İskender Kebab — Print Recipe

Thinly shaved lamb döner draped over cubes of buttery pide bread, bathed in a rich tomato sauce, and finished with a dramatic tableside pour of sizzling brown butter and a cloud of creamy yogurt. This Bursa masterpiece is Turkish kebab culture at its most theatrical and indulgent.

Ingredients

600g thinly sliced lamb (döner-style or from leg)
4 pieces day-old pide bread, cubed
400g canned crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
100g butter
400g thick yogurt
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
Salt and black pepper
Roasted green peppers and tomatoes for garnish
Fresh parsley

Instructions

1 Prepare the tomato sauce: heat olive oil in a saucepan, add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes until rich and thick.
2 Cube the pide bread into 2cm pieces and arrange in a single layer on serving plates or a large platter.
3 Season the thinly sliced lamb with salt, pepper, and Aleppo pepper. Cook in a very hot skillet or on a griddle in batches, searing quickly until charred at the edges but still tender. Keep warm.
4 Ladle the hot tomato sauce over the bread cubes, allowing them to soak up the sauce and soften slightly while maintaining some texture.
5 Arrange the seared lamb slices over the sauced bread. Spoon generous dollops of thick yogurt alongside.
6 In a small pan, melt the butter over medium heat and cook until it foams and turns a deep nutty brown color. Immediately pour the sizzling brown butter over the lamb and bread at the table for dramatic effect.
7 Garnish with roasted green peppers and tomatoes, sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately. Eat with a fork and knife, ensuring each bite includes bread, meat, sauce, yogurt, and butter.

Did You Know?

İskender Kebab was invented by İskender Efendi in 1867 in Bursa. His descendants still operate the original İskenderoglu restaurant, and the family trademarked the name. The dramatic butter pour is non-negotiable in authentic service.