What is Donar Kebab Meat?

Question

Is it an unsolved mystery? Does it depend onthe shop you buy it from? Is it made from something unsavoury?

Answer 1

Do you really want to know?????

Generally any meat can be used, but never Pork (due to muslim beleifs). Generally it is lamb or mutton with a fair quantity of fat from the source meat. Can be ground (and moulded into the big jobby) or sliced meat (skewered onto the rotisserie spike) or a combination of both. Traditional Turkish Doner Kebabs in Turkey, are slices of meat, with vegetables such as carrot onion etc wedged onto the skewer, and these taste very little if nothing like our favourite friday/saturday night delights here in the UK.

To get that delightful Friday /Saturday kebab taste the following spices are generally used in the big jobby ....

Lamb (Shoulder or Leg normally but you can never be sure).
crumbed bread (to bind)
vegetable oil.
cumin seed.
coriander seed.
Dried Red Chillis.
black pepper.
salt
ghee, butter, or margarine.

This is a typical doner mix, but not traditional, and it can and does vary hugely, hence the reason that some shops are better than others.... A really good doner would have been made with fennel lemon juice, garlic and thyme.

There's generally a 60% minimum meat content, and it needs a high fat content to help cook all the way through. You'll notice the fat running off while the big jobby rotates on the spit.

Beleive it or not the company Rajah Spices do packets of kebab meat flavouring!

Answer 2

Have you ever heard of the "Donner Party"? They were a group of early pioneers that set off in a wagon train across the U.S. They got stranded in the Rockies in Colorado by a fierce winter snow. A few of them went on to find the right path, but the rest stayed behind. Some in the party died from hunger and frost bite. The survivors ran out of food and had to resort to cannibalism to survive the winter. This is why it's called "Donar Kebab Meat".

Answer 3

Bit like a luncheon meat thing: meat of donkey, rodent, horse, stary dog, etc have been known to be grounded up for donar kebabs - of course it would taste delicious - pure lean protein. Enjoy!!

Answer 4

I have seen the making of that cone of stuff on TV once !
It is all sorts of meat and fat pulped with bread ,salt etc. and than formed into that shape we know
to be delivered to Kebab Houses ! Absolutely disgusting !
I am a vegetarian if I hadn't been one already I am sure I would have turned into one after seeing that !

Answer 5

It should be made of lamb & mutton, with some herb, spices and oil thrown in.
Of course, it isn't made from prime cuts of meat, instead it's made from whatever's left after the butcher has finished with it. Just like burgers and sausages really - that's why it all tastes so good!

Answer 6

Officially it is lamb and spices, however am sure that some of the places I have been too in the past may have been more 'liberal' with the ingredients.

Stick with the chicken ones, you know what your getting and they don't leave that awful taste in your mouth the next morning!

Answer 7

Some things are better not knowing! I guess it depends on where you have one but I would have a go at 'mechanically recovered meat' the scraps left on the bones and just no use for anything else

Answer 8

a sort of barking lamb.....(bit of dog in there, or cardboard) Best place to get a Kebab is just of Tottenham Ct. Road in London, first Greek place from the 60 's and it is so good and fresh....not like the dog food they serve up for pissheads up north. ,

Answer 9

donar kebab meat is nothing more than minced lamb which is pressed to form the shape you see in the shops. Hope this answers your question

Answer 10

I know its spiced lamb, but until a few years ago I used to believe my dad who told me it was an elephant leg they had rotating in the kebab shop - I was so gullable!