Donair sauce is a classic Maritime recipe perfect to pair with East Coast Donairs or Maritime Garlic Fingers. This is a recipe so quick and so easy, it almost feels silly to make a recipe for it. But speaking to readers of the blog, it was HIGHLY requested.
With only 4 ingredients, making donair sauce at home is even faster than getting take-out from Greco! With a name like Maritime Glutton, you know that you can trust me on that! 😉
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What is Donair Sauce?
For those of you who aren't from the Maritimes, you might not know what donair sauce is, or even what a donair is - and that's okay! If this recipe has found you and you're intrigued - listen up!
Donair sauce is creamy and sweet with a slightly sour taste. If sweet and sour sauce was made creamy, it would be something like this. Donair sauce originally was used to top donairs - which is kind of like a gyro but with donair sauce instead of tzatziki.
This article from Foods Guy goes into detail about the differences between gyros, donairs, souvlaki and doners. If you're curious about this history and distinctions of all these delicious wrap style meals, he's your guy!
For people who grew up in the Maritimes but moved, you know the struggle of trying to get a hold of Garlic Fingers and Donair sauce West of Quebec. Worry no longer, donair sauce is incredibly easy to make and is inexpensive and, as always, uncomplicated!
Instructions
This is a really simple recipe - one of those "mix all ingredients" and that's it kind of recipes. The reason this is worth a blog post is because there's some controversy about the right way to make donair sauce. This comes from the sweetened condensed milk vs evaporated milk debate. So I tried both.
Pre-test I thought I was sweetened condensed milk or bust, and I still kind of am, but there is a really nice taste to the evaporated milk. The only downside is that in that recipe, you need to add sugar and it absolutely without exception needs to rest overnight to melt the sugar. It's also highly recommended to use a stand mixer or hand mixer to make donair sauce with evaporated milk. It's hard to get it thick enough - the taste is great though.
Substitions and Diet Modifications
I know some people make donair sauce with evaporated milk but I'm 100% on the condensed milk side. Here's a great article from the Kitchn about the differences between condensed milk and evaporated milk.
Essentially, evaporated milk is just unsweetened condensed milk. With that being said, the two ingredients aren't interchangeable even if you add sugar to evaporated milk because the canning process caramelizes the sugar for a nutty taste. In a pinch you can use evaporated milk and add ¾ cups of sugar - but keep in mind the final product may be grainy and will be much thinner than condensed milk.
When it comes to substituting the white vinegar, it really is paramount to the flavour profile of donair sauce. In a pinch, you could use apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar, but I really don't recommend doing so.
Don't substitute raw garlic or garlic salt for garlic powder. Trust me in that it will completely ruin the flavour profile of the dish by being much too strong or far too salty.
Important Notes
Different brands of sweetened condensed milk will yield the same results as long as the sugar content is the same. The brand I used had 11g of sugar per 1 tablespoon. Keep this in mind when you're looking for a brand. If there is more/less, be prepared to adjust the level of vinegar to get to your desired taste.
If you decide that you want to make this recipe with evaporated milk, know that the portions of the ingredients are different. In order to make this recipe with evaporated milk, use 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Note that I do still recommend sweetened condensed milk over evaporated.
Below are both versions of donair sauce. The left is with condensed milk and the right with evaporated milk.
Meal Suggestions
So you've tried this new sauce and love it but have no idea what to pair it with. I've got you covered! If you can restrain yourself from literally drinking it, here's a few suggestions.
- Dipping sauce for Garlic Fingers (another Maritime favourite)!
- Any cheesy or garlicky bread will benefit from donair sauce, but the traditional recipe is coming next week!
- Dipping sauce for pizza
- A sauce for Donairs
- A dipping sauce for fries - move over mayochup!
- Sauce base for a Donair Pizza
- Donair Salad - top iceberg lettuce with diced onions, diced tomatoes, donair meat and donair sauce. A lighter carb option for donair wraps (the sauce is not keto friendly, only low carb)!
Do you love Maritime recipes?
Here's some more recipes that were inspired by the wonderful place I call home!
- Brewbaker's Maple Curry Penne (Fredericton, NB)
- Gusto's Tuscan Harvest Salad (Moncton, NB)
- Number One Noodle's Sweet Yellow Thai Curry (Fredericton, NB)
- The Dave Matthews Cocktail (Fredericton, NB)
- 540 Kitchen's Butternut Squash Soup (Fredericton, NB)
Other Recipes You'll Love
Have you tried this recipe? Leave me a 5 ⭐️ rating in the recipe card! I love to hear from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!
📖 Recipe
Maritime Donair Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 can Sweened Condensed Milk Eagle Brand *SEE NOTES
- ⅓ cup White Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder not garlic salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt or to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients with a hand whisk or stand mixer until the sauce has thickened to your desired texture.
- Although it can be served immediately, it's best after sitting overnight for the flavours to combine fully.
Notes
- Sweetened Condensed Milk Brand: I used the Compliments brand of sweetened condensed milk. The Eagle Brand is a good substitution. They both have 11g of sugar per tablespoon. Keep in mind different brands of sweetened condensed milk may have different sugar contents - making them sweeter or less sweet than this one. Adjust with more vinegar/sugar to get the sauce to your desired sweetness.
Emma
I love u
Maritime Glutton
I love you!!!
Katherine
What a blast from the past! Love this sauce!
Maritime Glutton
So glad you liked it, Katherine!
Sue
I love this post ~ I've never heard of this sauce and now I neeeeed it for my fries!
Maritime Glutton
You'll love it! Can't wait to hear how it goes, Sue 🙂
Christine
I had zero idea the sauce was so simple! We just returned from NS and had forgotten to buy some donair sauce to bring home..... then I found this recipe! We love it! Thank you.
Lauren
I'm so glad you liked it, Christine 🙂
Noah
I’m born and raised in Nova Scotia and this donair sauce is top tier. I’ve been to Jesse’s, Billy Bobs, Picasso’s, Natalinos, Pizzadelic, Fred’s Pizza, Sicilian, Magic Pizza, and L&W Wineries. As a person whose eaten a lot of Nova Scotian pizza I’m here to say this donair spice is authentic. This recipe is gold
Lauren
Thanks so much for the recommendation, Noah 🙂
Kate
I'm one of those people who have never heard of Donair Sauce - it sounds so good and I'm definitely going to give it a go now!
Maritime Glutton
That's awesome Kate! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Christian
This recipe reminds me of back home eating this with some garlic fingers, it's soooooo good.
Lauren
I'm so glad you liked it Christian!
Dannii
This sounds amazing. I love anything with garlic.
Maritime Glutton
I agree, Dannii! Garlic makes everything better
Beth
Oh my goodness! We just love garlic and this looks amazing! My family is going to love this tasty recipe. Excited to give this a try!
Maritime Glutton
Thanks so much, Beth!
Beth
What a great and easy recipe! We love the garlic fingers and this sauce, so tasty and very addicting! I never had heard of this sauce until I saw this and we loved it! I'll definitely make this again!
Heidy
I loved trying this Maritime Donair Sauce with the family! We had a blast helping and loved Maritime Donair Sauce. I will be keeping this recipe handy! Have a great day!
Maritime Glutton
So glad you all liked it, Heidy!
Heather Johnson
made this last night with my garlic bread - so good! easy too
Maritime Glutton
Thank you so much, Heather!
Lauren Michael Harris
I have never heard of Donair sauce, but your explanation of it being a creamy sweet and sour sauce makes perfect sense. Sounds like a must try to me!
Maritime Glutton
Thank you so much, Lauren!
Catherine
I've never heard of Donair sauce before but I am intrigued! I love sweet and sour so this is one I will definitely have to try soon!
Maritime Glutton
Thank you, Catherine! I hope you love it!
Bill Moffatt
Delish and so easy to make. How long will it keep in the fridge ?
Lauren
So glad you liked it, Bill! I always go by the smell, see, taste rule but a good estimate is about 2-3 weeks. Depending on your fridge in may last much longer or much shorter. I usually eat through it before I can let it go bad 🙂
Evelyn
Great advice, and great sauce!
Lauren
Thank you so much, Evelyn! So glad you liked it 🙂
LORETTA KENT-FIELD
Added a touch more garlic, just like Greco Donair!!!
Lauren
So glad you liked it, Loretta 🙂
Prisca
Best donair sauce ever! I'm picky when it comes to donair sauce and how thick it is and this recipe is fantastic! I will be adding it to my recipe box! 10/10 would recommend it.
Lauren
I’m so happy to hear you loved it! Thank you for the kind review <3
Cliff Covey
1 can full fat condensed milk
1 can full fat evaporated milk
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Up to 1/3 cup or to taste white vinegar
In a shaker cup, add first 5 ingredients and shake until frothy
Add vinegar and shake 2 or 3 times then refrigerate, will continue to thicken as vinegar acts on milk.
Mary
Hello, Just wondering how long the Maritime Donair Sauce can be stored in the fridge? Thank you!
Lauren
It's pretty long lasting - I'd say about a month but trust your eyes/nose 🙂
Zoe
Omg !! Its too yummy ! I just moved to Ontario from New-Brunswick . And we all know you cannot find The real Donair sauce like in the maritimes !! My cravings are finally satisfied !
Lauren
I'm so glad to hear this fills the craving for you, Zoe!
Vicki Lendorf
First attempt. Thought I'd failed when I could still smell the vinegar, but, OMG!!
I dont know why I havent tried it before.
And I live in the maritimes!!
Loved it!!
Lauren
So glad to heat Vicki! It's a hit at our house 🙂
KN
This recipe is amazing!! We used the sweetened condensed milk and could not believe how much it’s like restaurant donair sauce. Very easy recipe and delicious! Highly recommend it.
Lauren
Thank you so much for the feedback - I'm so glad you liked it!