This Homemade Vegan Doner Kebab Bowl with crispy shredded tofu meat is a simple and delicious recipe that tastes even better than the original from the restaurant!
The Best Vegan Kebab Bowl – healthy & delicious!
Whether as a snack, side dish or filling meal, doner kebab is a delicious Middle Eastern fast food dish that is very popular in many countries around the world! In this recipe I’ll show you how to make the best homemade vegan doner kebab bowl very easy with crispy shredded tofu meat! It is not only healthier and meatless, but also tastes way better than the original!
Crispy potato fries, crunchy salad, fresh vegetables and a creamy sauce are just some of the ingredients that make the doner kebab bowl a real treat! A special highlight of the doner bowl is the doner meat. The meat is traditionally grilled on a skewer, which gives it a tender and juicy texture and intense flavor. But the doner kebab bowl is not only something for meat lovers, because there are now also great alternatives for vegetarians and vegans!
Homemade Vegan Tofu Kebab Meat
While kebab meat is usually made from chicken, lamb or beef, this recipe uses tofu instead of meat. The vegan “kebab meat” is perfectly seasoned, has a crispy crust and is super easy to make from scratch!
Vegan Kebab Bowl Variations
If you are not a fan of tofu, you can of course use other meat alternatives such as plant-based patties, falafel, veggie burgers or seitan. These taste at least as good and offer a healthy and sustainable option.
What makes the kebab bowl so special is the ability to customize it however you like. Whether it’s the choice of side dishes, the spiciness of the sauce, or the amount of meat, you decide what your vegan kebab bowl looks like. This makes it a perfect option for every taste and preference.
Kebab Bowl Ingredients
To make the vegan kebab meat yourself, you need the following ingredients:
- Smoked tofu
- Gyros spice (store-bought or homemade)
- Tomato paste
- Garlic cloves
- Salt and pepper
- Canola oil or sunflower oil
Furthermore, you need fresh vegetables as well as potatoes, rice or bread and a sauce for the kebab bowl. Here is my selection with possible variations:
- Coleslaw (or red cabbage salad)
- Garlic sauce (or tzatziki, aioli, burger sauce)
- Pickled onions (or fresh white or red onions)
- Pita bread (or other bread)
- French fries (or potato wedges or roasted potatoes)
Vegetables (e.g. romaine lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, peppers) - Fresh herbs (e.g. parsley, dill and mint)
How to make the Best Vegan Kebab Bowl
As always, I recommend watching the recipe video and checking out the following step-by-step instructions first. Then you can find the full recipe with the exact quantities in the recipe card below!
Step 1: Make your tofu kebab meat
First, slice the tofu thinly with a knife or slicer and place in a bowl. Then toss well with gyros spice, tomato paste, garlic, oil and salt and pepper (feel free to break the tofu slices even more to make them look like shredded doner kebab meat).
Then let the marinated smoked tofu marinate for at least 20 minutes (or better overnight) so that the flavors are absorbed.
Step 2: Prepare other ingredients
Prepare the coleslaw, garlic sauce, pickled red onions, pide bread and potato fries. You can easily make the individual components yourself with my recipes.
Heat some oil in a pan and sauté the marinated tofu doner meat, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy.
Step 3: Assemble vegan kebab bowl
Assemble romaine lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, peppers and coleslaw in a bowl or on a plate. Remove the crispy fries from the oven and place on the plate too. Put the crispy vegan kebab meat on top as well and top with a big blob of garlic sauce and fresh herbs. Serve with freshly baked pita bread and enjoy!
How to store tofu kebab meat?
To give the tofu more flavor, you can let it sit in the marinade for up to 24 hours before cooking. After cooking, the tofu kebab meat should be consumed within 2-3 days. The longer it is kept in the refrigerator, the more it loses flavor and texture.
Can you freeze tofu?
Yes! Whether natural firm tofu, silken tofu or smoked tofu, all types of tofu are suitable for freezing and defrosting. To thaw, simply take the frozen tofu out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
This Vegan Kebab Bowl is:
- Quick and easy to make
- Meat-free(vegan, vegetarian)
- Dairy-free (lactose free)
- Gluten-free possible
- Can be combined with potatoes, rice, vegetables and all kinds of creamy sauces!
- Versatile
- Spicy
- Delicious
- Ideal for meal prep
- Perfect for lunch or dinner!
- Better than at the snack bar or restaurant!
The Perfect Family Dinner Recipe
The kebab bowl is not only a culinary delight, but also a symbol of diversity and openness in our society. In many cities and towns there are snack bars and restaurants that offer kebab bowls even without meat. Here, people of different origins meet and enjoy this delicious dish together. It is a sign of togetherness and the cultural enrichment that globalization has brought us.
So, next time you are craving a delicious doner kebab, you can easily make it yourself with this vegan recipe now! Feel free to try new variations and discover your personal favorite combination. The kebab bowl is and remains a true classic, which impresses even without meat again and again!
Recipe Video
If you try this easy vegan kebab bowl recipe, feel free to leave me a comment and a star rating! And if you take a photo of your dish and share it on Instagram or Facebook, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka because I would love to see your result! Bon appetit! 🙂
Crispy Tofu Kebab Bowl (Homemade Vegan Doner)
Author:Ingredients
Vegan Kebab Meat
- 17.6 oz (500 g) smoked tofu finely sliced or shaved
- 3-4 tsp gyros spice store-bought or homemade (recipe see notes*)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1-2 cloves of garlic pressed
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp oil e.g. canola or sunflower oil (+ more for frying)
Bowl Ingredients (of choice)
- white cabbage salad or red cabbage salad
- garlic sauce or tzatziki, aioli, burger sauce
- pickled red onions
- pide bread
- French fries
- vegetables e.g. romaine lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, peppers
- fresh herbs e.g. parsley, dill and mint
Instructions
*Note: Check out the recipe video + step-by-step pictures above!
- Thinly slice the tofu with a sharp knife or mandoline and place in a bowl.
- Combine all ingredients for the gyros seasoning* and sprinkle over the tofu slices. Add tomato paste, garlic, oil, and salt and pepper and toss well, breaking up the tofu slices even more to make them look like kebab meat.
- Leave the marinated smoked tofu to marinate for at least 20 minutes (overnight is even better) so that the flavors can develop. Prepare the coleslaw, garlic sauce, pickled onions and the kebab bread dough best on the day before as well.
- Bake the potato fries (and the pide bread) in the oven as instructed and prepare the vegetables for the bowl.
- Heat some oil in a pan or skillet and sauté the marinated tofu kebab meat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy.
- Assemble romaine lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, peppers and cabbage salad on a plate. Remove the crispy fries from the oven and place on the plate. Arrange the crispy vegan kebab meat on top as well and top with a big blob of garlic sauce and some fresh herbs.
- Serve with freshly baked kebab bread and enjoy!
Notes
- Gyros spice mix: 1.5 tsp mixed dried Italian herbs (oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary), 1 tsp paprika powder, ½ tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp dried coriander, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper.
- More helpful tips and information, including recipe variations + storing and freezing notes, are mentioned in the blog post above!
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