In my recent post about Tivat, Montenegro, I talked about the make do and mend nature of peoples’ home and you get an idea of this by walking around the market in Herceg Novi.
“No health and safety here” my father in law often jokes as we pass holes in the pavement or railings missing on the promenade exposing a 12 foot drop onto concrete. Herceg Novi market is ramshackle but charming.
Most stalls sell two types of goods; either fruit and vegetables or a mix of dried fruit and nuts and home bottled olive oil. I love how the market traders bottle their oil in random bottles – although I think the Coca Cola one here only holds water.
This chap was selling bags of dried herbs laid out on the bonnet of his car. Around the back of the car were clothes for sale hung up on hangers. It had an air of car boot sale but I know this is his regular pitch as these shots were taken twelve months ago yet the same red car was in the same place this year!
The market has around 15 stalls in a small square. Traders are eager to catch your eye although unless you speak Serbo Croatian it’s best to nod and smile and keep going. Prices have gone up in twelve months; last year I saw dried cherries for 9 euros a kilo whereas this year they cost 12 euros a kilo. These food price rises have been typical across the board. My mother in law tends to use the supermarket as it is cheaper.
Meat sold is largely pork based saveloy type sausages, pates, salamis etc. You can get a chicken roasted for you – above are the un-alluring premises where they do this.
Pomegranates and fresh cherries are also good buys. I’m forever amused how they sell eggs in plastic bags instead of boxes.
Back home on the famous Walthamstow Market, I found these red peppers a bargain at £1 for a bowl containing six or seven peppers – compared with 68p each in the supermarket. I wanted lots of peppers to make this Eastern European dish which I have loved since my first trip to Belgrade nearly ten years ago. It’s called Ajvar (pronounced eye-var), a kind of Serbian salsa. You sometimes find jars in Turkish supermarkets but I thought I’d make my own version.
In the Balkans, ajvar is made in the autumn and bottled for use throughout the winter. Traditionally, the pepper skins would be removed but I think this is too much hassle and didn’t notice much difference leaving them on. This is by no means an authentic recipe, it contains no aubergine but it’s very similar and much easier to make. I couldn’t comment whether this fresh version is suitable for bottling, stashing things in sterilised jars has never been my forte much as I wish it was.
Ajvar can be hot or not, so add red chillis if you want spice and leave them out if you don’t. Beware of adding too much tomato, you just need a taste, too much will make your ajvar too watery. Ajvar can be used to top meat, cous cous or my particular favourite, to mix with scrambled eggs as a kind of piperade.
Ajvar, Serbian Roasted Red Pepper Salsa
Equipment
- baking sheet or roasting dish, lined with baking parchment paper
Ingredients
- 8 red peppers large
- 1 tomato quartered, or 4-5 cherry tomatoes
- 1 red chilli optional
- 4 cloves garlic
- drizzle olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190c, gas mark 5.
- Wash the red peppers, cut in half remove seeds.
- Lay the pepper pieces on the baking sheet and scatter over the tomato, chilli and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Roast for 25-30 minutes until the edges are slightly charred. Allow to cool
- When cooled, pulse the roasted ingredients in the food processor; take care not to pulverise into total mush, you want a rough texture.
- Serve either warm or cold. Keeps covered in the fridge for up to one week.
Great post Sarah! Love the way you combine the market with a great recipe. The colours are so vibrant. Looks delish.
It sounds excellent – will be trying it one of these days! I could imagine it being an excellent topping for home-cooked burgers 🙂
That sounds like a very good thing to do with it, I must try!