Nova Scotia Style Donair Recipe

Nova Scotia Style Donair Recipe

  • 4 pounds ground beef
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 5 teaspoons all-purpose flour (optional)
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 5 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons crushed dried chile pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Sauce:
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar, or as needed
  • 15 pita bread rounds
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped, or more to taste
  • 1 onion, chopped
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a large baking pan with sides.
  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.
  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.
  4. Stir evaporated milk, sugar, and 2 teaspoons garlic powder together in a small bowl; gradually stir in vinegar just until mixture thickens.
  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.
  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.