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Chicken Doner Kebab - Tavuk Döner

Chicken Doner Kebab, or Tavuk Döner as it's called in Turkey, is a popular street food made with deliciously tender marinated chicken thighs, wrapped in warm flatbread along with fresh vegetables.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 8 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 504kcal
Author: Ayla Clulee

Equipment

  • 1 kitchen scale
  • 1 measuring spoons
  • 1 Ninja BN601 Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 1¾ lbs chicken thighs (800 grams)
  • 2 small tomatoes
  • 1 medium onion
  • ¼ bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 2 tablespoon yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes
  • 1 large onion (cut in half)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preparing the Marinade

  • Blitz the tomato, onion, and parsley to a smooth pure.
  • Place the pure into a bowl along with yogurt, olive oil, garlic powder, tomato paste, freshly ground black pepper, salt, paprika, flaked chili, and dried thyme.
  • Mix everything until well combined, then add the chicken thighs, tossing them until they’re fully coated with the marinade.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. For the best flavor, let it marinate overnight.
  • Soak 2 bamboo skewers in water while chicken is marinating.

Building the Chicken Doner Kebab

  • Push half an onion onto two skewers that have been soaked, making sure the flat side rests on a flat surface.
  • Start threading the chicken thighs onto the skewers, pressing each piece tightly together in layers. Once done, secure the stack with the other half of the onion on top. Keep your oven's or BBQ lid's height in mind before you start skewering the chicken.
  • If you're using a BBQ to cook your chicken doner, place it in a disposable aluminum tray. If you're cooking it in the oven, you can use a baking tray instead.

Cooking the Tavuk Doner on BBQ

  • Heat the grill to 400°F (205℃), which is medium-high on most grills.
  • Place the aluminum tray with the chicken doner on the grill and close the lid. Let it cook for about 1 hour, until nicely charred and well-cooked on the outside.
  • Remove the tray from the BBQ and slice off the outer layers of the chicken doner.
  • Place the doner back on the grill and continue cooking. You might need to repeat this process a few times, depending on the thickness of your chicken doner.
  • Once all the chicken doner is cooked and sliced, return the slices to the aluminum tray and warm them up before serving.

Cooking the Tavuk Doner in Oven

  • Set your oven to 400°F (205°C).
  • Place the prepared chicken doner stack into a large baking tray with edges or walls.
  • Remove all the oven racks except the lowest one to ensure the base of your doner doesn’t touch the oven floor.
  • Place the tray with the chicken doner in the oven and cook for 35-40 minutes, until the outer layers are nicely charred.
  • Remove the tray from the oven and slice off the outer layers of the chicken doner.
  • Return the doner to the oven and continue cooking. You may need to repeat this process a few times, depending on the thickness of your chicken doner.
  • Once all the chicken doner is cooked and sliced, place the slices back in the baking tray and warm them in the hot oven before serving.

Serving Chicken Doner Kebab

  • Briefly warm your flatbreads in a dry pan or directly over a gas flame for a few seconds on each side.
  • Place a few slices of chicken in the center of each flatbread. Top with slices of tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and Sumac Onions - Turkish Red Onion Salad. I sometimes add Pickled Red Cabbage for extra tanginess.
  • I usually skip the sauce but you can add a drizzle of garlic yogurt sauce or tahini sauce over the top. You can make your own garlic yogurt sauce by mixing plain yogurt with minced garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
  • Fold the flatbread around the filling and serve immediately. If you like, you can also wrap the kebab in parchment paper to make it easier to eat.

Notes

  • I prefer using chicken thighs as they are generally more flavorful and juicier than chicken breasts.
  • The longer the chicken marinates, the more flavorful it will be. If you’re short on time, try to marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours.
  • If you have access to a grill, consider grilling the chicken instead of roasting. The grill adds a nice char and smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the marinade.
  • Keep your oven's or BBQ lid's height in mind before you start skewering the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 197mg | Sodium: 200mg | Potassium: 659mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1083IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg