Serbian Hamburger
(Pljeskavica)
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A pljeskavica
(pless-kah-VEE-tsah) is a Serbian hamburger popular in one form or another
throughout the Balkans, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
The name for
these meat patties (pljeskavice is plural) comes from pljesak,
a word meaning "to clap the hands," the motion used to form these
thin, large burgers.
They can be
made with any combination of pork, lamb, and beef and can be grilled, broiled,
baked or pan-fried, although grilling is traditional. The meat mixture is
usually identical to that used for cevapcici, little sausages that are
formed by hand instead of being stuffed into a casing.
- Total: 30 mins
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yield: 6 hamburgers (6 servings)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef chuck
- 1/2 pound lean ground pork
- 1/2 pound lean ground lamb
- 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 1/2 cup onions (finely chopped)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon sweet or hot paprika
- Whole green onions
- Chopped raw onion
- Tomato slices
- Ajvar Lepinje or Pogacha bread
Steps to Make It
- Gather the ingredients.
- Heat a grill, indoor grill, broiler or skillet. Using slightly dampened hands, divide meat mixture into 6 portions. Form into thin patties, 9 inches by 1/2 inch or about the size of a small dinner plate.
- In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, garlic, onions, salt, and sweet or hot paprika until thoroughly combined. Do not overmix because this will toughen the meat.
- Refrigerate meat mixture for several hours for the flavors to meld and for the mixture to firm.
- Cook pljeskavice about 7 minutes per side.
- Serve with green onions or chopped raw onion, tomatoes, ajvar, lepinje or pogacha bread and Serbian potato salad or coleslaw on the side. Some Serbs place the patty on a large bun like an American hamburger.
- Enjoy!
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