How to make it
5 steps. Take it one step at a time.
Finely mince the onion and garlic cloves
Finely mince the onion and garlic cloves until they are almost a paste.
Combine the ground beef, ground pork, minced onion, minced garlic
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, minced onion, minced garlic, sweet paprika, salt, black pepper, and baking soda.
Knead the meat mixture vigorously
Knead the meat mixture vigorously with your hands for about 5 minutes. This creates the 'springy' texture unique to Pljeskavica. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (ideally overnight).
2 hrDivide the mixture
Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions. Lightly oil your hands and shape each portion into a ball, then flatten it between two sheets of parchment paper until it is a thin, large circle about 1/2 inch (1.3cm) thick.
Preheat your grill or cast-iron skillet
Preheat your grill or cast-iron skillet to 400°F (204°C). Lightly brush the surface with vegetable oil. Grill the patties for 4-5 minutes per side until nicely charred on the outside and cooked through.
10 min
A little kitchen wisdom
Traditional Pljeskavica is served inside a lepinja (flatbread) with ajvar (roasted red pepper spread) and kajmak (clotted cream). Resting the meat in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours is essential for the proteins to bind and develop the characteristic springy texture.
