Turkish Iskender Kebab: Pro Recipe from Bursa

El Iskender Kebab It is one of the most glorious creations of Turkish cuisine, invented in Bursa in 1867 by Iskender Efendi. Thin slices of lamb or beef roasted vertically (döner), served on pide bread topped with tomato sauce, melted butter, and yogurt. It is an explosion of flavors that represents the perfection of the Ottoman kebab.

The key lies in the quality of the meat, thinly sliced ​​and roasted on the traditional vertical spit, and in the spiced tomato sauce that binds everything together. The pide bread soaks up the meat juices and sauces, creating a delicious base. In this AI Chef Pro recipe, we'll show you an adapted home version that maintains the essence of the original from Bursa.

General Information

• Preparation time: 30 minutes (plus marinating: 4 hours)
• Cooking time: 20 minutes
• Rations: 4 people
• Difficulty: Media

Ingredients

For the Meat:

• 600g lamb or veal (leg), thinly sliced
• 1 onion, grated
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Salt and pepper

For the Tomato Sauce:

• 400g crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Sal Island

To Assemble:

• 4 pide or pita breads
• 200g Greek yogurt
• 50g melted butter
• Chopped parsley
• Roasted tomatoes (optional)
• Roasted peppers (optional)

Step by Step Preparation

Phase 1: Marinate Meat (4 hours or overnight)

Step 1: Mix grated onion, garlic, oil, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, salt and pepper.

Step 2: Cover the slices of meat with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Phase 2: Tomato Sauce (15 min)

Step 3: Melt butter in a saucepan. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.

Step 4: Add sugar, cayenne pepper, and salt. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat until thickened.

Phase 3: Cook Meat (15 min)

Step 5: Drain the meat from the marinade (discard the onion).

Step 6: In a hot pan with a little oil, sauté the meat in batches for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

Step 7: The meat should be juicy, not dry.

Phase 4: Assembly

Step 8: Cut the bread into pieces, toast lightly.

Step 9: Place bread on a plate. Pour some hot tomato sauce over it.

Step 10: Spread the meat over the bread.

Step 11: Cover with more hot tomato sauce.

Step 12: Drizzle with melted butter on top.

Step 13: Add a spoonful of yogurt to the side. Sprinkle with parsley.

Key Techniques

1. Thin Films

The meat should be finely sliced ​​so that it cooks quickly and absorbs the marinade.

2. Hot Sauce

The sauce should be served piping hot to keep the dish at the right temperature.

3. Butter at the End

The touch of melted butter is essential for the authentic flavor.

Summary Table

Appearance	Detail
Total time	5+ hours
Difficulty	Media
Servings	4 people
Origin	Türkiye (Bursa)