These easy-to-make, Southeast European, case-less sausages burst with flavor. This is our low-carb version served with kaymak (clotted cream) and the obligatory ajvar relish (a vibrant bell-pepper eggplant dip) on a bed of leafy greens.
Ingredients
Cevapcici
55 ml sparkling water
2⁄3 tsp baking soda
1 1⁄3 tsp paprika powder or smoked paprika powder (or mix)
1 tsp salt
1⁄3 tsp ground black pepper
300 g ground beef
300 g ground pork or ground lamb
1 1⁄3 garlic cloves, minced
1⁄3 (37 g) yellow onion, shredded
2⁄3 tbsp olive oil
Kaymak
95 g (100 ml) cream cheese
11⁄3 tbsp butter, softened
55 ml sour cream
salt to taste
Serving
80 ml ajvar relish
475 ml (110 g) leafy greens
2⁄3 lemon, cut into wedges (optional)
Instructions
Mix the sparkling water together with the baking soda (these ingredients tenderize the meat), paprika, salt, and pepper in a big bowl.
Add the ground meat, garlic, and onion. Mix until combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight, to let the flavors develop.
Roll the meat mixture into four sausages per serving, about 3 x 1″ (8 x 2.5 cm) each, using wet hands.
Grill, or heat up a large frying pan with olive oil, and fry the cevapcici for a couple of minutes until they are cooked all the way through and have a nice browned exterior.
Kaymak
Mix the ingredients for the kaymak in a bowl and set aside.
Serving
If you prefer grilling your cevapcici Be sure to brush them with olive oil before putting them on the grill.
What is kaymak?
Kaymak is a full fat dairy product that is common in Central Asia and the Balkans.