Serbian Pljeskavica
A juicy, fragrant meat patty for serious meat lovers! Pljeskavica is a mouthwatering round patty made from nothing but meat, onion, and spices — that's all it should have. Cook it on a grill grate or, if you don't have one, right in a hot skillet. It's a favorite among meat eaters, so give it a try! Here's my recipe. Seriously good!
Cooking method
-
Step 1:
You can use pre-ground pork-and-beef blend, or grind your own. To grind it yourself, cut roughly equal-sized pieces of pork and beef and run them through a meat grinder.
-
Step 2:
Add salt and hot ground red pepper to the meat. Mix thoroughly so the seasoning is evenly distributed.
-
Step 3:
Pour the sparkling mineral water into the meat — it's what makes the finished patties so juicy. Mix until smooth, then press it down firmly in the bowl. Cover with a plate and weigh it down (a jar of water works well). Refrigerate, still compressed, for 24 hours.
-
Step 4:
The next day, prep the onion: peel it and rinse it in cold water, then chop it as finely as you can.
-
Step 5:
Add the finely chopped onion to the marinated meat.
-
Step 6:
Mix everything well. Then knead the meat by lifting it and throwing it back down against the bottom of the bowl. This packs the mixture and makes it more elastic, so the patties won't fall apart while cooking.
-
Step 7:
To shape the patties, coat your hands with olive oil, pinch off some of the meat, and form small round patties about 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) across. Fry them in hot oil over medium heat for a couple of minutes.
-
Step 8:
Flip and fry the other side until golden. As they cook, press them with a spatula and watch the juices so you don't overcook them. Serve the pljeskavica with a side of potatoes or pasta, along with fresh vegetables. A garlic sauce on the side is a nice touch. Enjoy!
Caloric content of the products possible in the composition of the dish
- Onion - 41 kcal/100g
- Salt - 0 kcal/100g
- Ground red pepper - 318 kcal/100g
- Olive oil - 913 kcal/100g
- Mineral water - 0 kcal/100g
- Ground pork and beef - 236 kcal/100g
