Donair
The donair is a version of the doner kebab originating in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in the early 1970s. A proper donair consists of four main ingredients: donair meat, toppings, donair sauce, and pita bread. Donair meat is made from spiced ground beef sliced off a rotating cone. The toppings typically include chopped onions and tomatoes, while the distinctive sweet sauce is made from sweetened condensed milk, vinegar, and garlic powder. All of these ingredients are wrapped together in a soft white pita.[1]
Course
Snack or main course
Canada
Nova Scotia
Peter Gamoulakos
Hot
Beef
Donair pizza, donair poutine, donair eggroll
History[edit]
The Halifax donair, a popular Canadian dish, was created in the 1970s by Greek immigrant Peter Gamoulakos. Initially offering traditional gyros at Velos Pizza in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Gamoulakos modified the recipe to better suit local tastes. He replaced lamb with beef and developed a sweet sauce made from evaporated milk, vinegar, and garlic powder.[2][3][4]
Development[edit]
Donairs have their origins in Greece or Turkey, traditionally known as "doners," "gyros," or "doner kebabs." The modern fast food doner was reportedly invented by Mahmut Aygun, a Turkish immigrant in Berlin, in 1971. Velos Pizza in Bedford, Nova Scotia, is credited with creating the "Halifax" donair around 1971-1973, featuring a very sweet sauce made from condensed milk, sugar, garlic, and vinegar.[5][1]
In 1973, Gamoulakos opened King of Donair on Quinpool Road in Halifax, where the donair recipe was perfected. The dish quickly gained popularity, becoming a staple of late-night dining. The classic donair consists of spiced ground beef cooked on a rotating spit, served in a pita with tomatoes, onions, and the signature sweet sauce.[4][6]