Nova Scotia Style Donair

This Nova Scotia-style donair sandwich recipe starts with a meatloaf made with ground beef, ground lamb, and spices, plus a donair sweet milk sauce.

• Preparation Time: 40 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 3 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 511 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 5 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 4 pounds ground beef
• 2 tomatoes, chopped, or more to taste
• 5 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons crushed dried chile pepper
• 3 tablespoons white vinegar, or as needed
• 15 pita bread rounds
• 0.75 cup white sugar
• 2.5 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1.5 teaspoons paprika
• 2.5 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2.5 teaspoons dry mustard
• 2.5 teaspoons cracked black pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a large baking pan with sides.

Step 2

Combine evaporated milk, sugar, and 2 teaspoons garlic powder in a small bowl; gradually stir in vinegar just until mixture thickens.

Step 3

Combine beef, lamb, flour, oregano, salt, dry mustard, 2 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chile pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning in a bowl; knead with your hands until mixture is paste-like, about 10 minutes. Roll into a large loaf shape; place into the prepared baking pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Remove from oven; place loaf on a drip rack to allow juices and fat to drain until completely cool. Refrigerate loaf for 6 hours to overnight.

Step 5

Slice donair loaf into strips about ⅛-inch to ¼-inch thick; fry in a skillet over medium-high heat, in single-sandwich batches, until begins to crisp at edges. Remove from skillet. Quickly rub 1 pita round lightly with water; fry pita in same skillet, turning once, just until warm, about 1 minute.

Step 6

Spread pita with about ½ tablespoon sauce; top with pan-fried donair meat. Garnish with tomato, onion, and more sauce; repeat with remaining donair and pita.