Have you heard of ajvar? If you like red peppers, chances are you’re going to love this unique dish that’s popular in Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, and many other countries. Ajvar (pronounced eye-var) is made with roasted red peppers, typically prepared during the pepper season in September.
Taste
Ajvar is often compared to caviar for a good reason. They both taste luxurious and amazing. Ajvar is one of the things the Balkan is the proudest of. Some recipes call for a bit of tomato or roast eggplant, but most use nothing but red pepper and oil. It goes great with numerous savory dishes and makes a perfect sandwich spread.
Preparation
Once September comes, the air in many Balkan towns and villages gets filled with the smell of roasted pepper. People roast the peppers over direct flame until their skins char. Once they cool down, the peppers are peeled and seeded, then milled. The milled peppers go in a big pot where they are mixed with some oil and salt. Once cooked, ajvar is stored in jars and used throughout the year.
Although homemade is best, you can easily buy ajvar in stores around the world. If you have a chance, get a few jars of homemade ajvar from the experienced cooks and you’ll never look back!
