History

Kebapche entered Bulgarian cooking under the Ottomans, who brought minced-meat grilling traditions from Asia Minor. Bulgaria's specific seasoning (savory, cumin, black pepper) and its pork base distinguishes Bulgarian kebapche from the lamb-and-beef Turkish original. Pair with lyutenitsa and bread at any Plovdiv mehana from spring through autumn, often served with a side of fried potatoes.

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 20 minTotal 2 hr 30 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 500g minced pork shoulder (or 70 percent pork, 30 percent beef)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried savory (chubritsa)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sunflower oil

Method

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix by hand until tacky.
  2. Refrigerate for 2 hours so the flavours settle.
  3. Divide into 12 equal portions. Shape each into a 7 cm long, 2 cm thick finger.
  4. Heat a charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
  5. Brush kebapche lightly with oil. Grill for 3 minutes per side, turning once.
  6. Rest 2 minutes. Serve with lyutenitsa, bread and shopska salad.

Tip from the editors. Don't oversalt; the flavour should come from the savory and cumin. Bulgarian savory is the key herb, sold as chubritsa in Bulgarian shops.

Where to eat kebapche

Kebapche in Plovdiv

Stariyat Plovdiv ★ 4.3

Eastern European$$kapanaMon-Sun 10:30-00:00Until 00:00

Stariyat Plovdiv runs the charcoal grill until midnight. Kebapche, kyufte, shopska on the rooftop or in the courtyard; late-table Bulgarian classics.

Try: Charcoal kebapche and Bulgarian salads

ul. Frederic Joliot-Curie 6A, 4000 Plovdiv

Restaurant Alafrangite ★ 4.3

Traditional Bulgarian$$old-townMon-Sun 11:00-23:00

Restaurant Alafrangite occupies an 18th-century Revival house with a courtyard garden in Old Plovdiv. Bulgarian salads and meat dishes anchor the long menu.

Signature: Sarmi, Bulgarian salads

ul. Kiril Nektariev 13, 4000 Plovdiv

Odeon Restaurant ★ 4.1

Bulgarian$$old-townMon-Sun 11:30-23:00

Odeon Hotel-Restaurant on Otets Paisiy serves classic Bulgarian cooking with a covered courtyard, a few minutes' walk from the Old Town's southern gate.

Signature: Kavarma, Kebapche

ul. Otets Paisiy 40, 4000 Plovdiv

Skara Kebapche Knyaz ★ 4.0

Eastern European$centreMon-Sun 10:00-22:00

A central charcoal-grill counter does three kebapche with lyutenitsa and bread under 12 BGN. The Plovdiv student lunch staple, fast turn during peak hours.

Try: Three kebapche with lyutenitsa and bread

ul. Knyaz Alexander I 22, 4000 Plovdiv

More cities are in research. Want kebapche covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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