Polneti Piperki – Stuffed Bell Peppers

Cevapi, or kebapi as it is known locally, is grilled minced meat mixed with onions, salt, and pepper. Cevapi are rolled into sausage forms, although their longer, thinner girth more closely resembles chipolatas. The likeness of cevapi to a Turkish kofta kebab, which is a mixed-meat sausage formed onto skewers for simple cooking, demonstrates the Turkish influence.

There are numerous characteristics that distinguish cevapi. To begin, they are made with a combination of beef, lamb, and/or pork. This combination of meats gives the sausage a distinct flavor and texture. Another unique and intriguing feature of these sausages is that they are un-cased. That is, unlike bratwurst, boerwors, or other cased sausages, you do not need a sausage filling attachment to prepare these delicious sausages! This makes them quite simple to create.

Finally, these fellas are grilled, which means they benefit from a nice infusion of smoke, just like any other grilled sausage. However, because these sausages lack a casing that keeps all of the smoky goodness on the outside, the smoke taste permeates deep into the sausage. And, because these sausages are composed of fatty meat, the fat drops into the coals, causing the flames to jump upward, creating a magnificent hiss and pop, as well as an exquisite smell!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean, ½ lb ground pork, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1 ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, ¾ tsp baking soda

Instructions

• In a large bowl mix together all ingredients.
• Using slightly over 1 Tbsp of meat mixture per sausage, shape the mixture into sausages the size and shape of a fat finger (roughly 3 inches long and ¾ of an inch in diameter).
• Place all the formed sausages in a single layer on a platter. Cover the platter and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight).
• When you are ready to cook your sausages, preheat your grill to medium heat, 350-400⁰F. (You should be able to hold your hand a few inches from the cooking grate for 5-7 seconds.)
• Grill the sausages using a fine grate grill pan for 4-5 minutes a side, until golden and springy.
• Serve the cevapi with sliced sweet onions and flatbread (like lepinja or pita).