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Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)

★★★★★★★★★★
5 stars, average of 7 ratings

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Growing up in the Czech Republic, I enjoyed a variety of delicious homemade sausages, which were a staple at our family gatherings.

This recipe for homemade sausages, known as Ćevapi or Ćevapčići, originates from the Balkan region of southeast Europe. Combining the rich flavors of ground beef, pork, and lamb, these sausages are juicy, flavorful, and perfect for a low-carb diet.

With a simple mix of spices and a few essential tips, they are easy to prepare and ideal for meal prep or sharing with friends and family. These naturally gluten-free, meaty sausages are also carnivore keto-friendly, making them suitable for those who follow a strict carnivore diet (depending on the allowance of aromatics and spices). They will be a hit at any summer barbecue party!

Recipe Tips and Swaps

To ensure your sausages are perfectly juicy and flavorful, it's important to balance lean and fatty meats. Here's how you can adjust the recipe to your liking:

  • Meat Options: You can use different ground meats, such as turkey or chicken, but keep in mind the fat content. A mix of lean and fatty meats ensures the sausages stay moist and tender.
  • Lean vs. Fatty Meats: If using leaner meats, like ground turkey or chicken, consider adding a bit of ground pork or lamb to maintain the juiciness. Aim for a balance, such as 50% lean meats (beef or turkey) and 50% fatty meats (pork or lamb).

Making Cevapcici in the Oven

If you prefer baking over grilling, preheat your oven to 200 °C/ 400 °F (fan assisted), or 220 °C/ 425 °F (conventional). Place the sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning them halfway through, until they reach an internal temperature of 70 °C/ 160 °F.

How Do You Eat Cevapcici Sausages?

These homemade sausages pair wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some ideas:

  • Simple Summer Salad: A fresh, crisp salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette makes a perfect side dish. There's lots of options here.
  • Ajvar Dip: Serve the sausages with the traditional Ajvar Dip for a flavorful combination. The smoky, roasted red pepper dip complements the rich taste of the sausages beautifully.
  • Low-Carb Bread: Enjoy the sausages with some low-carb bread or buns for a hearty meal. There's tens of keto bread recipes here.
  • Grilled Vegetables: Pair with grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus for a complete, nutritious meal. There Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables are a great match!
  • Keto Coleslaw: A creamy coleslaw can add a nice crunch and balance to the meal. Everyone loves the classic Coleslaw but not many people realize how delicious it can be when made with purple cabbage instead. This Creamy Red Cabbage Coleslaw is a must-try for every summer barbecue! When kohlrabi is in season, try this Crunchy Kohlrabi Slaw, or make use of leftover broccoli stalks by making this Broccoli Stem Bacon Slaw.

Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)Pin itFollow us 148.4k

Hands-on Overall

Serving size 4 sausages

Allergy information for Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)

✔  Gluten free
✔  Beef free

Nutritional values (per 4 sausages)

Net carbs1 grams
Protein37.1 grams
Fat20.4 grams
Calories343 kcal
Calories from carbs 1%, protein 44%, fat 55%
Total carbs1.4 gramsFiber0.4 gramsSugars0.1 gramsSaturated fat8.6 gramsSodium970 mg(42% RDA)Magnesium33 mg(8% RDA)Potassium440 mg(22% EMR)

Ingredients (makes 16 sausages)

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 250 g ground beef, 5% fat (8.8 oz)
  • 250 ground pork, 5% fat (8.8 oz)
  • 250 ground lamb, 20% fat (8.8 oz)
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Peel and crush the garlic. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Remember to add the baking soda, as it helps tenderize the meat. Mix until well combined to ensure the flavors are uniform throughout the sausages. Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)
  2. Mix until well combined so the flavor is uniform for all sausages. Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)
  3. Using your hands, shape the mixture into flat, finger-length sausages, each about 50 g (1.8 oz) and 1 1/2 cm (1/2-inch) thick. Although you can make them into thicker, round sausages, flatter sausages are easier to cook through. Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)
  4. Preheat a griddle pan or a grill. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until a crust forms. Flip the sausages and cook the other side for another 4-5 minutes. Ensure they are no longer pink in the center. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160°F (70°C). Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)
  5. When done, transfer the sausages to a plate and serve immediately. Alternatively, let them cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the sausages for up to 3 months. Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)
  6. Serve with fresh summer salads and/or some Ajvar Dip! Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages)

Cevapcici
Step by Step

★★★★★★★★★★
5 stars, average of 7 ratings
Cevapcici
Easy homemade sausage recipe made with a mix of ground beef, pork, and lamb. Perfect for a high-protein, low-carb, gluten-free, and carnivore keto-friendly diet, these juicy Balkan sausages are great for grilling or cooking in the oven!
Hands on20m
Overall30m
Servings4
Calories343 kcal
Pin it

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 250 g ground beef, 5% fat (8.8 oz)
  • 250 ground pork, 5% fat (8.8 oz)
  • 250 ground lamb, 20% fat (8.8 oz)
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Peel and crush the garlic. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Remember to add the baking soda, as it helps tenderize the meat. Mix until well combined to ensure the flavors are uniform throughout the sausages.
  2. Mix until well combined so the flavor is uniform for all sausages.
  3. Using your hands, shape the mixture into flat, finger-length sausages, each about 50 g (1.8 oz) and 1 1/2 cm (1/2-inch) thick. Although you can make them into thicker, round sausages, flatter sausages are easier to cook through.
  4. Preheat a griddle pan or a grill. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until a crust forms. Flip the sausages and cook the other side for another 4-5 minutes. Ensure they are no longer pink in the center. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160°F (70°C).
  5. When done, transfer the sausages to a plate and serve immediately. Alternatively, let them cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the sausages for up to 3 months.
  6. Serve with fresh summer salads and/or some Ajvar Dip!

Nutrition (per serving, 4 sausages)

Calories343kcal
Net Carbs1g
Carbohydrates1.4g
Protein37.1g
Fat20.4g
Saturated Fat8.6g
Fiber0.4g
Sugar0.1g
Sodium970mg
Magnesium33mg
Potassium440mg

Detailed nutritional breakdown (per 4 sausages)

Net carbsProteinFatCalories
Total per 4 sausages
1 g37.1 g20.4 g343 kcal
Garlic, fresh
0.7 g0.1 g0 g3 kcal
Beef, ground, 95% lean meat / 5% fat, raw
0 g13.4 g3.1 g86 kcal
Pork, ground, <5% fat
0 g13.1 g2.5 g74 kcal
Lamb, ground, raw
0 g10.4 g14.6 g176 kcal
Paprika, spices
0.1 g0.1 g0.1 g2 kcal
Baking soda, raising agent (bicarbonate of soda)
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Salt, sea salt
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Pepper, black, spices
0.2 g0.1 g0 g1 kcal

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Martina Slajerova
Creator of KetoDietApp.com

Martina Slajerova

I changed the way I ate in 2011, when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. I had no energy, and I found it more and more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

That’s when I decided to quit sugar, grains, and processed foods, and to start following a whole-foods-based ketogenic approach to food.

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Comments (12)

The mix of beef, pork, and lamb sounds divine, can't wait to give these cevapcici a try! 🥰

I hope you like them! 😊

I'm super excited to try these! 🥳 Thanks for the recipe!

I hope you enjoy! 😊

★★★★★★★★★★

My family is from Serbia and this took me back to my mum's cooking. I think it's so cool how much we remember smells and how many memories they can bring. So lovely, this will be my weekend staple!

Thank you Sara, this is so true! I've got a few meals like that too. It's my mum's chicken liver soup, kolache (fruit and cheese pies), and some meat stews.

★★★★★★★★★★

Thank you for introducing us to all these yummy recipes! First time I tried these ❤️ This will definitely steal the show at my next BBQ, thanks!

❤️

Cevapcici looks like so much fun, and I love how simple the spices are! Thanks 😊

OMG these sausages look amazing! I can't wait to grill them up this weekend.

★★★★★★★★★★

These sausages are simply divine with the perfect mix of beef, pork, and lamb! Reminds me of family cookouts with great homemade meats, thanks for sharing such a lovely recipe.

Thank you!