1️⃣ Char & peel: Broil/grill 🫑 peppers and 🍆 eggplant, turning, until uniformly blistered (15–20 min). Pile into a bowl, cover 10 min to steam, then peel skins; deseed peppers and scoop eggplant flesh.
2️⃣ Chop or grind: Chop very fine for rustic texture or pulse in a processor (don’t puree completely).
3️⃣ Start the pot: Warm 🫗 oil in a wide pan. Add the pepper–eggplant mixture, 🧄 garlic, and a pinch of 🧂 salt. Cook on medium-low, stirring often, 20–25 min until thick, glossy, and no liquid pools.
4️⃣ Balance: Stir in 🍎 vinegar, 🍬 sugar, 🌶️ hot paprika (if using), and ⚫ pepper; simmer 2–3 min. Adjust 🧂 salt/🍎 acid. Fold in 🌿 parsley if using.
5️⃣ Cool & store: Cool and refrigerate up to 1 week, or jar hot in sterilized jars for longer keeping.
Total Time
🕒 Prep: 25 min
🔥 Cook: 25–30 min
⏳ Total: 50–55 min
Nutritional Value
🔋 Energy: ~55 kcal
💪 Protein: ~1 g
🧈 Fat: ~4 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: ~5 g
🧂 Sodium: ~180 mg
Advice
Use a wide pan and stir frequently—more surface area = faster evaporation and a spread that holds on sandwiches without weeping.
Why it works
Roasting concentrates pepper sugars and adds smoke; slow reduction with oil forms a light emulsion, giving ajvar its silky body and saturated color.
Twist
Leskovac-style hot ajvar: increase 🌶️ hot paprika to 1–1½ tsp and add a roasted hot pepper to the mix.
Status
Toast, grill, eggs—everything turns Balkan with a spoon of ajvar. #grannyzen #ajvar #serbiansauce 🫑🔥
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