Cevapcici pairs well with Flatbread with Ajvar, Djuvec Rice, Shopska Salad, Sauerkraut or Fermented Cabbages, and Mashed Potatoes.
Flatbread with Ajvar
Let's start with the most common and traditional way of eating Cevapcici.
For a lighter option, try Mashed Potatoes. Mashed Potatoes
What can go wrong with potatoes?
Cevapcici rolls onto your plate, and bam, your meal instantly levels up.
These smoky, savory Balkan sausages have the magic power to transform dinner from meh to amazing.
Now, the big question pops up - what do you pair with these flavor-packed beauties?
Sure, you could go the easy route and toss up a salad.
But why stop there? There's a whole treasure trove of sides waiting to turn your cevapcici feast into a full-blown party for your taste senses.
And guess what? We've got the top picks right here, ready to make your meal shine.
7 Traditional Sides for Cevapcici
From the traditional side dish of bread and ajvar, you serve together with Cevapcici to new exciting, nontraditional side dishes.
Read on to see the best side dishes to serve with Cevapcici.
For bolder, crowd-pleasing flavors at gatherings, chili party side ideas for gatherings lists ten sides that hold up well with smoky meats.
1. Flatbread with Ajvar
Let's start with the most common and traditional way of eating Cevapcici.
Hailing from the countries of southern Europe, this easy-to-make combination has never tasted better.
You can serve this side dish, a combination of flatbread commonly known as Lepina and chopped onion on the side - read a pita vs flatbread comparison guide for more on flatbread types.
Mixed with the traditional sauce known as ajvar, Cevapcici is made into the most incredible meal.
To juice things up, a pro tip, you can even pour beer on the grilling meat to make it extra juicy.
2. Djuvec Rice
Are you looking to fill your tummy with a filling meal? Then it would be best if you paired Djuvec rice as a side dish with your Cevapacici.
The health benefits that rice comes with are excellent.
And rice with curry and meat is a mixture often used worldwide - for more rice pairings try fried rice side ideas for pairing.
Mixing Djuvec rice, a combination of onion, garlic, and paprika, enhances the taste of your already flavored skinless sausages.
You can choose to add parsley to the rice before serving it with your main dish.
3. Shopska Salad
Meat and vegetables? The perfect combination.
A healthy salad as a side dish for a fatty, meaty main dish like Cevapcici is all you need.
Shopska salad, famous in Bulgaria, is made with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, roasted peppers, white cheese, and parsley.
You can try this salad as it perfectly enhances the flavor of your skinless sausages - or explore orzo salad side suggestions for more pairings.
Because it is a mixture of healthy vegetables, it comes with a bonus of excellent health benefits.
You can also add vinegar to it, which gives a slightly sour taste that fits the fatty texture of the sausages.
4. Sauerkraut or Fermented Cabbages
Looking for an incredibly light and healthy side dish? Pairing sauerkraut with Cevapcici is the right choice for you.
You can easily make this remarkably healthy side dish with a combination of green cabbage and some garlic, and you can even choose to add carrots.
Fermenting should take about 1-4 weeks, but you can taste your sauerkraut after seven days.
It is delicious, and it also has health benefits like reducing stress and helping you lose weight.
It complements your fatty textured sausages with its fermented sour taste - see pork and sauerkraut side ideas for similar pairings.
However, adding a bit too much can overpower the taste of the meat, so you should be careful.
5. Mashed Potatoes
What can go wrong with potatoes? Nothing.
Potatoes are a magical source of fiber that is paired with Cevapcici to give you that soul-cleansing meal.
Mashed potatoes are conveniently one of the easiest side dishes to make, and the fatty texture mixed with the creamy and buttery taste of the mashed potatoes go hand in hand.
Mashed potatoes generally go well with meat, and it is always a befitting choice - or for a lighter twist try mashed cauliflower side alternatives.
So mixing the smooth, delicious mashed potatoes with the onions and garlic on your sausages and added spices will make anyone drool.
6. Tzatziki
Planning to spice things up with traditional cooking? Wonderful.
Tzatziki is used as a side dish or a dipping sauce or soup, and it complements Cevapcici completely.
A cuisine found in the Middle East and Southeast Europe, tzatziki is diluted yogurt mixed with garlic, cucumbers, olive oil, and salt.
And a mixture of herbs served cold as a side dish.
To taste the meat better, you can dip your sausages in the creamy, light, and refreshing sauce - if tzatziki isn't available, try tzatziki sauce substitute options.
You can occasionally add lemon juice or vinegar to your dip, which gives that tangy flavor that compliments the Cevapi.
7. Oven-roasted Vegetables
Side dish with the perfect low in calories but rich in minerals to complement fatty meat sausages? We choose Oven-roasted vegetables all the way.
With a combination of healthy and delicious, you can choose your favorite freshly harvested vegetables, add some herbs, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste, and roast it in an oven.
Vegetables go with the meat giving you a low-calorie diet but a filling experience.
You can also add fruits to make it taste lighter and refreshing, even with the high-in-fat main dish.
Party-friendly spicy sides pair well with grilled meats. chili party side ideas for gatherings complements hearty plates. fried rice side pairings for mains suits rice-forward menus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flatbread with Ajvar Let's start with the most common and traditional way of eating Cevapcici. Djuvec Rice Are you looking to fill your tummy with a filling meal?
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
A leafy green or fiber-rich vegetable balances the meal best. This side dish is a good pick for adding color and nutrients.
Pairing a protein-heavy main with a lighter vegetable side keeps the meal from feeling too heavy.
Aim for a contrast - if the main dish is soft and saucy, a crispy or firm side adds welcome variety. If it is already textured, a smooth or creamy option rounds things out.
How far ahead can you prep the sides?
Most grain and roasted vegetable sides can be prepped a day ahead.
Store separately and reheat before serving.
Fresh salads and anything with a sauce are better made same-day.
