Kapsalon — the Dutch fast-food favourite of fries topped with döner meat and melted gouda, finished with fresh salad, garlic sauce and hot sauce. Indulgent and satisfying.
Kapsalon is the ultimate Dutch fast-food indulgence — a tray of crisp fries piled with doner meat, blanketed in melted Gouda, then topped with fresh salad, garlic sauce and hot sauce. Born in Rotterdam, it's gloriously over-the-top comfort food. It's everything you crave after a long night, all in one dish.
Prep 15 min
Cook 20 min
Total 35 min
Easy
- 250 Grams Fries
- 500 Grams Doner Meat
- Topping Garlic Sauce
- Topping Hotsauce
- 1 Bulb Lettuce
- 1 Tomato
- 3rd Cucumber
- 100 Grams Gouda Cheese
Tags:
SnackVideo
Preparation
- Cut the meat into strips, heat oil in a pan, and fry the strips for 6 minutes until cooked.
- Deep-fry the fries until golden brown, then transfer to a baking dish, spreading them over the whole dish.
- Cover the fries with a layer of meat, spread evenly.
- Add a layer of cheese over the meat (grated cheese works too), then put in the oven for a few minutes until melted.
- Chop the lettuce, tomato and cucumber into small pieces and mix together for a basic salad (add olives, jalapeños or red onion if you like).
- Scatter the salad over the dish and serve with garlic sauce and hot sauce.
Tips from the ZestyPlate Kitchen
- Get the fries really crisp before layering so they hold up under the toppings.
- Melt the cheese over the meat and fries under the grill or in the oven until gooey.
- Add the cold salad last so it stays fresh against the hot, cheesy base.
- Be generous with the garlic and hot sauces — they're what make kapsalon sing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Doner or shawarma meat is traditional, but you can use any grilled or roasted meat — chicken, lamb or beef all work well.
Gouda is classic and melts beautifully. Any good melting cheese will do the job if you can't find it.
Yes — swap the meat for falafel, grilled halloumi or a plant-based shawarma. The fries, cheese, salad and sauces stay the same.
It was invented in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, reportedly created at the request of a hairdresser — 'kapsalon' means hair salon in Dutch.
