Kebab Shop Doner Kebabs
S6 E18 | Brad Williams & Braun Strowman | A Tale of Two Heights | Something’s Burning
We’re setting records this week with the biggest height difference in Something’s Burning history. WWE superstar Braun Strowman towers over comedian Brad Williams — 6’8” vs. 4’4” — and it’s basically all we can talk about. Somewhere in between the jokes, I make the viral gyro-style doner kebabs taking over Instagram… and they live up to the hype.
Ingredients
- Doner Kebab Meat & Veg:
- 3 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, grated
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- ⅓ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper
- 4 Roma tomatoes, quartered
- 1 yellow onion, cut into 6–8 wedges
- 2 jalapeños, quartered
- 4 large pita breads
- Tahini Sauce:
- ½ cup tahini
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove, microplaned
- ¼ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp cold water (plus more as needed)
- ½ tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- Garlic Toum Sauce:
- 1 large head garlic, peeled (or 2 small)
- 1 tsp salt
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1¾ cups grapeseed oil
- 5–7 tbsp iced water
- Cayenne Sauce:
- ¼ cup oil
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (reduce to ¼–½ tsp for mild)
- ¼ cup water
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Make tahini sauce: combine tahini and lemon juice in a bowl. Add garlic, salt, and yogurt and mix well. Thin with cold water, one spoon at a time, until drizzleable. Set aside.
- Make garlic toum: add garlic and salt to food processor and pulse until minced, scraping sides as needed. Add lemon juice and pulse again.
- With processor on low speed, drizzle in oil very slowly. Every ¼ cup of oil, add a spoon of iced water. Continue 10–12 minutes until light, fluffy, and emulsified. Transfer to bowl and refrigerate.
- Make cayenne sauce: heat oil in skillet over medium. Add tomato paste and sauté 3 minutes. Add cayenne and ketchup; whisk and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in water and cook 2 more minutes. Set aside.
- Make doner beef: in a large bowl combine beef, grated onion, garlic, yogurt, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Using gloved hands, massage mixture until fully combined.
- Lay 5 sheets of parchment on counter. Divide beef into 5 balls, place on parchment, top with parchment, and roll flat. Remove top sheet and roll each sheet into a loose parchment “cigar.”
- Place parchment-wrapped beef rolls on a sheet tray.
- Add tomatoes, jalapeños, and onion wedges to one end of tray. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake tray for 15–17 minutes.
- Remove tray. Carefully unroll parchment and let beef fall back onto tray. Tear meat into large pieces.
- Place tray under broiler on high (or 500°F) for 2–3 minutes to lightly char meat and vegetables.
- Prepare pitas: pierce edge with knife and cut around to split each pita in half.
- Lay two halves overlapping, cut sides facing up. Repeat with all pitas.
- Spread garlic toum generously over pita. Top with beef, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño (if desired).
- Drizzle generously with tahini sauce.
- Roll pita like a cigar, leaving ends open.
- Serve immediately, or toast.
- To toast: brush outside of pita with cayenne sauce. Place on lightly greased sheet tray over medium-low burner, turning and basting until crispy on all sides (≈ 6 minutes). Alternatively toast in skillet or grill pan.