Thanksgiving Day Menu Ideas: A Balkan Feast from Mrakovic
Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t always have to centre on turkey. This year, serve Mrakovic’s caseless chevapi with warm lepinja, roasted red pepper ajvar, creamy kajmak, and pickled cabbage for a Balkan-inspired feast.
Whether you want to serve Balkan favourites alongside turkey or choose a different main course, Mrakovic Fine Foods offers plenty of options for your Thanksgiving table. From halal meats and traditional groceries to bakery items and catering, you can find what you need at its Etobicoke and Oakville locations.
How to Plan a Balkan Thanksgiving Menu
A Balkan table follows a clear order—grilled meat comes first, followed by bread, then the sides and sweets that round out the plate. Here’s how to bring the tradition to your Thanksgiving gathering.
Bring Cevapi to the Centre of the Table
Mrakovic’s Sarajevo-style cevapi are caseless sausages made from seasoned minced meat. They come in different pack sizes, so you can choose an amount that suits your gathering.
Serve the cevapi with warm lepinja and raw onion for a classic combination. Keep the bread and onion close by so guests can add them to their plate as they serve.
Pair the Grill with Balkan Favourites
Add a few traditional favourites to round out the meal and bring more variety to the table:
- Ajvar: A roasted red pepper and eggplant spread, available in mild and hot varieties.
- Kajmak: A creamy dairy spread that pairs well with grilled meat and warm bread.
- Burek: A savoury pastry available with meat, cheese, potato, or spinach and cheese fillings.
Serve these alongside the ćevapi so guests can mix and match flavours throughout the meal.
End the Meal on a Sweet Note
For dessert, serve a few Balkan favourites such as baklava, Jaffa cakes, or sweet apple burek. Put them out with tea and let everyone pick their favourite.
A Halal Thanksgiving Menu Starts at the Butcher Shop
A halal Thanksgiving dinner depends on where you buy the meat. Mrakovic is officially halal certified, and the butcher shop is the first stop for hosts planning a halal Thanksgiving menu.
The butcher counter carries fresh Ontario lamb, milk-fed veal and beef. Cuts listed by Mrakovic include lamb leg, lamb shoulder, lamb chops, veal shank, veal chops, rib-eye steak, and ground beef. Whole Ontario lamb appears on the list too, for hosts feeding a large family.
However, the butchers also custom-cut orders. That matters at Thanksgiving, when you may want a lamb leg trimmed for roasting or a shoulder portioned for a slow braise. Tell the butcher how many guests you expect and how you plan to cook.
The deli counter handles the starters. Mrakovic produces smoked beef, beef salami, and Bosnian sudjuk, a dried beef sausage. Slice them onto a board, and your guests have something to eat while the grill heats up.
Balkan Grocery Favourites for Your Thanksgiving Table
Mrakovic is more than a butcher shop. It is also a Balkan grocery store, so you can pick up much of what you need for your Thanksgiving table in one visit.
As you walk through the aisles, look for:
- Pantry favourites: Ajvar, pickled vegetables, and peppers to serve alongside the main dishes.
- Spreads: Savoury spreads for bread, along with sweet options for breakfast the next morning.
- Dairy: Kajmak and other Balkan dairy products.
- Baking essentials: Ingredients for homemade desserts.
- Sweets and chocolate: European biscuits, cakes, and chocolate bars for the dessert table.
- Tea: Fruit teas to serve after dinner.
Shop for pantry items and sweets a few days ahead, then pick up fresh meat and bread closer to the day. It keeps the final shopping trip simple and leaves you with less to organise at the last minute.
Thanksgiving Catering for Larger Gatherings
A dinner for eight is one thing. A gathering of 25 calls for a little more planning. For larger groups, Mrakovic’s catering service can take care of the food while you focus on your guests.
The catering menu includes a selection of dishes that can suit a Thanksgiving gathering:
- Cevapi
- Traditional cabbage rolls
- Burek with meat or cheese fillings
- Roast chicken
- Rib-eye steak
- Smoked meats
For sides, you can choose from grilled vegetables, baked potatoes, sweet potato fries, and French fries. Baklava and Jaffa cakes offer simple options for dessert.
Mrakovic caters family gatherings, birthdays, weddings, and corporate events, with menus tailored to each occasion. For a Thanksgiving gathering, share your guest count, date, and event details through the catering page to discuss your order.
A Thanksgiving Gift Basket from Mrakovic
Arriving empty-handed at Thanksgiving feels wrong, and a bottle of wine doesn't suit every home. A food basket does. This year, Mrakovic has put together a Thanksgiving gift basket for hosts, filled with European sweets and tea.
Inside the basket:
- Milka chocolate bars
- Eti Benim'O coconut cakes
- Orange Jaffa Cakes
- Haribo Happy-Cola
- Ameli hazelnut cocoa spread
- A fruit tea assortment with 6 flavours
There is something for everyone to pick from, whether it is chocolate and Jaffa Cakes after dinner, coconut cakes and Haribo for the kids, or hazelnut cocoa spread and fruit tea for the next morning.
The Thanksgiving gift basket is available in store, making it an easy choice when you want to bring something sweet for the host.
Shop Thanksgiving Favourites at Mrakovic in Oakville & Etobicoke
Mrakovic has 2 stores west of downtown Toronto.
Mrakovic Etobicoke
44 Wellesworth Drive, Etobicoke
Phone: 416-695-7396
Mrakovic Oakville
220 North Service Road West, Oakville
Phone: 289-814-2210
Between the 2 stores, you can pick up halal meat, deli products, Balkan groceries, prepared food, and the Thanksgiving gift basket. Call ahead if you need a specific cut or a large order.
FAQs
What are some Thanksgiving Day menu ideas from Mrakovic?
A Balkan-inspired Thanksgiving table starts with grilled chevapi served in fresh lepinja. Add ajvar, kajmak and chopped onion on the side, then pickled cabbage or grilled vegetables for balance. Finish with baklava or Jaffa cakes and tea. You'll find the chevapi, spreads and grocery items at our stores.
Can I buy halal meat for Thanksgiving at Mrakovic?
Yes. Mrakovic is officially halal certified, and our butcher shop carries fresh Ontario lamb, milk-fed veal and beef. We custom cut orders, so you can ask for a roast or portions sized for your guest list. Our deli also makes smoked beef, beef salami and sudjuk.
Does Mrakovic offer Thanksgiving catering?
We cater gatherings and events of many kinds, and Thanksgiving dinners are welcome. Our catering menu includes chevapi, cabbage rolls, burek, roast chicken, smoked meats and sides. We don't have a set Thanksgiving package. We tailor the menu to your event when you send a request through our catering page.
Where can I buy Balkan grocery products for Thanksgiving?
You can buy Balkan grocery products at our Etobicoke and Oakville stores. Our shelves carry spreads, pantry jars, dairy, baking goods, sweets, chocolate and tea. Mrakovic ajvar, kajmak and pickled cabbage are popular picks for a Thanksgiving table.
Where are Mrakovic's Oakville and Etobicoke stores?
Our Oakville store is at 220 North Service Road West, Oakville. Our Etobicoke store is at 44 Wellesworth Drive, Etobicoke. Both addresses are on our locations page, along with phone numbers for each store.