an italian cook around the world
Ajvar is a traditional relish, originating of the Balkans, created to preserve the peppers. The sweet and sour taste of Ajvar pairs perfectly with grilled meats and bread slices. The peppers and eggplants are roasted, then minced and cooked slowly: delicious!
Homemade preserved vegetables in oil remind me some moments from my childhood: a kitchen tables full of vegetables, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, and brothers intent to peel and cut, acrid smells in the air and the atmosphere of a peasant festival. A lot of work and waiting weeks before sampling the product of our toil, but it is so good, really better than the preserved sold at the store! Today I prepare artichokes in one of the many classic Italian versions (because basically every Italian family has its own recipe “classic”!). To savor this delicacy is indispensable to perform certain steps strictly in order to avoid dangerous contamination.
Roasted cherry tomatoes in olive oil are both excellent for pasta, risotto, salads, and also to eat during an aperitif, with olives, cured meats, and cheese. They can be flavored with many herbs and scents: here, I have prepared some with fresh oregano and some others with garlic, capers, and parsley. Try to make them; the taste of these roasted tomatoes after a few weeks stored in the dark is so yummy!
