Flattened, oblong meatballs of seasoned beef and lamb, mixed with cumin and savory (chubritsa), grilled over charcoal until smoky and crusty on the outside, juicy within.
Ingredients
400g ground beef
200g ground lamb
1 large onion, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
2 tbsp breadcrumbs
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried chubritsa (savory)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Sunflower oil for grilling
Instructions
1Combine ground beef and lamb in a large bowl. Add grated onion, minced garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, cumin, chubritsa, salt, and pepper.
2Knead the mixture vigorously for 3-4 minutes until very smooth and slightly sticky. This develops the proteins for a firm texture.
3Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes to make shaping easier and help the flavors meld.
4Shape into flattened oval patties about 10cm long and 2cm thick. Lightly oil your hands to prevent sticking.
5Grill over hot charcoal or on a preheated grill pan for 4-5 minutes per side until charred on the outside and cooked through.
6Serve hot from the grill with a side of shopska salata, french fries, and lyutenitsa.
Did You Know?
Bulgarians debate kyufte shapes as passionately as their neighbors debate politics. The flat oval is canonical, but round versions start arguments.