Page Updated

October 30, 1999

Glossary of
Turkish Dishes

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Category: Meat Dish

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Description

Ingredients

Method

Iskender Doner is a popular restaurant dish, served in different ways depending on which Turkish City you are in.

This recipe is the traditional meal served in Istanbul and many of the Aegean and Mediterranean resorts. The preparation method described is for cooking at home. Ideally the Doner is sliced and added directly to the plate.

Iskender a very filling main course and traditionally accompanied by the yogurt drink, Ayran.

This recipe serves 4

• 400g doner kebab slices
• 2 rounds of pide bread
• 50g tomato puree
• 2 large tomatoes
• 500g yogurt
• 4 large cloves of garlic
• 50g butter
• salt to taste
• Cayenne pepper
• 4 large chili peppers

Final Touches:

• If available add a slice of Adana Kebab to garnish the top before serving.
• Each plate can be served with a small amount of the melted butter and tomatoe sauce or these can be served separately in small jugs on the table.

Comments and
Serving Suggestions:

1. Vary the amount of pepper and salt to suit individual taste.
2. Slices of doner kebab can be obtained from any restaurant or street vendor. To make your own doner kebab see the recipe here.

1. Warm the pide by placing on a barbecue grill and keep warm. When all other ingredients are prepared, slice the pide into 3cm squares, divide into 4 portions and place as a layer on each plate.
2. Crush the garlic and add to the yogurt, mix well adding a little salt to taste. Spoon onto the pide squares just before adding the doner kebab slices.
3. Heat the doner kebab quickly taking care not to allow the strips to become too dry.
4. Cut the tomatoes in half and grill slowly until hot, do not allow to overcook and become too soft.
5. Grill the green chillies taking care not to burn, again do not allow to overcook and become too soft.
6. Mix the tomato puree with the olive oil and cayenne pepper and heat in a small pan on the grill. Add salt to taste.