Ajvar Recipe (Serbian Roasted Red Pepper Relish)

Ingredients

• 4-5 red bell peppers
• 1 medium-sized eggplant
• 4 garlic cloves (chopped)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon spicy chili flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. 1

   Heat a grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grates. If using wood pellets for the smoky flavor, get those ready now. See the recipes NOTES on this.

2. 2

   Poke holes into the eggplant skin in several areas with a fork and set it on the grill along with the red peppers.

3. 3

   Grill the eggplant and peppers about 30 minutes, flipping occasionally, until the red pepper skins char and puff up and the eggplant softens all over.

4. 4

   Remove them from the heat. Cover them in a bowl with a towel to let them steam.

5. 5

   When cooled, peel away the pepper skins and toss them out. Scoop out the eggplant and discard the skin and stem.

6. 6

   Add the roasted peppers and eggplant to a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients. Process it all to your preference, either smoother or chunkier.

7. 7

   Pour the mixture into a large pan and simmer for 20-30 minutes to let the flavors develop even further. You can simmer longer if you'd like to develop more flavor.

8. 8

   Adjust for salt and pepper and serve!