The Donair Platter or Donair Poutine is Fries, sliced thin Donair Meat, Tomatoes & Onions with Donair Sauce and Cheese on top. Usually garnished off with more diced Tomato & Onions, sometimes with Lettuce and more Donair Sauce.

The recipe below is the Halifax Style Donair Platter or Donair Poutine. I grew up eating these and often return to this dish once every so often.

This recipe uses a JAH Product – JAH Halifax Donair Spice

Donair Meat

Make in advance the Donair meat or if you’ve made a big batch for Donairs, use the leftovers for this Donair Platter. Use JAH Halifax Donair Spice to make the Donair meat, or you can pick up the Donair meat at your Local Cash & Carry.

You can make the basic Donair recipe found in my Donair Meat Post under Standard Donair Meat and outlined below. But it is a basic one. It will do the trick, but not as good as Halifax Style Donair Meat.

The Standard Base Seasoning is 1 tsp per lbs of Ground Meat with the exception of Cayenne Pepper which is 1/8 tsp and upwards. Some only use 1/2 tsp Garlic & Onion per 1 lb of meat. You can start with 1/2 tsp Black Pepper, Onion & Garlic, and 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper and then up it based on your preference. Some use Italian Seasoning or Za’atar in place of Oregano. MSG is almost always added in restaurant versions.

• Salt
• Oregano
• Garlic
• Onion
• Paprika
• Black Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper

Donair Meat always has some kind of Binder in it. The Binders seem to be different in various recipes. Bread Crumbs, about 1/4 C per lb of Meat or a couple of tsp Flour and/or Eggs. There are a few other things that contribute to the Binding. Salt being one of them.

The original old style Donairs used bread crumbs. Nowadays Soy Protein, Sodium Phosphate are used for binding and to create Juicy Meat by retaining moisture.

Donair Sauce

Prepare the Donair Sauce in advance as well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Longer for better results.

Fries

Use 1/2 lb of Fries for each portion. Either Deep Fried with Homemade Fries or store bought, or cook them in an Air Fryer for Air Fryer Fries.

Tomatoes & Onions

Add diced Tomatoes & Onions to the Donair Poutine, either with the poutine to cook or after it has been cooked, or both. Optionally add more Donair Sauce over top and some lettuce.

Mozza Provolone Cheese

The type of cheese blend makes a world of difference. It’s basically a Cheese mix of High Moisture Mozzarella. The kind used in restaurants and Provolone Cheese, at a ratio of 3:1. It is phenomenal not only with this dish but with everything I have tested it on so far. This includes Pizza’s, Casseroles, Garlic Fingers, Lasagna, and other dishes.

Usually just Mozzarella Cheese is used. But introduce that shredded Provolone, and you’ll be glad you did. It just adds so much. Add about 1 Cup or more for each portion.

Donair Platter Cookware

How to make a Halifax Donair Platter

The Halifax Donair Platter is traditionally served in a tin bowl. Filled with Fries, Onions & Tomatoes, Donair Sauce, Donair Meat, and Cheese. I use that Cheese blend of Mozzarella & Provolone. Baked and topped with Onions, Tomatoes, and sometimes Lettuce if desired with more Donair Sauce.

If starting this from scratch, start the Donair Meat and the Donair Sauce the day before. The next day, it will take about 1 hour to cook the donair meat. Another hour to let it cool, slice thin and reheat.

With the Donair meat cooked and sliced thin and the Donair Sauce refrigerated for at least 1 hour and the Cheese blend prepared. You’re ready to make some Donair Platters.

Either Deep Fry or Air Fry the French Fries. While the Fries are cooking, dice the Tomatoes & Onions and place them into a bowl. Wash well and strain the water out. Then it’s time to assemble the Donair Poutine. Preheat the oven to broil with the rack in middle position.