Ajvar (Balkan Roasted Pepper and Aubergine Relish)
Smoky roasted red peppers and aubergine cooked down slowly with garlic and oil into a thick, rich spread for bread, grills and cheese.
- Time1 hr 45
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.62 a head
- Oven240°C (220°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 130kcal
- 9.1gcarbs
- 5.9gof which sugars
- 9.7gfat
- 2.8gsaturates
- 2.5gprotein
- 3.5gfibre
- 0.9gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 240°C (220°C fan). Put the peppers and aubergines on two large trays and roast for 40 minutes, turning once or twice, until the skins are black and blistered and the aubergines have collapsed.
40 min - 2
Put the hot vegetables in a bowl, cover and leave for 20 minutes to steam.
20 min - 3
Peel the peppers and remove stalks and seeds. Scoop the soft aubergine flesh from the skins. Drain the flesh in a sieve for 10 minutes.
- 4
Blitz the peppers, aubergine and garlic in a food processor to a coarse purée. Do not make it too smooth.
- 5
Tip into a large heavy pan with half of the oil. Cook over a low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until it is thick enough to hold a trail from the spoon.
27 min 30 s - 6
Stir in the rest of the oil, the vinegar, salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes more. Taste for salt.
- 7
Cool, then spoon into clean jars. Keep chilled with a thin layer of oil on top and eat within a week.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
