Ajvar (Roasted Purple Pepper Relish)

Make simple Macedonian Ajvar, a selfmade roasted purple pepper relish that tastes nice on nearly every thing! Use this conventional jam-like condiment in your favourite grilled meats, bread, and extra.

Simple to Make Ajvar Recipe

If there have been ever a meals that I couldn’t be with out, it must be Ajvar (eye-vahr). This barely tangy, barely candy, and holy scrumptious roasted purple pepper relish recipe is a staple Macedonian and Balkan meals. 

Rising up in Macedonia, I keep in mind the late summer season and early fall because the prime Ajvar season, when purple peppers had been at their peak. The creation of Ajvar was extra of a communal occasion. Villagers would unite, roasting and getting ready peppers over an open flame. In city areas, this ritual was executed with neighborhood gatherings. I fondly recall weekends devoted to Ajvar-making. All of us youngsters would come collectively to peel the peppers that our mothers and grandmas had been roasting, and dreaming of our first chunk of Ajvar unfold on a slice of bread and topped with crumbled cheese. Regrettably, trendy industrial manufacturing has overshadowed these traditions, providing a diluted model of the unique recipe, so for a real Ajvar expertise, crafting it from scratch stays important.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I at all times knew winter was coming when Ajvar was cookin’. Our Ajvar not often made it to the pantry, although. We at all times devoured it manner earlier than the snow appeared. Right here’s why you’ll love this conventional relish recipe simply as a lot as we do:

• Easy components. Make this scrumptious Macedonian-style purple pepper relish with simply 4 components. Minimal components, main taste!
• Flavorful. Roasting the peppers at peak ripeness offers the relish a deep, smoky taste whereas simmering afterward provides sweetness. 
• Versatile. I’m not kidding after I say that you would be able to unfold this relish on something. Meats, bread, pizza, you identify it. The candy smokiness of the roasted purple peppers compliments so many dishes. We undergo jars of these things year-round.

What Is Ajvar?

Ajvar is a vibrant purple pepper relish that’s historically from Macedonia, although a great deal of variations exist all through the Balkans. Ajvar interprets to “caviar” – or as I prefer to name it, the poor man’s caviar – and it’s generally used as a topping for bread with a candy, tangy, barely smoked taste that’s completely irresistible.

Each grandma and mama has their very own recipe and manner of creating it, although one ingredient is definite: roasted purple peppers. Different Ajvar recipes might embrace eggplant, garlic, inexperienced peppers, and many others. However I really like the Macedonian model essentially the most. It’s quite simple as a result of all you want is purple bell peppers, salt, pepper, and sunflower oil.

The way to Make Ajvar

I’ll warn you now: your own home is about to scent wonderful! Roasted purple peppers convey again so many fond recollections for me. Under, I’m going over the steps for making your personal Ajvar. You’ll want to scroll all the way down to the recipe card for a full ingredient checklist and detailed directions.

• Prep the components. Whereas the oven will get good and scorching, give your peppers a rinse. As soon as dried, prick them throughout with a fork. This enables the steam to flee whereas they roast.
• Roast the peppers. Roast the peppers, turning them from time to time in order that they blacken evenly. It’s essential to notice that whereas they roast, the warmth additionally caramelizes a number of the pure sugars bringing out the sweetness within the pepper. Afterward, seal the roasted peppers in a plastic bag, and depart them to melt within the steam. The skins ought to come off simply. When you’ve peeled and deseeded the peppers, add them to a mesh bag, and allow them to drain in a single day. Then switch them to a meals processor and pulse till they attain a consistency just like chutney.
• Prepare dinner. Subsequent, you’ll add the pureed purple peppers to a pot, together with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Slowly cook dinner the relish for two to three hours, stirring typically. As soon as it’s prepared, season your Ajvar to style, after which take it off the warmth to chill for a bit.

Canning Ajvar At Dwelling

Whereas your Ajvar is cooking, you’ll put together your jars for canning. Under we’ll stroll by a primary at-home canning course of. You should use this technique for all kinds of canning, from Ajvar to homemade strawberry jam, plum cardamom jam, and extra.

• Sterilize the jars. First, wash the jars totally, after which warmth them within the oven at 180ºF for half-hour. In the meantime, add the lids to a bowl and canopy them with boiling water. Wipe the edges of the jars earlier than closing them with the lids.
• Pasteurize. Subsequent, you’ll have to pasteurize the Ajvar to forestall micro organism from getting into the jars. It’s simple to do. Divide the Ajvar evenly between your sterilized jars, and prepare the stuffed jars on a baking sheet. Afterward, place the jars in a 350ºF oven till you see a skinny crust start to type on high of the relish. In the meantime, warmth a little bit of oil on the range. As quickly as you see a crust, pour just a little scorching oil over every jar, simply sufficient to cowl the highest of the relish.
• Shut and seal the jars. Seal the jar lids instantly. Or, preserve one open and dig in with heat, selfmade crusty bread and a facet of belo sirenje, aka white cheese, aka feta cheese.

Ideas for Success

We’ve a number of follow relating to making Ajvar in our household. Listed here are some useful suggestions that I’ve picked up alongside the best way:

• Select the most effective peppers. Conventional Macedonian Ajvar is created from purple bull horn peppers, additionally referred to as Ajvarka. Since they are often tough to seek out stateside, the following best option is your frequent purple bell pepper. Select ripe peppers which can be on the meatier facet in order that they gained’t launch tons of liquid whereas they roast.
• Don’t skip the steaming. Pop these roasted peppers right into a plastic bag, or at the very least a pot with a lid as quickly as they arrive out of the oven. Steaming is essential for softening the peppers, making them simpler to peel.
• No blender? No drawback. Should you don’t have a blender or meals processor, you’ll be able to mash up your roasted purple peppers the old school manner and use a grinder. Or you’ll be able to cube them up finely with a knife or use a potato masher.
• Stir the Ajvar typically whereas it cooks in order that it doesn’t burn to the underside of the pot. Additionally, use a picket spoon when stirring. Picket spoons deal with warmth higher and have antibacterial properties that assist preserve germs out of your cooking.
• Season just a little at the beginning, and add extra on the finish. Don’t go too heavy with the salt when you’re cooking your Ajvar in order that it doesn’t end up too salty after hours of simmering. Wait and do a last seasoning to style on the very finish.
• Sterilizing is vital to long-term storage. Each your jars and lids have to be sterilized earlier than they’re used; in any other case, the Ajvar will go off. As an additional precaution towards germs, you may as well use gloves when canning your relish.

Recipe Variations

This Ajvar recipe tastes wonderful with simply peppers and seasonings. However you’ll be able to at all times change it up just a little. Should you’d prefer to adapt this recipe to go well with, strive these concepts: 

• Eggplant. Eggplant is a well-liked addition to many Ajvar recipes. You’ll be able to chop eggplant and roast it concurrently your peppers, then take away the skins and mix it into the peppers as directed.
• Garlic. Love garlic? Go forward and toss some entire cloves into the roasting pan. You’ll be able to mix them into the relish afterward.
• Vinegar. Should you discover that your cooked Ajvar lacks some oomph, stir in a spoonful of vinegar on the very finish. It’s also possible to add just a little sugar to sweeten it as wanted.
• Chili. Should you’re craving one thing spicy, roast a chili pepper or two alongside along with your purple peppers. Or, add a sprinkle of purple chili flakes to the Ajvar towards the top of cooking. Many Macedonian Ajvar recipes name for HOT peppers.
• Herbs. Give your jarred Ajvar a sprinkle of recent herbs like parsley when serving.

Methods to Use Ajvar

What do you eat ajvar with? Should you ask anybody on this household, the reply is every thing. Serve it in winter, summer season, any season. 

• Grilling. Ajvar tastes nice served with grilled vegetables, and meats like roast lamb, grilled chicken, and sausage. 
• Unfold. Jam-like Ajvar can also be a scrumptious vegetable unfold. Smear it over bread and crackers. Or, you’ll be able to at all times eat it with a spoon straight from the jar. No judgment.
• Breakfast. Purple pepper relish is a tasty addition to Macedonian shakshuka. And we’ll even put it on our scrambled eggs within the morning.
• Appetizer. As an appetizer, serve Ajvar with mezze like grilled Macedonian kebapi (kebabs), prosciutto, cheese, and flatbread pizza. We additionally like to serve our purple pepper relish with a facet of yogurt for a creamy dip served with air fryer zucchini chips.

The way to Retailer Ajvar

• Storing: Retailer unopened, jarred Ajvar in a dry, darkish location, like a pantry. You solely have to refrigerate your Ajvar after opening, and it’ll preserve within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
• Freezing: It’s doable to freeze Ajvar; nevertheless, you need to freeze it earlier than it’s canned. If you’ll need to freeze the cooked purple pepper relish, separate out the portion you’d prefer to freeze and permit it to chill fully. Retailer the relish in an hermetic container or freezer bag, leaving a little bit of room for growth. It may be stored frozen for as much as 6 months. Defrost the Ajvar within the fridge, then give it a great stir earlier than utilizing.

Extra Macedonian Recipes to Attempt