Description
Zacuscă is a beloved Eastern European spread made from roasted eggplants, sweet peppers, and onions simmered together in a rich tomato base. This smoky, savory spread is perfect on crusty bread, alongside cheese, or as a flavorful condiment. It’s ideal for make-ahead meals, preserving, and sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5½ pounds eggplant, grilled until charred
- 4½ pounds capia peppers (or red bell peppers), grilled until charred
- 4½ pounds pimento peppers, grilled until charred
- 2 pounds onions, chopped
- 3 cups vegetable oil
- 6 cups tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons salt, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons ground black pepper
- 5 bay leaves
Instructions
- Grill eggplants, capia peppers, and pimento peppers until skins are charred. Let them cool slightly, then peel off the skins and remove seeds. Chop the flesh finely or pulse in a food processor for a chunky texture.
- In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until soft and translucent.
- Add the chopped eggplant and peppers to the pot. Stir well to combine with the onions.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, then add salt, black pepper, and bay leaves. Stir everything together.
- Simmer the mixture over low heat for about 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the spread thickens and the flavors meld.
- Remove bay leaves. Let cool slightly before storing in sterilized jars or serving.
- Serve warm or chilled with crusty bread, cheese, or as a side dish.
Notes
- Use a food processor for convenience, but avoid over-pureeing—the texture should be slightly chunky.
- Store zacuscă in sterilized jars in the fridge for up to 3 weeks or preserve using proper canning methods for longer storage.
- To intensify the flavor, allow it to rest overnight before serving.
- Capia and pimento peppers bring sweetness, but you can substitute with all red bell peppers if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg