on a baking sheet. Freeze this sheet tray (uncovered) for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to firm up the chicken for slicing.

Once the seasoned chicken is frozen, pull out one piece at a time and slice the chicken as thinly as possible with a knife. This should make almost translucent shavings that will mimic the texture of döner meat when cooked.

Preheat a griddle or cast iron pan over high heat. Add a drizzle of cooking oil (or rendered chicken fat, if using) to coat the cooking surface. Add a single layer of shaved chicken straight from the freezer and sear undisturbed on high heat until browned on one side.

Make the herb sauce: Set a bowl over a scale to measure all the ingredients. Mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Make the spicy sauce: Mix the ingredients and taste. Add more of an ingredient if desired.

Make the cabbage slaw: Add the thinly sliced cabbage to a bowl and dress with a sprinkle of salt, lemon juice, and a drizzle of oil. Taste and adjust as needed. This gets better as it sits over time. Prep the remaining vegetables and optionally season with a sprinkle of salt.

Warm the bread: Place a triangle or serving of Pide (Turkish bread) in a wet paper towel. Microwave for 30 seconds. Then, toast in a pan and flatten with a press or another pan before assembling. This gets you a crispy exterior with a warmed interior ready for serving.

Assemble: Slice or tear the triangle of Pide bread open so it can be filled. Slather one side with herb sauce, and the other side with spicy sauce. Add a serving of seared chicken, and then a handful of the vegetables and cabbage slaw. Close the döner, optionally wrap or serve with parchment paper. Enjoy.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens