Macedonian Recipes- Cooking Macedonian Food
Here is a sample Recipe from our Book called ‘Taste of Macedonia”
The book was produced for anyone with an interest or need in traditional Macedonian Recipes, including for Macedonian people who already know how to cook traditional recipes and want to experiment with other recipes, younger generations or others who may love to learn the recipes, aged care centres with Macedonian residents who want to maintain their traditional tastes, and the broader non-Macedonian community who would love to try these traditional tastes! The recipe for Ajvar below, is for a staple food in the Macedonian traditional diet, using the staple vegetable ‘Piperki’ which are peppers. Macedonian traditional diet includes piperki in all their glory, cooked in various ways, and Ajvar is a a well-known tasty food. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Ajvar (Red Pepper ‘Piperki’ Relish)
Ajvar Piperki relish (Red pepper relish)
Ingredients:
8 fresh red paprika (medium or hot)
4 medium eggplants
1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, minced
3 large garlic gloves (chopped)
2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
Fresh chopped parsley to garnish
(Makes 6 to 8 servings)
How to make it:
Roast the paprika and eggplant over charcoal or gas flame or bake in preheated oven
at 250C degree until skin blistered and darkened. Place roasted vegetables in paper
bag to steam in own heat for 10 mins. Peel off and discard burnt skin along with
stems and seeds. Mash vegetables with fork or food processor into a pulp to form
slightly chunky mass.
Heat 3 tbsp. oil in large skillet and sauté onion. Add garlic and cook for 2 mins.
Remove from heat and add pepper-eggplant pulp. Slowly drizzle the remainder of the
oil into mixture. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley.
Served spread over bread with feta cheese or as a side dish to accompany meat. Its delicious!
The full ‘Taste Of Macedonia’ Recipe book can be downloaded free here: Macedonian Recipe Book