Pljeskavica

Name: Pljeskavica
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Serbia
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1/2 lb ground pork; 1 onion, finely grated; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp baking soda; Salt and black pepper; 4 somun or burger buns; Kajmak, ajvar, and sliced onion, for serving

4 servings20 min prep15 min cookEasy Serbia

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Pljeskavica

Story updated September 17, 2026

Pljeskavica, a grilled meat patty often called the "Balkan burger," is especially associated with Leskovac in southern Serbia, a region famous for its grilled-meat traditions. Its name derives from "pljeska," meaning "to flatten," describing how the seasoned minced meat is shaped before grilling.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1 onion, finely grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp baking soda
Salt and black pepper
4 somun or burger buns
Kajmak, ajvar, and sliced onion, for serving

Instructions

1Combine ground beef, ground pork, grated onion, garlic, paprika, baking soda, salt, and pepper, mixing well.
2Cover and rest in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.
3Shape the mixture into large, wide, thin patties.
4Grill over high heat, 5-6 minutes per side, until well charred and cooked through.
5Warm the buns on the grill briefly.
6Serve the patty in the bun with kajmak, ajvar, and sliced raw onion.

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