Chicken doner is one of several variations on the Turkish dish known as Döner kebab. The dish is known by a number of different names, including doner, donner and donair. This dish is very similar to London chicken, in that both the London and Turkish versions involve cooking the meat on a vertical spit and then slicing the meat to order.
In addition to being prepared with chicken, doner can also make use of mutton, beef, lamb and goat. In all cases, the meat is cooked on a vertical spit and sliced to the specifications of the diner. While London and many other localities tend to favor beef or chicken kebob, many localities in the Middle East tend to use mutton or goat. While the basic preparation of the meat remains the same, beef and chicken doner enjoy several different types of presentations in different countries.
In Germany, it is not unusual for chicken doner to be presented as a simple sandwich accompanied by a salad composed of shredded lettuce leaves, onions, and sliced tomatoes. In other instances, the doner may be presented with a cabbage and cucumber salad. For variety, pita bread is sometimes used for the sandwich.
In many parts of the Middle East, chicken doner is presented along with some type of dipping sauce. The sauce may be a simple affair made with yogurt and selected herbs and spices. For a more robust flavor, the sauce may be prepared using garlic and peppers to provide a tempting hot dip sauce.
The use of chicken doner in wraps has gained a great deal of popularity in some quarters. In Europe, one common creation involves slices of doner, fried potatoes and shredded lettuce, onions and tomatoes. It is possible to obtain wraps that make use of other foods, such as hummus and tahini. In Turkey, the wrap is sometimes presented with chicken doner and Turkish white cheese.
One of the advantages is that chicken doner is relatively easy to prepare. The spit continually turns during the cooking process, ensuring an even golden brown to the cooked meat. The skewer used for the preparation is often shaped like a cylinder, with tomatoes and onions stacked along the top of the skewer. This process allows the juices from the onions and tomatoes to run down the skewer and onto the meat, helping to keep it moist during the cooking process. The slices of doner may be thin or thick, based on the recipe or the wishes of the diner.
