Donair vs. Shawarma: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Donair is a Canadian dish of seasoned meat, often beef, served in a pita with sweet garlic sauce. Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish of spiced, rotisserie-cooked meat, typically served with tahini or garlic sauce.
Key Differences
Donair is a Canadian adaptation of the Turkish doner kebab, commonly made with spiced beef and served in a pita with a distinctively sweet garlic sauce and toppings like tomatoes and onions. Shawarma, of Middle Eastern origin, involves meats like chicken, beef, or lamb, seasoned with a mix of spices and served in flatbread, often accompanied by tahini, garlic sauce, pickles, and vegetables.
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Nov 20, 2023
The meat in a Donair is often spiced with a unique blend that differs from region to region in Canada, and its key feature is the sweet, thick garlic sauce. Shawarma, however, uses a specific blend of spices like cumin, paprika, and turmeric, and is typically served with tahini or a more savory garlic sauce.
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Nov 20, 2023
Donair typically uses ground meat formed into a loaf before being cooked on a vertical rotisserie. In contrast, Shawarma involves stacking slices of marinated meat onto a skewer, which are then slow-cooked on the rotisserie, allowing for a mix of crispy and tender textures.
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The bread used in a Donair is usually a thicker, Greek-style pita, suitable for holding the heavier meat and sauce combination. Shawarma is often served in a thinner, more pliable flatbread, which can include options like lavash or a thinner pita.
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Nov 20, 2023
Donair has become a staple in Canadian fast food, especially in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it was popularized. Shawarma remains a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and has gained international popularity, often customized with various local ingredients and sauces.
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Comparison Chart
Meat Preparation
Ground meat, spiced and formed into a loaf
Slices of marinated meat stacked and slow-cooked
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Bread Type
Thicker, Greek-style pita
Thinner flatbread like lavash or thin pita
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Common Serving Style
With tomatoes, onions, and sweet sauce in pita
With vegetables, pickles, and tahini or garlic sauce in flatbread
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Donair and Shawarma Definitions
Donair
Fast food staple in Halifax
Donairs are a popular fast food in Halifax.
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Donair
Served with sweet garlic sauce
He enjoyed his donair with extra sweet garlic sauce.
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Donair
Seasoned beef in pita
The donair featured spiced beef wrapped in pita.
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Shawarma
Spiced, rotisserie-cooked meat
The chicken shawarma was perfectly spiced.
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Nov 20, 2023
Donair
Variant of doner kebab
The donair is a unique Canadian take on the doner kebab.
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Nov 20, 2023
Shawarma
Popular international cuisine
Shawarma is loved in many countries worldwide.
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Donair
(Canada) A Nova Scotian variant of the doner kebab, including breadcrumbs and spices, and served with a sweet sauce made from evaporated milk, sugar, vinegar, and garlic.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shawarma
Meat, especially beef, chicken, or lamb, that is marinated, roasted slowly on a spit, and cut in thin slices, often wrapped in pita bread and served with various vegetables and tahini sauce.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shawarma
A Middle Eastern sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture of these.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can shawarma be served as a platter?
Yes, it's often served as a platter with accompaniments.
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Nov 20, 2023
What bread is best for donairs?
A thicker, Greek-style pita is commonly used.
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Nov 20, 2023
What makes shawarma unique?
Its unique spice blend and rotisserie cooking method.
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Is the sauce important in donairs?
Yes, the sweet garlic sauce is a defining feature.
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Nov 20, 2023
Are donairs and shawarmas served with rice?
They're typically served in bread, but can also be served with rice.
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Nov 20, 2023
Are vegetables included in shawarma?
Yes, typically with tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickles.
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Can you find donairs outside of Canada?
Yes, but they are most popular in Canada.
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Can donairs be grilled?
They're traditionally cooked on a rotisserie, but grilling is possible.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can shawarma be vegetarian?
Yes, there are vegetarian versions using falafel or veggies.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is garlic sauce used in shawarma?
Yes, but it's usually a more savory garlic sauce.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is shawarma considered healthy?
It can be, depending on the ingredients and preparation.
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Nov 20, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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