İskender Kebap is one of the most famous meat dishes in Turkey. It comes from the city of Bursa and is widely eaten across the country. The dish is made with thin slices of döner meat placed over small pieces of flatbread. It is topped with warm tomato sauce, yogurt, and melted butter. Traditionally, the meat is cooked on a vertical rotating spit. At home, we prepare it using a pan or oven, which keeps the flavor but is easier to manage.
😌 Difficulty: Medium
⏱️ Preparation time: 25 minutes
🔥 Cooking time: 25 minutes
⏳ Total time: 50 minutes
👥 Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 600 g beef (thinly sliced steak or beef strips)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 2 Turkish flatbreads (pide – soft oval bread)
- 200 g plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the tomato sauce:
- 200 ml tomato passata
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
Typical side:
- Grilled green peppers
- Tomato slices
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix beef with olive oil, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Let rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat a large pan over high heat. Cook the beef in batches so it browns properly. Cook 3-4 minutes until fully cooked. Set aside.
- Prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in a small saucepan. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and stir for 1 minute. Add tomato passata and salt. Simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Cut the flatbread into small squares and place them on a baking tray. Warm in the oven at 180°C for 5 minutes.
- Place the warm bread pieces on a serving plate. Spread yogurt evenly over the bread.
- Add the hot beef on top.
- Pour warm tomato sauce over the meat.
- Melt butter in a small pan until lightly foamy. Drizzle it over the dish.
- Serve immediately with grilled peppers and tomato slices.
SpinThatCuisine Tip 💡
Cook the meat in small batches. If the pan is overcrowded, the meat will release water and become soft instead of slightly crispy.