Balkan Roasted Pepper Cheese Proja Squares 🌽✨

Description

Balkan Roasted Pepper Cheese Proja Squares are golden cornmeal squares baked with white brined cheese, roasted red peppers, yogurt, eggs, olive oil, and parsley. They are soft inside, lightly crisp on the edges, colorful from the peppers, and perfect as a warm Balkan breakfast, side dish, picnic bite, or rustic table snack.
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Hook ✨
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Cornmeal, white brined cheese, roasted peppers, yogurt, eggs, and parsley bake into soft golden proja squares with real Balkan comfort. 🌶️

Ingredients

• Dry mix 🌽
• 🌽 220 g fine cornmeal (1⅔ cups / 7.8 oz)
• 🌾 120 g all-purpose flour (1 cup / 4.2 oz)
• 🥄 10 g baking powder (2 tsp / 0.35 oz)
• 🧂 5 g fine sea salt (¾ tsp / 0.17 oz)
• 🌶️ 3 g sweet paprika (1 tsp / 0.1 oz)
• ‌
• Wet mix 🥣
• 🥚 3 large eggs, 150 g (3 eggs / 5.3 oz)
• 🥛 250 g plain yogurt (1 cup / 8.8 oz)
• 🥛 120 ml milk (½ cup / 4 fl oz)
• 🫒 90 ml olive oil or sunflower oil (⅜ cup / 3 fl oz)
• ‌
• Filling 🌶️
• 🧀 220 g white brined cheese, crumbled (1½ cups / 7.8 oz)
• 🌶️ 220 g roasted red peppers, drained and chopped (1½ cups / 7.8 oz)
• 🌿 20 g fresh parsley, chopped (½ cup loose / 0.7 oz)
• 🧅 40 g spring onion, finely sliced, optional (⅓ cup / 1.4 oz)
• ‌
• Finish ✨
• 🫒 10 ml olive oil for brushing (2 tsp / 0.3 fl oz)
• 🌶️ 1 pinch sweet paprika for topping
• 🌿 10 g parsley for serving (¼ cup loose / 0.35 oz)

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Heat the oven 🔥
2. ‌
3. Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Line a 24 × 24 cm baking pan (9½ × 9½ in) with baking paper and lightly brush it with oil.
4. ‌
5. 2️⃣ Mix the dry base 🌽
6. ‌
7. In a large bowl, whisk cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sweet paprika for 30 sec so the batter rises evenly.
8. ‌
9. 3️⃣ Mix the wet base 🥣
10. ‌
11. In a second bowl, whisk eggs, yogurt, milk, and oil until smooth and creamy.
12. ‌
13. 4️⃣ Combine gently ✨
14. ‌
15. Pour the wet mix into the dry mix and stir just until combined. The batter should be thick but spoonable. Do not overmix.
16. ‌
17. 5️⃣ Add the filling 🌶️
18. ‌
19. Fold in crumbled white brined cheese, chopped roasted peppers, parsley, and spring onion if using. Keep some cheese pieces visible for texture.
20. ‌
21. 6️⃣ Fill the pan 🥧
22. ‌
23. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Brush the top with a little olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of sweet paprika.
24. ‌
25. 7️⃣ Bake golden 🔥
26. ‌
27. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 35 min, until the top is golden, the edges are lightly crisp, and a toothpick comes out clean.
28. ‌
29. 8️⃣ Rest before cutting 🛋
30. ‌
31. Rest in the pan for 15 min. This helps the proja set and keeps the squares neat when sliced.
32. ‌
33. 9️⃣ Serve warm 🌿
34. ‌
35. Cut into 12 squares. Serve warm with yogurt, cucumber salad, ajvar, pickles, or a bowl of soup.

Total Time

⏱ Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook/Bake: 35 min
🛋 Rest: 15 min
⏰ Total: 1 h 05 min

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