The Joker
Inspired by Nikola Jokic's Serbian heritage, The Joker is my take on a classic Ćevapčići.
My homemade Serbian-style Ćevapčići is a mix of beef, pork, lamb that's grilled and topped with kajmak, homemade ajvar, and pickled white onion, on fresh baked lepinja.
Just like Jokic himself, this sandwich is a complete and balanced force fit for a champion. Read the recipe below, or..
Recipe Details:
Serves: 2
Cook Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Ingredients:
1/2 lb each of ground beef, pork, and lamb
1/2 cup minced or grated onion
1/2 thinly sliced white onion
10 garlic cloves minced
3 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp sweet paprika
2 tsp smoked paprika
4 red bell peppers
1 eggplant
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp white vinegar
Meat Mixture:
Grate English cucumber and season with salt to draw out moisture.
Place the grated cucumber in a kitchen towel, squeezing out as much liquid as possible.
In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt with cucumber, dill, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Ajvar:
Roast peppers and eggplant on a grill, broiler, or stovetop burner until deeply charred, about 10-15 minutes.
Place in a bowl, cover with plastic to steam.
Once cooled, remove skins, seeds, and stems from peppers. Scoop out eggplant flesh.
In a food processor, combine roasted vegetables with garlic, olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and vinegar. Process until smooth.
Adjust seasoning and acid, adding more vinegar if needed.
Quick Pickled Onion:
In a small bowl, coat thinly sliced onion with salt and sugar, then cover with water and vinegar.
Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
Assemble:
Split Lepinja bread or create a pocket in pita bread.
Spread kajmak on one side and ajvar on the other.
Place Ćevapčići in the bread and top with pickled white onions.
