Pljeskavica with Ajvar

Name: Pljeskavica with Ajvar
Cook time: 85 min
Total time: 85 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Eastern European
Ingredients: 500g Ground Beef; 300g Ground Pork; 1 small Onion, finely grated; 2 tsp Salt, fine; 1 tsp Pepper (Black), freshly ground; 1 tsp Sweet Paprika; 1/2 tsp Baking Soda; 2 tbsp Carbonated Mineral Water; 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil; 6 Red Bell Peppers; 1 medium Eggplant; 3 cloves of Garlic, minced; 60ml Sunflower Oil; 1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar; 1 tsp Salt, fine; 1/2 tsp Sugar; 4 Lepinja (Somun) Flatbreads; 1 Red Onion, thinly sliced

Pljeskavica with Ajvar is a soulful Balkan burger: juicy, fragrant beef-and-pork patties grilled until slightly charred and served in soft lepinja with a smoky, garlicky ajvar. The meat is seasoned simply but cleverly — a touch of baking soda and carbonated water keep the patties tender — while homemade ajvar adds bright roasted pepper and eggplant flavor for a perfect contrast.

Pljeskavica with Ajvar is a soulful Balkan burger: juicy, fragrant beef-and-pork patties grilled until slightly charred and served... Show more

Traditional Eastern European Recipe

Health Grade

B · Healthy

Rating

4.3

Time

1 hr20 min

Price

2,53 €

Calories

980 kcal

nutritious

high protein

comfort food

grilling

Method

Heat the oven

Set the oven to 220° C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Roast the vegetables

Rinse the 6 Red Bell Peppers and the Eggplant, pat them dry, and place them whole on the tray. Drizzle with about half of the Sunflower Oil, rub it over the skins, and prick the peppers and eggplant a few times with a fork so they don't burst. Roast for 35 minutes, turning them once halfway through, until the skins are blistered and the eggplant is very soft. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl, cover it, and let them sit for 5 minutes so the skins loosen before peeling.

Mix the meat

While the vegetables roast, peel and finely grate the small Onion into a large bowl. Add the Ground Beef, Ground Pork, the fine Salt, freshly ground Pepper (Black), Sweet Paprika, Baking Soda, and Carbonated Mineral Water, then mix with your hands just until the mixture looks evenly combined. Cover it and let it rest for 15 minutes so it firms up and holds its shape better.

Blend the ajvar

When the roasted vegetables are cool enough to handle, peel off the skins, remove the seeds from the peppers, and scoop the soft eggplant flesh into a bowl. Peel and mince the Garlic, add it with the remaining oil, then use an immersion blender to puree everything until mostly smooth, with just a little texture left.

Simmer the sauce

Scrape the blended vegetable mixture into a saucepan, then stir in the White Wine Vinegar, the remaining salt, and the Sugar. Set it over medium-low heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often, until the ajvar looks glossy and thick enough to mound on a spoon. While it simmers, shape the rested meat mixture into 4 wide, thin patties and keep them nearby.

Sear the patties

Add a thin film of oil to the hot skillet. Sear the patties for 4 minutes on the first side, flip them, and cook for 4 minutes more until a deep brown crust forms and the centers feel springy. Move them to a plate and let them rest for 5 minutes before assembling.

Assemble and serve

Warm each Lepinja (Somun) Flatbread briefly in the dry skillet if you like, split it open, tuck in the rested patties, spoon over plenty of ajvar, and top with the peeled, thinly sliced Red Onion. Serve immediately while everything is hot and juicy.

Ingredients

Method

For 4 servings

Adjust servings

Nutrition

Per Serving.

Calories

980 kcal

49% of Daily kcal

Protein

61 g

100% RDI

Fat

56 g

15g sat fat

Carbs

56 g

21% RDI

Sugar

16 g

32% RDI

Fiber

9.2 g

31% RDI

Salt

6.2 g

100% RDI

Quality Profile

Scored against dietary guidelines.
Tap rows for a deeper breakdown.

Composite score - weighted by current nutrition science

B · 7.2 / 10

Comments

Click to rate

Ingredients

For 4 servings

Adjust servings

Pljeskavica (patties)

500g Ground Beef
300g Ground Pork
1 small Onion, finely grated
2 tsp Salt, fine
1 tsp Pepper (Black), freshly ground
1 tsp Sweet Paprika
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tbsp Carbonated Mineral Water
1 tbsp Sunflower Oil

Ajvar

6 Red Bell Peppers
1 medium Eggplant
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
60ml Sunflower Oil
1 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
1 tsp Salt, fine
1/2 tsp Sugar

To serve

4 Lepinja (Somun) Flatbreads
1 Red Onion, thinly sliced

Pljeskavica with Ajvar

Method

Heat the oven

Roast the vegetables

Mix the meat

Blend the ajvar

Simmer the sauce

Sear the patties

Assemble and serve

Ingredients

Method

Pljeskavica (patties)

Ajvar

To serve

Nutrition

Calories

Protein

Fat

Carbs

Sugar

Fiber

Salt

Quality Profile

Comments

Ingredients

Pljeskavica (patties)

Ajvar

To serve

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