Pork skewers with “chaotic” garlic spread (svinjski ražnjići sa urnebes)

Urnebes is a smelly spread that us Serbians crave all the time but avoid because of its high garlic content. The name roughly translates to "chaotic spread", but nobody seems to know why. My guess is its delicious spiciness. In Serbia, we use a local cheese bought fresh from the farmer’s market to make it. As it’s difficult to find elsewhere, this recipe combines feta and sour cream to replicate its texture and mild flavour. It’s usually served with pljeskavica, Serbian burgers found at fast food stands, but I also love it with pork skewers.

Credit: Marija Petrović

• serves

  3

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  10 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 8 sprigs rosemary
• 500 g pork neck (or another cut), cubed
• vegetable seasoning (see Note), to season
• olive oil, to drizzle

Urnebes (chaotic spread)

• 450 g feta
• ½ cup sour cream
• 3 large garlic cloves, crushed
• 1½ tsp sweet or hot paprika
• 1 tsp dried chilli flakes, plus extra, to taste

Marinating time overnight

Instructions

To make the urnebes, using a fork, stir the feta until smooth in a bowl, then stir in the sour cream. Add the garlic and paprika, and stir well to combine. Stir in the chilli flakes, plus extra if desired (it should be very spicy). Cover and refrigerate overnight for flavours to develop.

To make the pork skewers, strip all but a few centimetres of leaves at the top from the rosemary sprigs. Sharpen the other end of the sprigs with a sharp knife, then thread the pork onto the sprigs. Rub the seasoning into the pork and drizzle with the oil. Cover and refrigerate overnight to marinate.

Preheat a barbecue to medium heat. Cook skewers, turning, for 8-10 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Serve with freshly baked bread and urnebes spread.

Note

• Vegetable seasoning is an all-purpose seasoning made with salt and dried vegetables. Available from supermarkets. Substitute salt and pepper.

Recipe from Palachinka by Marija Petrović, with photographs by Marija Petrović.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.