Ground Beef And Eggs Recipe

Jump to Recipe

Cook Time 15 mins

Serving the ground beef and poached egg dish with a spoon photo with text overlay.

Two photo image of shakshuka with text overlay in the middle.

Skillet with cimbur on a dark background with text overlay

This one-skillet recipe for spiced minced meat and eggs poached on top is the Bosnian version of shakshuka, and it's a quick and simple specialty dish eaten for breakfast, lunch, or supper.

overhead photo of cimbur - Bosnian breakfast lunch or supper dish.

This classic Balkan dish is quick and easy to prepare and will make you clean your plate in a flash! It's a very popular specialty food found on restaurant menus across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It has a wonderful aroma, and it is especially suitable for those days when you have a large appetite but little time to cook.

Why this Bosnian Cimbur works:

It is quick and easy to make.
Čimbur is a light but filling dish.
You only need a few essential ingredients.
It's perfect any time of the year and for any meal, including brunch.

Poached eggs over minced lamb in a skillet with cherry tomatoes

Ingredients for Bosnian-style shakshuka:

This delicious dish consists of a few basic ingredients:

Minced meat
Eggs
Butter
Onions
Garlic
Paprika
Salt and pepper
Fresh parsley

Close up of Bosnian cimbur recipe

How to make this dish of minced meat and eggs:

This delicious one-pan Bosnian dish takes no more than 20 minutes to prepare. The detailed description is in the recipe box below.

Cook the ground meat, typically lamb, with onions, garlic, and tomato mark then season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
Top with eggs and cook or bake until eggs are poached.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

How to make cimbur step by step

Meat and eggs recipe variations and notes:

Use chopped tomato or tomato sauce instead of tomato mark.
Add a tablespoon of hot or mild Ajvar [pepper and eggplant relish-like spread] for a unique flavor.
Substitute ground lamb with beef, chicken, or turkey.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and nutmeg.
Replace the butter with oil.

breaking eggs into the ground lamb, onions and garlic mixture.

Can I make it vegetarian?

Yes, you can omit the meat. In addition to onions and garlic, you can add chopped mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, leek, peppers, and tomatoes or any vegetable of your choice.

Try poaching (or even scrambling) eggs over sautéed onions and peppers. It's my favorite egg dish, and I often only use onions as a base.

Serving minced meat and poached eggs with pita bread

What to serve with Cimbur?

Traditionally, we serve Čimbur with pita bread (lepinja - pictured) and salad greens or tomatoes on the side. If you want a more substantial meal, serve the meat and eggs over pasta tossed with butter, boiled potatoes, or rice.

Digging into cimbur with pita bread

More easy recipes with ground meat:

FILIPINO BREAKFAST TORTA
TURKISH HUMMUS PITA WITH GROUND LAMB
GREEK LAMB MEATBALL PITA SANDWICH
HOMEMADE CHIPOTLE BURRITO BOWL
GREEK-STYLE BEEF AND CHEESE TORTELLINI SKILLET

overhead photo of cimbur - Bosnian breakfast lunch or supper dish.

▢
cast iron skillet

▢ 1 pound minced lamb see notes
▢ 1 large onion chopped
▢ 2 cloves garlic sliced or minced
▢ 1 tablespoon tomato mark
▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
▢ 4 eggs
▢ 2 tablespoons butter
▢ Salt and pepper to taste
▢ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, fry the chopped onion on two tablespoons of butter until soft. Add the pound of minced meat, stir well and fry together for several minutes or until meat is no longer pink.
Stir in one tablespoon tomato mark, two cloves sliced garlic and teaspoon of paprika, and continue to cook until all the meat juice is evaporated. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
With a spoon, make 4 dents in the meat mixture and break eggs into each "hole". Lower the heat to medium, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer until the eggs are cooked to your liking, about 5-8 minutes. Alternatively, put the skillet (uncovered) in the 350 degrees Fahrenheit preheated oven and bake until eggs are done.
Sprinkle with two tablespoons chopped fresh parsley and paprika. Serve hot.

Use chopped tomato or tomato sauce instead of tomato paste.
Add a tablespoon of Ajvar, [pepper and eggplant salsa-like spread] for a unique flavor.
Substitute ground lamb with beef, chicken, or turkey.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and nutmeg.
Replace the butter with oil.

I'm an excellent eater and a decent cook but also author, food photographer, recipe developer, a former anorexic, and current cheesecake addict. Cooking helps me link my Bosnian past to my American present.

Reader Interactions