Ingredients
| 2 eggplants | |
| 2 red chillies | |
| 6 red capsicums | |
| 4 cloves garlic, peeled | |
| ¼ cup apple cider, white or red wine vinegar | |
| ¼ cup olive oil, plus extra for the jars | |
| 1 teaspoon sea salt |
In autumn in the Balkans, ajvar (pronounced EYEvar) – a roasted vegetable paste – is produced in vast quantities to use over the winter. Versions vary, some without the eggplant or chilli, some chunkier than others, others reduced to a very thick paste. What is done without fail is to cook it over fire, giving a smoky dimension that lingers. In The Art of Fermentation, Sandor Katz says ajvar can be lacto-fermented, although I’ve never managed to keep it long enough to find out. It might be used as a sauce alongside grilled meats or vegetables, mixed with some feta for a dip, tossed through pasta or gnocchi and sometimes made into a salad dressing. For a fresher, chunkier version, coarsely chop the eggplant, capsicum and chillies, mince the garlic and mix with the vinegar and olive oil. Here I’ve served it with spiced grilled beef kebabs.
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Instructions
| 1. | Heat a charcoal barbecue, grill or oven. |
| 2. | Prick the eggplant and chillies. |
| 3. | Put onto the grill along with the capsicums and cook until the skins have blackened and they have started to collapse (the chillies will cook the fastest). |
| 4. | Remove and set aside until cool enough to handle. |
| 5. | Remove the skin from the eggplant and the skins and seeds from the capsicums and the chillies, too, if you like a milder paste (I usually leave the chilli seeds in). |
| 6. | Put into a food processor with the garlic and blitz to a coarse paste then add the vinegar, olive oil and salt and purée to a smooth paste. |
| 7. | Put into a saucepan and simmer gently for 30 minutes until thickened and adjust the seasoning if necessary. |
| 8. | Put into sterilised jars, cover with a little extra oil and keep refrigerated. It should keep for up to 2 weeks. |
Recipes & food styling Ginny Grant / Photography Aaron McLean/ Styling Jessica Hemmings