How to Make a Healthy Doner Kebab

When it comes to healthy eating, a doner kebab from the local takeaway is a complete no-no. It is estimated that a doner kebab takeaway contains, on average, an entire wine glass of cooking fat. So, why not look for a healthy doner kebab alternative?

So how can we make a doner kebab part of our healthy eating regime? Pretty simple, make it yourself.

At least this way you know the ingredients you are using and you can take care to make a healthy doner kebab the way it suits you. Anything you make yourself at home is more likely to be far healthier than anything you buy outside.

So, let’s look at making your own healthy version of the doner kebab.

The traditional meat used for doner is lamb. 

Lamb meat itself is actually quite healthy, more so you’ll find than battery-farmed chicken because animals are raised in an organic and ethical environment.

They live in open grass fields and graze freely without having to consume hormone induced feeds. Therefore, the meat is more succulent and natural for your body, without any harmful chemicals.

The problem with the takeaway doner kebab meat is the way in which manufacturers reprocesses lamb meat and a lot of other meat cuts into something that is almost unrecognisable.

For the healthy doner kebab recipe, it is best to use fresh lamb mince. Thus, you won’t be using chemical preservatives or ingredients that food manufacturers use to make food last longer.

So, let’s take the doner back to its lamb roots for a tastier and far healthier option.

This simple recipe of a do-it-yourself doner is ideal for you to make it more healthy. You can tweak it to suit your Desi tastebuds. You can even add extra chilli for a bigger zing. 

Healthy Doner Kebab Recipe

Ingredients

•  400g lean minced lamb
• ½ onion, roughly chopped
• 1tsp ground coriander
• 1tsp ground cumin
• 1tsp sea salt
• 1tsp plain flour
• 1 egg
• 4 pitta breads (white or wholemeal)
• 1tsp black pepper
• 1 large garlic clove (crushed)
• Squeeze of lemon, Salad leaves, yoghurt and mint to finish

Method:

1. Pre-heat grill to a medium or high heat.
2. Line a flat lamington pan (28cm x 8cm) with greaseproof paper. Oil the paper lightly.
3. Put lamb mince, onion, coriander, cumin, egg, flour, garlic, salt and black pepper into a food processor. Blitz together until smooth.
4. Take the mixture and press into the pan evenly.
5. Put the pan under the grill until lightly brown. This might take 4-5 minutes.
6. Drain excess liquid then take out on a wooden board.
7. Take off the paper on the underside – and return to pan (sealed-side down)
8. Grill for another 2 to 3 minutes until the lamb is cooked through.
9. Once cooked, slice into thin strips and then fill inside a pita bread or a naan.
10. Add lemon, salad yoghurt and mint to complete.

Making doner at home is very easy – and can definitely be a healthy part of your lifestyle. Its pros over the takeaway version are that everything used above is natural, and they are ingredients that you use in your everyday cooking, minus the unnecessary fat.

So why give up on one of the nation’s favourite food dishes? Make a healthy doner kebab and enjoy it your way!