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–+ servings

Parchment Doner Kebab Recipe

Laura Ambrouse
Thin beef doner strips on pita with tomato, cucumber and plain yogurt sauce
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The parchment-roll method turns seasoned ground beef into thin pieces for pita, with a quick skillet finish for crisp edges and a cool lemon-yogurt sauce.
Estimated Recipe CostAbout US$11.25 per batch (ingredient portions only; US grocery estimate, October 2026; prices vary; excludes tax, delivery, water, energy and optional extras)
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 pitas
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 527

Ingredients
  

Beef, sauce and serving
  • 454 g 80% lean ground beef 1 pound
  • 60 g yellow onion finely grated
  • 6 g garlic 2 cloves, finely grated
  • 180 g plain whole-milk Greek yogurt divided; 3/4 cup
  • 2 teaspoons paprika 4.6 g
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2.1 g
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 0.5 g
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt 3 g
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 0.6 g
  • 15 ml lemon juice 1 tablespoon
  • 4 small pita breads about 60 g each
  • 200 g tomatoes diced
  • 150 g cucumber diced

Equipment

  • 1 Oven-rated parchment paper
  • 1 Rimmed baking sheet
  • 1 Rolling Pin
  • 1 Large skillet
  • 1 Instant-read thermometer
  • 1 Grater

Instructions
 

Roll, bake and finish
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Check that your parchment is rated for this temperature. Put a rack in the center and set out a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. Mix the beef, finely grated onion, garlic, 60 g (1/4 cup) yogurt, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper until evenly combined and slightly tacky. Divide in half.
  3. Place one half on a 12-by-16-inch parchment sheet, cover with another sheet and roll to an even layer about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick, leaving a small margin. Remove the top sheet. Starting at a short edge, roll the bottom parchment and meat together so paper separates the layers. Repeat with the second half.
  4. Put both rolls seam-side down on the rimmed baking sheet. Bake about 25 minutes, then carefully insert a thin instant-read thermometer through the end into the meat at the center. Continue cooking until the ground beef reaches at least 160°F (71°C); time is a guide, not the doneness test.
  5. While the meat cooks, stir the remaining 120 g (1/2 cup) yogurt with lemon juice. Refrigerate until serving. Warm the pita following its package instructions.
  6. Open the cooked rolls carefully, letting steam escape away from you. Remove all parchment and tear the meat into strips. Transfer meat with a small amount of its rendered juices to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook in a single layer for 2 to 4 minutes, turning once, until some edges brown. Work in batches if needed.
  7. Divide the beef, yogurt sauce, tomatoes and cucumber among the four pita breads. Serve promptly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 filled pita (1/4 batch)Calories: 527kcalCarbohydrates: 41.7gProtein: 30.2gFat: 26.1gSaturated Fat: 9.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11.2gCholesterol: 86.4mgSodium: 709mgPotassium: 687mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5.4gVitamin A: 1055IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 145mgIron: 4.7mg

Notes

Nutrition is a USDA ingredient-sum estimate for one pita with one-quarter of the beef, all yogurt sauce and vegetables; it assumes all recipe fat is consumed, so draining pan fat lowers actual fat/calories. Heat-sensitive vitamin values are ingredient estimates, not adjusted for cooking retention. Trans fat is omitted because cumin and pita source data are incomplete. Do not use wax paper or place parchment under a broiler. Refrigerate components separately within two hours; cooked beef keeps three to four days refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below. Reheat beef to 165°F (74°C).

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