Best Easy Crispy Cevapi Sausages — Juicy Balkan Style

Cevapi Sausages: Authentic Balkan Grilled Recipe

Intro
Cevapi (ćevapi) are small, seasoned meat sausages from the Balkans—savory, juicy, and perfect for grilling. This easy Cevapi Sausages recipe captures the traditional flavors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia using ground beef and lamb, garlic, and warming spices. Ideal for backyard barbecues or quick weeknight dinners, these grilled cevapcici are a crowd-pleaser that pair perfectly with flatbread, ajvar, and fresh salads.

Ingredients (serves 4)
– 500g ground beef (20% fat)
– 250g ground lamb (or extra beef)
– 1 small onion, finely grated
– 3 garlic cloves, minced
– 1 tsp baking soda
– 1 tsp smoked paprika
– 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
– 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
– 1/2 tsp cayenne or chili flakes (optional)
– 2 tbsp cold water
– 1 tbsp vegetable oil (for grilling)

Method
1. Combine meats in a large bowl. Add grated onion, garlic, baking soda, paprika, pepper, salt, and chili if using. Mix with your hands for 2–3 minutes until the mixture feels sticky — this helps bind the cevapcici.
2. Add cold water and mix again briefly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for deeper flavor and firmer texture.
3. Wet your hands, then shape the mixture into 10–12 finger-sized sausages (about 8–10 cm long). Place on a tray and chill 15–20 minutes to firm up.
4. Preheat a grill or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Brush with oil. Grill for 3–4 minutes per side until nicely charred and cooked through (internal temp 70°C/160°F for mixed meats).
5. Rest for a few minutes before serving.

Tips
– Use a mix of beef and lamb for authentic flavor; beef-only works fine.
– Grate the onion to release moisture and natural juices.
– Refrigerating the mixture overnight improves texture and taste.
– If skewering, soak wooden skewers to prevent burning.
– For indoor cooking, use a cast-iron pan for best sear.

Serving Ideas
– Serve cevapi in warm flatbread or somun with chopped raw onion, ajvar (pepper relish), and sour cream.
– Build a platter: grilled peppers, feta, cucumber-tomato salad, and pickles.
– Try it as a sandwich with yogurt sauce, or slice sliced cevapcici over rice or mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.

Conclusion
This simple Cevapi Sausages recipe delivers authentic Balkan flavor with minimal fuss. Perfect for grilling season or cozy dinners, these cevapcici are versatile, flavorful, and easy to master.

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1. Place the ground meat in a large mixing bowl.
2. Finely chop the onion and grate the garlic cloves; add both to the bowl.
3. Add the chopped parsley, all sorts of paprika, baking soda, dried breadcrumbs, water, Vegeta, salt, and pepper to the meat mixture.
4. Mix everything thoroughly using a hand mixer fitted with the dough hooks until evenly combined.
5. Cover the bowl with cling film/plastic foil and refrigerate to rest for 1–2 hours.
6. After resting, divide the mixture into portions of about 50–55 g (1.7–1.9 oz / ¼ cup).
7. Shape each portion into a cevapi: roughly thumb-thick and about 7–10 cm (3–4 inches) long. (This batch yielded about 18 sausages; the recipe can be doubled easily.)
8. Preheat a grill pan or barbecue until hot. Grill the cevapcici for about 12–14 minutes, turning several times so they brown evenly and cook through.
9. Check doneness by cutting one in half; if it’s cooked, grill the remaining batches for the same amount of time.
10. Serve the cevapcici hot.
11. To reheat, place them in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 10 minutes or until heated through. Check one and, if it isn’t hot enough, give the sausages a few more minutes.