It is one of the most popular dishes in the Balkans, an indispensable part of the winter table. Made from juicy peppers, tomatoes and garlic, pinđur is often equated with ajvar, but differs in its rustic texture and slightly more sour taste. It is ideal as an accompaniment to meat, a spread or an addition to dishes, and its preparation is a real ritual that smells of tradition.
Ingredients:
- 5 kg of red bell pepper
- 2 kg of tomatoes
- 500 g of garlic
- 3 dl of sunflower oil
- 100 ml of vinegar (alcohol or apple)
- 1 spoon of salt (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon of sugar (optional, to soften the acidity of the tomatoes)
- Hot peppers (to taste)
Preparation step by step
- Roasting peppers and tomatoes: Roast the peppers and tomatoes on the grill, on the stove or in the oven until their skins turn black. Immediately transfer the roasted peppers and tomatoes to a bowl and cover them, for example, with a kitchen towel. The steam will soften and make peeling easier. When they are cool, carefully peel them and remove the seeds.
- Grinding: Grind peeled peppers, tomatoes and garlic in a meat grinder or chop in a blender. If you want a more rustic texture, you can also finely chop them.
- Cooking: Pour oil into a large pan and heat it. Add the pepper and tomato mixture, salt and sugar, then cook over moderate heat. Cooking takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, until the mixture thickens. It is important to stir constantly so that it does not stick to the bottom.
- Adding vinegar: Towards the end of cooking, add vinegar. If you want a spicy pinju, add finely chopped hot peppers.
- Pouring into jars: Pour the prepared pinđur into sterilized, warm jars. Close them well and let them cool.
- Pasteurization: If you want your pinđur to last longer, you can additionally pasteurize it. Place the jars in a deep pan, pour water up to the level of the lids and cook on low heat for about 20 minutes.
Tips
• Use ripe, fresh and fleshy vegetables. The taste of pinđur depends on it.
• Instead of garlic, you can also use red onion. Some recipes also include some carrots.
