Cevapi
Cevapi (also spelled ćevapi) is a delicious traditional dish from the Balkan region, particularly popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. It consists of grilled minced meat sausages served with bread, onions, and often a side of ajvar (a roasted red pepper and eggplant spread).
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground lamb
1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sparkling water or club soda
Vegetable oil, for grilling
Bread or pita, for serving
Chopped onions, for garnish
Ajvar or other condiments, optional
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground lamb, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, baking soda, paprika, salt, black pepper, cumin, and baking powder. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Slowly pour the sparkling water or club soda into the mixture while continuing to mix. This will help make the cevapi light and tender. Mix until the mixture becomes smooth and sticky. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If you don’t have a grill, you can also cook cevapi on a stovetop grill pan or under the broiler in your oven.
Take the meat mixture out of the refrigerator and wet your hands with water to prevent sticking. Grab a small handful of the mixture and shape it into a sausage-like shape, about 3-4 inches long and 1/2 inch thick. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
Lightly brush the cevapi with vegetable oil to prevent sticking to the grill. Place the cevapi on the preheated grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are nicely browned and cooked through.
While the cevapi are grilling, you can warm the bread or pita on the grill or in a toaster.
Once the cevapi are cooked, remove them from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes. Serve the cevapi hot with bread or pita, garnished with chopped onions. You can also serve them with ajvar or other condiments of your choice.
Enjoy your homemade cevapi!
Cevapi