Make your own homemade Donair Sauce! This classic creamy, sweet and tangy garlic sauce is perfect for donair kabobs or served as a dipping sauce for chicken, fries, or garlic fingers. It's made with four simple ingredients, and takes only minutes to prepare!
If you've never had Maritime Donair Sauce, then you've been missing out!
If you have had it, then you'll know how addicting the sweet/tangy/creamy/garlicky sauce is. And you'll be thrilled that you can now make it from scratch at home!
A donair is a popular street food dish made with spiced meat that is served on pita bread or a wrap with tomato and onion. In the Maritime provinces of Canada, it's usually served with a sweet and tangy white sauce - Donair Sauce!
This sauce is simple and made with just four ingredients including sweetened condensed milk, vinegar, and a few seasonings.
Don't be fooled by the ingredient list, it really packs a big flavor punch.
It's perfect for donair kabobs because it balances the rich flavor of the meat and spices.
Whether you call it Maritime Donair Sauce, East Coast Donair Sauce, or doner sauce, it's the same creamy sweet sauce with a tang.
But it's for more than just donairs or doner kebobs. It's famously also used for dipping garlic fingers - long 'finger' slices of cheesy garlic bread. Sooooo good.
It can also be used as a dipping sauce for appetizers or as a spread for sandwiches.
You'll also love my other copycat sauce recipes, including Wingstop Ranch, Ikea Dill Mustard Sauce, and Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce.
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Why Make This Recipe
If you're looking for a sweet garlic sauce to serve with savory dishes, you'll want to whip this up.
It's simple, easy, and is a great way to use up any leftover sweetened condensed milk you may have on hand.
Just mix the ingredients together until combined, let them sit to marinate and the sauce is ready for serving!
It will bring home the taste of the East Coast and Maritimes with this classic sauce.
Ingredients
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - Makes up the rich and creamy white base of the sauce and adds its classic sweet flavor.
- White Vinegar - Used to give this sauce a tangy and sour taste that is also acidic. It pairs well with the sweet contrasting flavor of the milk.
- Garlic Powder - Infuses the sauce with a light garlic flavor.
- Salt - Enhances all of the tastes in the sauce and helps balance out the flavors.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Donair Sauce recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Add to bowl: Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl.
Whisk to combine: Combine the sauce using a whisk until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
Marinate the flavors: Cover the sauce and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight so the flavors mix and develop. Give it a stir and serve with your favorite foods. It gets better and better after a day or so!
Cook's Tips
Make sure you purchase condensed milk that is sweetened to give the sauce a rich sweet flavor.
The sauce needs at least 30 minutes for the flavors to fully marinate and combine, but letting it sit overnight will give the sauce an even more rich flavor.
Make sure you are using garlic powder and not raw fresh garlic for this recipe as fresh garlic will change the flavor profile of the sauce.
Variations
Spice up the sauce by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flake to the sauce before combining.
If you don't have white vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar or even balsamic vinegar to change up the flavor.
Add dried herbs to the sauce to give it a fresh herb flavor.
Change up the color to a bright yellow by adding a small pinch of ground turmeric to the sauce.
For a vegan donair sauce, use plant-based sweetened condensed milk.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Donair sauce will last in the fridge in an airtight container or sealed glass jar with a lid for up to 10 days. Give it a stir before using it if you haven't used it in a few days.
Freezing: Because condensed milk separates when thawed, freezing is not recommended.
FAQs
Yes, some places have ready-made donair sauce however, a clean healthy option is making your own at home from scratch using the simple ingredients in this recipe.
If your donair sauce is runny, it may be due to the fact that the milk has separated or was not sweetened. Sweetened condensed milk is much thicker and will hold a sauce texture better.
No, sweetened condensed milk is different than evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk is a thick and rich dairy product that has been cooked down until it becomes very dense and has a high sugar content whereas evaporated milk has a liquid milk texture without any sugar.
More condiment recipes
We hope that you love this tasty donair sauce! Be sure to also check out these other condiment recipes too!
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📖 Recipe
Donair Sauce
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 10 ounces sweetened condensed milk 300 ml
- ½ cup white vinegar 115 ml
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine completely.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight before using so the flavors can merge.
- Store, covered, in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Nora
I did not know that this sauce is called Donair. You never stop learning. But no matter what it's called, it's just delicious. And you can use it for so many things. Have simple fried potato in the hot air fryer made to it. Yum! Thanks for the recipe!
Cathleen
I love how easy this sauce is to make. And I always have all of the ingredients at home!! This will definitely be on my regular rotation from now on, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Heidy
You have no idea how much my family loved this homemade Donair Sauce on their chicken! This homemade sauce was a great recipe that I will be hanging on to for years to come!
Gina
Love this sauce paired with steak. So delicious and easy to whip up too!