Okay, so today I decided to make tombik döner at home. I’ve always loved getting this from food stalls, but I figured, why not try making it myself? It seemed like a fun challenge.
First, I gathered all the ingredients. This was probably the most time-consuming part, honestly. I needed:
- Chicken thighs (because they’re juicier than breasts, in my opinion)
- Plain yogurt
- Tomato paste
- Lots of spices: paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper… the works!
- Pita bread (the fluffy kind, not the flat ones)
- Lettuce, tomatoes, onions – for the fillings
- A sauce, Some pepole like garlic sauce or something spicy.
Next, I prepared the marinade. I mixed the yogurt, tomato paste, and all the spices in a big bowl. It smelled amazing already! Then, I added the chicken to the marinade, making sure every piece was thoroughly coated. I covered the bowl and stuck it in the fridge for at least four hours. I actually left it overnight because, well, I got busy with other stuff.
Cooking Time!
The next day, I preheated my oven to, uh, I think it was 375°F (about 190°C). While that was heating up, I threaded the chicken onto a vertical rotisserie. I don’t have one of those fancy rotating spits, so I just used a metal skewer and stood it upright in a baking dish. It looked a little… precarious, but it worked!
I put the chicken in the oven and let it roast.I also basted it with the leftover marinade a couple of times. I just kept an eye on it, rotating the skewer every now and then to make sure it cooked evenly.
While the chicken was cooking, I chopped up the veggies and set them aside. Once the chicken looked crispy and cooked through , I took it out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, I carefully carved the chicken off the skewer. It was super juicy and smelled incredible.
Finally, it was assembly time! I warmed up the pita bread, then stuffed it with the chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. I drizzled some of the Sauce on top, and that was it! My homemade tombik döner was ready.
Honestly, it turned out way better than I expected. It was messy, flavorful, and totally hit the spot. Will I make it again? Absolutely! It was a bit of work, but definitely worth it.
