'Leskovacka Muckalica'- Serbian Pork and Capsicum Stew

Leskovac is a city of southern Serbia. They're famous for producing beautiful red (bullhorn) peppers (capsicums) and their love for grilled meat. Each year in beginning of September, main streets are closed for traffic for 5 days and 'Rostiljijada' ( grilling / barbecuing festival) begins.
The following recipe is product of  grilled leftovers and most loved vegetables from this part of the world. Any grilled meat can be used, but pork is always favourite in this city. The distinctive flavour comes from wood fired smoke, which penetrate the meat during cooking and also from char grilled peppers. For authentic experience, the meal is cooked in a clay / stone pot.  Divine!

Ingredients:
1 - 1,5 kg pork  (bbq leftovers, or specifically grilled for this recipe)
200 g smoked bacon, sliced
4-5 onions, diced
2 tbs oil (or lard)
6-8 garlic cloves
1 kg red bullhorn peppers / capsicums, grilled or oven cooked, peeled
1 can tomatoes (or 4-6 diced tomatoes)
chilly powder / flakes, or dried hot peppers, to taste
salt and black pepper, to taste

Method:
Grill seasoned  meat; leave large pieces (which will be sliced later), or thread cubes onto skewers (adding a few bacon slices between). Wood fired bbq is most desirable for this.
Grill capsicums (or bake in oven) until skin blistered and partially blackened. Place them into a plastic bag to slightly cool, then take out and peel the skin. Slice them and set aside.
Heat oil in a pan, add bacon and onions. Cook until onions slightly change colour. Add garlic, tomatoes, capsicums and meat. Mix well and season to taste. Cover and place in oven for 45+ minutes, on 160-180*C. Take the lid off for the last 10 minutes, if you want more coloured top. Serve with bread and green salad.




Leskovac je grad u juznoj Srbiji. Poznat je po proizvodnji divnih duguljastih crvenih paprika ('roge / silje') i po ljubavi prema mesu sa rostilja / grila. Svake godine, pocetkom septembra, glavne ulice se zatvaraju za saobracaj na 5 dana i 'Rostiljijada' pocinje.
Sljedeci recept je nastao kao potreba za iskoristenjem preostalog mesa sa rostilja i Leskovackog najdrazeg povrca. Bilo koje meso moze biti koristeno, ali svinjetina je ovdje uvijek najradje koristena. Specifican ukus dolazi od dima sa vatre (drvo), koja penetrira meso i takodje od pecenih paprika. Za autentican dozivljaj, obrok je kuhan u glinenoj / kamenoj posudi. Bozanstveno!

Potrebno:
1-1,5 kg svinjetine (ostatke sa rostilja, ili posebno pecene za ovu priliku)
200 gr dimljene prosarene slanine, sjeckane
4-5 glavica crvenog luka, sjeckanog
2 K ulja (ili masti)
6-8 cena bijelog luka, cjeckanog
1 kg crvenih paprika (pecenih i oguljenih)
1 konzerva paradajza u soku (ili 4-6 sjeckanih svjezih)
Prah ljute paprike ili susena ljuta papricica, po ukusu
so i crni biber, po ukusu

Nacin:
Meso zasolite i ispecite na rostilju (vatra od drva daje najbolju aromu); ostavite vece komade, ili izrezite na kockice i nanizite (sa malo slanine) na drvene stapice. Paprike ispecite i ogulite. Isjeckajte i ostavite po strani.
Zagrijte ulje, proprzite luk i slaninu. Dodajte paprike, bijeli luk, paradajz i meso. Promijesajte, provjerite ukus. Poklopite i stavite u rernu na 160-180*C, oko 45+ minuta. Otklopite zadnjih 10 minuta, ako zelite bolje zapeceno po povrsini. Servirajte sa hljebom i zelenom salatom.

Apricot and Coconut Truffles

 I've managed to try another dessert from one of my bloger friends. Today I'm presenting a recipe from 'La cuisine creative', Serbian bloger with a great collection of wonderful posts. I wanted something quick and without cooking, that is different and unusual. I found it in this recipe; very aromatic, fruity and tasty. 

'Bombs' with Apricots (original recipe in  Serbian)

Ingredients: 
200 g dried apricots
100 g dessicated coconut
75 g margarine (I replaced it with butter), ct into pieces
50 g icing sugar
1-2 tbs apricot liqueur (I added almond liqueur and rum)
lemon zest (I added orange zest)
pinch of cinnamon
white chocolate (melted) for rolling bombs in 

Method:
Cut apricots roughly, pour liqueur over them; let it aside for 30 + minutes, mixing now and then a few times. Place all ingredients into a food processor, and pulls it until all come together. Take a spoonful at a time, roll between your palms to form little balls. Refrigerate until firm. Melt white chocolate, dip each ball into it and place onto baking paper to firm again. Place balls into paper cases and serve.

Bombice sa kajsijama

Uspjela sam probati jos jedan od vasih recepata koji su bili na listi.  Zeljela sam nesto brzo, bez pecenja, nesvakidasnje i originalno. Pronasla sam ovaj recept od  'La cuisine creative', i odusevila se. Lana ima divnu kolekciju recepata sa sitnim kolacicima!

Pogledajte Originalni recept; napravila sam male promjene, jer nisam imala sve sastojke iz Laninog recepta, pa sam se posluzila onime sto se naslo u mojim zalihama.

Sastojci:
200 g suvih kajsija,
100 g kokosa, 
75 g margarina, (zamijenila sam ga sa maslacem)
50 g secera u prahu,
par kasika likera od kajsija, (stavila sam liker od badema i malo ruma)
malo naribane limunove korice, (stavila sam narandzinu koricu)
na vrh noza cimeta
Bijela cokolada (otopljena) za uvaljati bombice

Nacin:
Kajsije se izrezu i namoce u liker. Zatim se svi sastojci ubace u sjeckalicu; ukljuci se dok se ne isjecka i pomijesa. Oblikuju se loptice i rashlade. Zatim svaku uvaljati u otopljenu cokoladu i ponovo vratiti da se cokolad stegne. Staviti u papirnate korpice i sluziti.

Here is link for my previous biscuits / slices recipes.
Evo linka za moje prethodne recepte za keksice i slicne kolacice.

Most beautiful Biscuits for upcoming Festive Seasons

Serbian Bean soup ('Pasulj')

This is one of favourite winter dishes in Balkan countries. I'm presenting Serbian recipe, although in many surrounding countries it's made in a similar way. Every family has their own recipe, which is never written, because they use what is available at moment and /or according to personal taste.

Ingredients:
2-3 tbs lard (or oil)
2 medium onions, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, finelly chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 parsnip, chopped (or celery stalk)
2 tbs paprika
1-2 capsicums (or large chilies), whole or chopped (optional)
smoked hook / sausages / streaky bacon (anything available, but smoked)
250-300 g dried beans (Borlotti),  (soaked overnight)
salt and pepper
2 bay leaves
1-2 tbs vegetable, beef or chicken stock
parsley leaves
Chili powder or hot paprika, if you like it spicy
(I always add 1-2 tsp cumin - not used traditionally)
Water (1,5-2 L)
Method:
If you didn't soak beans overnight, cook it for 30 minutes with a tsp of soda  in plenty of water. Throw the water  after cooking.
Heat lard in a large sauce pan, sautee onion, add other fresh vegetables and smoked meat (sausages). Cook for 5-6 minutes. Add paprika, beans, spices and water. Mix well and cover. Cook for 1-1,5 hours (or longer if beans hard). Check the taste, add salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley leaves. Serve with crusty bread and sliced raw onion  (or other salad).

Srbijanski Pasulj 

Pasulj (grah / fažol / bob) je jedan od zimskih favorita na trpezama u Balkanskim zemljama. Navodim Srbijanski recept, mada se slicno priprema i u okolnim zemljama. Svaka porodica ima svoj recept, koji se nikada ne zapisuje, jer se obicno koristi ono sto je pristupacno u datom trenutku ili prema osobnom ukusu.

Potrebno:
2-3 K masti ili ulja
2 crvena luka, sjeckana
2-3 cena bijelog luka, sitno sjeckana
2 mrkve, sjeckane
1 korijen persuna, sjeckan (ili stabljika celera)
2 K paprike u prahu
1-2 paprike, svjeze, sjecene ili cijele ('Roge' su najbolje)
dimljene potkoljenice, kobasice ili slanina, sta god je pristupacno
250-300 gr graha/pasulja/fazola 'Šarenca' (potopljen u vodu prethodnog dana)
so i biber
2 lovorova lista
2 K Vegete ili gotov  govedji/pileci/povrtni bujon 
lisce persuna
ljuta paprika ili chili, ako volite ljuto
(Ja obavezno dodam 1-2 k kima - sto nije uobicajeno u tradicionalnim receptima)
1,5-2 L vode 
Nacin:
Ako grah niste namocili prethodnog dan, kuhajte ga u dosta vode sa 1 k sode bb oko 30 minuta. Bacite vodu.
Zagrijte mast u vecoj serpi / loncu, proprzite luk, pa dodajte ostalo povrce, dimljeno meso (kobasice...)Dinstajte oko 5-6 minuta, zatim ubacite papriku, grah, zacine i vodu. Promijesajte i poklopite. Kuhajte 1-1,5 sata (ili duze ako je grah jos tvrd). Provjerite ukus, dodajte so i biber, pa pospite liscem persuna. Servirajte sa dobrim kruhom / hljebom i reznjevima crvenog luka (ili drugom salatom).

'Ajvar' - Serbian Vegetable Caviar

I arrived to Bosnia in the middle of September. 

Autumn already started showing it's beautiful colours, although the weather was still warm. My parents' garden was full of organic home grown vegetables. Gosh, how good they tasted!  

Nothing of this goodness must not be wasted and preparing for winter has already started. One of my favourite preserves for winter is Ajvar (pronounced [ǎj.ʋaːr]), vegetable relish that can be consumed as spread, side dish or salad. It originates in Serbia, and became very popular through Balkan.

My mum makes best-one!

Ingredients:
5 kg red capsicums (sweet chilli or bullhorn)
1 kg eggplant
300 ml  oil
3 small heads of garlic, crushed / finally diced
1 tbs salt
1oo ml alcoholic vinegar
2 tbs sugar
Method:
Grill capsicums and eggplant over wood / charcoal heated plate (it gives distinctive flavour), or bake it in hot oven until skin on capsicums starts to blacken and blister. Place them in a plastic bag and let it cool.
When cool enough for handling, peel the skin from capsicums, get rid of seeds and take off blackened pieces from eggplants. Put everything trough a mincer.
Heat oil in a large pan, place minced vegetable, garlic and all other ingredients. Cook and stir for 1-2 hours, or until you get wanted consistency. Spoon hot ajvar into clean jars and seal tightly with lids. Let it cool completely, then store in a final, cool place. Lasts for 6+ months.

Ajvar - Kaviar od povrća

U Bosnu sam stigla sredinom septembra.

Jesen je vec pocela pokazivati svoje divne boje, mada je vrijeme bilo jos toplo. Basta mojih roditelja je bila puna organskog,  rukom odgojenog povrca. Boze, kako je samo bilo ukusno!
Nista od ove dobrote nije smjelo propasti, pa je priprema za zimu vec otpocela. Jedan od meni najdrazih proizvoda za zimu je ajvar, svima poznato spremljeno povce koje se moze koristiti kao namaz, sporedno jelo ili salata. Korijeni ovoga jela poticu iz Srbije, a postalo je vrlo brzo popularno kroz cijeli Balkan.
Moja mama pravi najbolji!

Sastojci:
5 kg crvenih paprika ('roge')
1 kg patlidzana
300 ml ulja
3 glavice bijelog luka, sitno sjeckanog
1 K soli
100 ml alkoholnog sirceta
2 K secera
Nacin:
Ispecite paprike i patlidzane na rostilju / grilu (za bolji ukus), ili ih ispecite u rerni, sve dok koza na njima ne pocne crniti. Stavite povrce u plasticnu kesu i ostavite prohladiti. Zatim ogulite kozu, izvadite sjemenke, pa sameljite povrce na masini za meso.
Zagrijte ulje u vecoj posudi, uspite samljevenu masu, bijeli luk i ostale sastojke. Kuhajte i mijesajte 1-2 sata ili dok ne dobijete zeljenu gustinu. Uspite ajvar u ciste staklenke / galone i zavrnite poklopac. Ostavite ih da se ohlade, zatim smjestite na konacno mjesto za zimu. Traje 6+ mjeseci.

Choco-beet cake

This is a recipe originated from 2 Serbian sisters(Jojo-i-Miki). Great way to 'feed' your children with some vegetables!

Ingredients:
250 g dark chocolate, good quality
3 eggs
200 g brown sugar
100 ml oil
1 tbs vanilla extract
100 g plain flour
1/2 teas baking soda
1/2 teas baking powder
50 gr almond meal
250 g grated beetroot, fresh
Topping:
150 g chocolate, dark or white
2 tbs oil
Method:

- Preheat the oven to 180*C, oil and flour a cake tin (22 cm), or use the baking paper.
-Melt the chocolate over double broiler, or in your microwave oven.
-Mix eggs and sugar with high speed, until light and fluffy. Pour oil and vanilla, mix a bit more. Switch the mixer off, and then add flour, almonds, beetroot and chocolate. Fold in.
- Pour into the cake tin, and bake 40-45 min, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Leave cool on a wire rack.
-Prepare icing: Melt the chocolate, mix in the oil.
-When cake is cooled, pour the topping on top of it.

Choko -cvekla torta
Potrebno:
250 gr čokolade za kuhanje
3 jajeta
200 gr smeđeg šećera
100 ml ulja
1 kašika ekstrakta od vanile
100 g bijelog brašna
1/2 kašičice sode bikarbone
1/2 kašičice praška za pecivo
50 g mljevenih badema
250 g izrendane svježe cvekle
Preliv:
150 g čokolade za kuhanje
Tamna ili bijela + 2 kasike ulja

Zagrijati rernu na 180C. Obložiti pleh za tortu prečnika 22cm papirom za pečenje.
Otopiti čokoladu na pari i ostaviti da se malo prohladi.
Jaja, smeđi šećer i suncokretovo ulje miksati oko 3min dok masa ne postane kremasta i vazdušasta. Dodati ekstrakt vanile i još malo miksati.
Posebno pomiješati brašno, sodu bikarbonu i prašak za pecivo i tu smjesu prosijati na smjesu sa jajima. Lagano mikserom izmiješati. Dodati mljevene bademe. Na kraju, kašikom umešati oljuštenu i izrendanu svježu cveklu.
Sipati masu u pripremljen pleh i peći 40-45 min. Ako primjetite da brzo tamni, prekrijte tortu folijom. Pred kraj provjerite da li je pečena uranjajući cackalicu u testo. Ako je suha, gotovo je…
Kad je pečena, tortu ostaviti kratko u kalupu da se prohladi. Onda ju izvaditi iz kalupa i ostaviti da se ohladi do kraja. Skroz ohlađenu prelivati. Preliv:
Otopiti čokoladu na pari ili u mikrovalnoj pecnici, dodati ulje, promijesati pa ostaviti da se malo prohladi. Premazati tortu obilno po površini i okolo.