Pljeskavica
Photo: Biso · CC BY 3.0

History

Pljeskavica codified in 20th-century Yugoslavia as the Serbian alternative to Bosnian cevapi: same Ottoman-grilled-meat lineage but pressed into a disc. The Leskovacka pljeskavica from southern Serbia is the canonical regional anchor. The Belgrade Burger Festival at Kalemegdan matches the contemporary version each May.

Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 20 minTotal 1 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 500g minced pork shoulder (20% fat)
  • 300g minced beef chuck
  • 1 medium white onion, finely grated
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 4 lepinja flatbreads
  • 150g kajmak
  • Ajvar for serving

Method

  1. Combine pork, beef, grated onion, garlic, baking soda, salt and paprika in a bowl. Mix by hand for 5 minutes.
  2. Rest the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  3. Heat a charcoal grill or heavy cast-iron pan to high heat.
  4. Divide the mince into 4 equal portions and press each into a disc the diameter of the lepinja bread.
  5. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side; the centre should be just cooked, with crusted edges.
  6. Warm the lepinja on the grill, split open and spread with kajmak.
  7. Place the pljeskavica inside, top with raw onion and ajvar. Serve immediately.

Tip from the editors. Grate the onion (don't chop) so the liquid melts into the mince; this is what separates a pljeskavica from a hamburger.

Where to eat pljeskavica

Pljeskavica in Belgrade

Stara Hercegovina ★ 4.4

$$ BosnianStari Grad

Stara Hercegovina hosts Belgrade artists from a Carigradska street room. Three halls (Travunia, Zahumlje and main) plus a 130-seat summer garden.

SignatureHerzegovinian lamb, Mixed Serbian grill

Directions

Z Burger ★ 4.6

$ BurgersStari Grad

Z Burger on Cetinjska is the Belgrade Burger Festival winner four years (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025). Dry-aged premium beef under 1,100 dinars per burger.

TrySmash burger

Directions

Manufaktura ★ 4.7

$$ Eastern EuropeanStari Grad

Manufaktura on Kralja Petra plates traditional Serbian with regional cheeses, Mangalica meats and cherry iced tea in Belgrade. Large garden seating.

SignatureCevapcici, Mangalica platter, Homemade cherry iced tea

Directions

Walter Sarajevski Cevap Bulevar Mihajla Pupina ★ 4.4

$ Street foodNovi Beograd

Walter Sarajevski Cevap on Bulevar Mihajla Pupina anchors Novi Beograd's Sarajevski cevapi chain. Grilled minced beef-lamb, lepinja bread, kajmak side.

TrySarajevski cevapi grilled minced beef-lamb

Directions

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