Tag: ajvar

Elevate your barbecue menu with the Balkan dishes below, all hailing from a region we might describe as just a little obsessed with meat on the charcoal grill/'roštilj'!  While they're not all explicitly BBQ recipes, they all feature regularly on al fresco dining tables, from Croatia to Montenegro. Whether you're looking for some inspiration for your next garden party or you've visited the Balkans and you'd like to recreate some of the yummy foods you tried, load your buns with ćevapi and pljeskavica instead of plain old hot dogs and burgers. And hummus? That's so vanilla. Swap it out for ajvar (cool red pepper sauce). Not only are these meals tasty, they require minced meat instead of pre-made patties and dogs, meaning you can dodge the crowds fighting over the last ones on a hot day in the supermarket. If you want to go all out Balkan, treat your guests to a tipple of rakia or a bottle of fine Croatian wine to wash it down with. Dobar tek! Ajvar What is ajvar? Pronounced “ay-var,” this sauce is thought to have been introduced by the Ottomans. Although there are regional variations, ajvar is predominantly made out of bell peppers and aubergine. The sweet yet tangy flavour of this relish is achieved by grilling the peppers and eggplant over a charcoal fire before simmering the sauce to bring out the sweetness in the peppers. If you prefer to cheat, buy a jar of Pelagonia's ajvar at Coop or Waitrose Ajvar recipe Serves 4 Ingredients 5 red bell peppers 1 medium sized aubergine 5 tsp freshly crushed garlic cloves 70g sunflower or olive oil 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp salt Ground black pepper to taste Method Place the peppers whole on a preheated charcoal grill (a BBQ is perfect) and