DIY doner kebabs that satisfy your craving in a hurry

You don’t need a big, vertical rotisserie to make this spice-rich doner kebab on a soft, fluffy pita.

The gyro or shawarma-style meat not only makes the kitchen smell amazing while it’s cooking, but it also tastes wonderful when served wrapped in a pita smothered with tzatziki sauce and topped with tomatoes, lettuce and onion.

The delicious lamb strips start out with spices.

The spices are ground coriander, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cayenne pepper, dried oregano leaves, salt and pepper.

To a large bowl, add the ground lamb, spices and flour.

Then add fresh lemon juice. Using your hands, mix together until the ingredients are completely incorporated.

Spray cooking spray on the bottom and sides of a bread pan. Put the meat in the pan, and pat it down firmly against the bottom and all sides of the pan.

Bake until the meat is completely cooked. This is when the kitchen smells so good.

After the cooked lamb is cool, cut it into thin slices.

On a cookie sheet (and a rack if you have one), lay the slices of meat flat. Drizzle a little olive oil on top.

Bake for just a bit, until the edges start to get crisp.

To make the tzatziki sauce, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Give the sauce a taste test to see if you prefer more salt or perhaps a bit more lemon juice.

Shred or thinly slice the lettuce, and slice the onion and tomato. I like to add a bit of salt and pepper to the tomatoes.

To me, what really makes this especially tasty is a supersoft and fluffy pita. Spread the tzatziki sauce on the pita (I love tzatziki sauce, so I slather it on). Next, top with tomatoes, slices of meat, onion and lettuce.

Wrap the bottom half of the doner kebab with foil (because it’s so packed full of deliciousness), and then dig in.

Doner kebab recipe

Serves 5

Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes | Inactive time: 20 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients:

For the pita

• 2 pounds ground lamb
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to add heat)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon flour
• Cooking spray
• Olive oil (to drizzle on the meat)
• 5 soft pitas
• Tzatziki sauce (see recipe below)
• 2-1/2 cups shredded head lettuce
• 1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 large tomatoes, sliced
• Salt and pepper (optional, for the tomatoes)

For the tzatziki sauce