Nova Scotia Style Donair

If you've ever been to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, hopefully you had the chance to try a donair. This is the recipe used to make those donairs in some places in town. Remember to knead that meat until it's almost a paste!

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

Ingredients

• ¾ cup white sugar
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 2 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 4 pounds ground beef
• 2 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 tomatoes, chopped, or more to taste
• 5 teaspoons all-purpose flour (Optional)
• 5 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 ½ teaspoons dry mustard
• 2 ½ teaspoons cracked black pepper
• 2 teaspoons crushed dried chile pepper
• 3 tablespoons white vinegar, or as needed
• 15 pita bread rounds

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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

Step 2

Place beef, lamb, flour, salt, oregano, dry mustard, 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chile pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning in a bowl; knead all ingredients together with your hands until mixture is like a paste, about 10 minutes. Roll the meat mixture into a large loaf shape, and place into the prepared pan.

Step 3

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 meat on a drip rack until completely cool to allow juices and fat to drain. Refrigerate meat for 6 hours or overnight.

Step 4

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

Step 5

Slice donair meat into strips about 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thick. Fry meat strips in single-sandwich batches in a skillet over medium-high heat until meat begins to crisp at the edges; remove from pan. Quickly rub 1 pita round lightly with water; fry pita in same frying pan, turning once, just until warm, about 1 minute.

Step 6

Spread pita with about 1/2 tablespoons of sauce mixture, top with donair meat, and garnish with onion, tomato, and more sauce; repeat with remaining meat and pita.