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Doner meat and tomato butter sauce on top of toasted pita squares on a white and blue serving tray with charred peppers and tomato and yogurt on a blue background with a small plate of toasted cubed pita and a bowl of yogurt and water glasses on the side
5 from 1 rating

Easy Turkish Iskender Kebab

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
This popular Turkish dish combines succulent doner or steak along with a buttery tomato sauce and yogurt, all layered toasted bread. Served with yogurt and charred vegetables, the combination of flavours is out of this world!
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Ingredients
 

For the Meat

  • doner kebab recipe , OR
  • 500 grams beef tenderloin, sirloin or skirt steak, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Tomato Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups water

For Serving

  • 4 pita or Turkish bread, thick pita preffered
  • 4 green peppers, grilled
  • 2 tomatoes, quartered and grilled
  • 4 tablespoons ghee or butter, melted
  • 1 cup yogurt, optional

Instructions
 

For the Meat

  • Prepare doner meat as indicated in recipe.
  • Alternatively, in a medium bowl, marinate the tenderloin slices with the grated onion, black pepper, salt, chilli flakes and olive oil for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • In a cast iron or non-stick skillet, on medium to high heat cook the tenderloin slices for 2-3 minutes on each side. Set aside.

For the Tomato Sauce

  • In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil and cook the tomato paste on medium heat for 2 minutes before adding the spices and water. Let the mixture boil for 5 minutes till it thickens and develops a deep flavor.

For Serving

  • Cube the bread into 1 inch sized cubes. Place on a large baking sheet with parchment paper and broil on high for 2 minutes until it is lightly golden and crispy. Keep an eye on it as it will burn quickly!
  • On a cast iron skillet or in the oven, grill the peppers and tomatoes for a couple of minutes until they get a nice char.
  • To assemble: on individual plates, add some of the toasted pita squares, pour some of the tomato sauce, top with the cooked meat, and serve along with 2 tablespoons of yogurt, tomatoes and peppers on the side. Drizzle the melted butter or ghee on top to finish.

Notes

  • You can make doner kebab using this recipe, or just use thinly sliced steak. Tenderloin, sirloin or skirt steak will all work. Ensure you slice them against the grain.
  • You can use store bought Turkish bread as pictured in the recipe, but it can be hard to find. Alternatively, you can use thick pita bread. Ensure it is thick to avoid it getting soggy from the sauce.
Serving: 1Serving, Calories: 482kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 1188mg, Potassium: 799mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 1815IU, Vitamin C: 114mg, Calcium: 166mg, Iron: 2mg
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