Stuffed peppers – a dish with the aroma of childhood memories

MK TR GR

I think we can all agree that there is nothing stronger and more powerful than aromas which can take us back in time, stir our memories and remind us of older members of the family, of characters and experiences. Especially the smell of food and our favorite dishes that used to be prepared at home when we were small children.

When it comes to our country, I think one of the dearest, most unique and easily recognizable aromas to which we are emotionally attached, is the smell of peppers. Baked, fried or dried heirloom peppers, different dishes and pinjur with peppers.

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Even the famous macedonian director Milcho Manchevski who has lived and worked in the United States for decades, does not fail to film a scene with some kind of peppers. It is probably due to their aroma that quickly restores memories, takes him back to his childhood among his family in Macedonia.

One of those dishes that fill the entire house with their fragrance is stuffed peppers. A friend of mine says: When I smell the aroma of stuffed peppers I could lie down on a couch and I’m ready for psychoanalysis because it brings back memories of situations, I return home in my grandmother’s old house, my parents…

Something similar happened in the famous cartoon Ratatouille when the little chef made the notorious restaurant critic his favourite dish and softened his somber face (that said “Nothing can satisfy my taste buds”), threw him back into his carefree childhood days and his grandma’s kitchen, back to the days when everything was simple and easy, and the greatest joy was gathering around the table and dining with the loved ones…

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Stuffed peppers can be wide and short – bell peppers, and they can also be large and long. Although red is a classic colour they can also be green. I have tried all types of pepper dishes and they are all irresistibly delicious. Since we don’t want you to read this on an empty stomach, we present the recipe for this traditional dish.

Ingredients:

red peppers or bell peppers

ground meat – 400 grams (beef, or mixed with pork)

rice – 300 gr

onion – one clove

salt

all spice

paprika

pepper

oil

tomato sauce

tomatoes

water

Preparation:

Cut the handles, clean the seeds and wash the peppers.

Fry the finely chopped onion in a pot, add the minced meat and stir fry together until ready. Then add the rice and stir fry for a little while. Finally, add all spice, salt, paprika, pepper and the filling is ready.

Fill the peppers with the mixture and close the top with a slice of tomato or a thin slice of potato. Then line them up in a pan.

Pour a cup of water and some tomato sauce in the pot in which you prepared the mixture and bring it to a boil. Pour this sauce over the peppers and put the pan in a preheated oven at 250°C. It usually takes an hour to bake the peppers.