Eggplant and Red Bell Pepper Spread

Zacusca – Romanian Eggplant and Red Pepper Spread

(Last Updated On: September 18, 2019)

Zacusca is a slow cooked eggplant and red pepper spread. This traditional Romanian dish is made in Autumn when its main ingredients, eggplants and gogosari peppers are in season. Gogosari peppers very similar to red bell peppers, which is what I use in this recipe.

During our time in Romania, we came to enjoy having zacusca slathered on rustic bread. Bread spreads are very common in Romania. We also enjoyed Salata de Vinete, (eggplant spread) and Fasole Batatu, bean spread, which are also common traditional Romanian foods.

The spreads are really eaten any time of day, from breakfast onward. We found that zacusca was actually something we enjoyed with many things, such as with Romanian meatballs (chiftele) or as a simmering sauce for fish or accompaniment to roasted meats. It is even wonderful when used as a pasta sauce.

Meatballs with Zacusca Sauce
Chiftele (Romanian Meatballs) served with zacusca sauce

The vegetables can be cooked either in the oven or on a grill, which gives them deeper smoky flavor. For this recipe, I use the oven method. The resulting eggplant and tomato sauce will have a lighter taste that allows more of the fresh vegetable flavor to shine through.

It also, in my opinion, adds to the versatility of the recipe. Smoky flavors can be very nice, but they are rarely subtle. Once smoke joins the party, the flavor can become dominant and overwhelm rather than enhance a dish.

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Eggplan & Red Pepper Dip

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Zacusca - Romanian Eggplant and Red Pepper Spread

Eggplant and Red Bell Pepper Spread

Zacusca is a traditional Romanian dish made with Eggplant and Red Bell Peppers. This versatile recipe is fantastic as a spread on bread, but also can be used as an accompaniment to grilled or roasted meats or as a pasta sauce.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium eggplants (aubergines)
  • 3 medium red bell peppers
  • 1 Serrano chili pepper (optional - for a spicier sauce)
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • 16 oz can (500 ml) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable or olive oil (sunflower is traditional)
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 C).
  2. Wash the peppers and eggplant.
  3. Pierce the eggplant several times with a fork to allow steam to escape while it cooks.
  4. Place the eggplant and peppers on a greased cookie sheet (cover with foil for easier cleaning).
  5. Turn the vegetable several times (3 - 4) so that they will cook evenly. Eggplant should take about 45 minutes, 25 - 35 for the bell peppers, and 10 - 15 if you are using the Serrano chili pepper in the recipe.
  6. Remove the vegetables when they become soft and their skin begins to blacken.
  7. Lightly salt the vegetables and place them in a plastic or glass container covered with a lid or plastic wrap. Allow them to cool.
  8. Remove the skins and stems.
  9. Place the eggplant in a strainer and allow the liquid to drain for an hour.
  10. Remove the seeds from the peppers and set aside (note: if using a serrano chili, leave the seeds if you want more heat).
  11. Place the eggplant & pepper flesh into a food processor and blend until they are coarsely chopped.
  12. Place the onions in a saute pan with oil and cook until they are translucent (10 - 15 minutes).
  13. Add the tomato puree, cooked vegetables, bay leaf and ground black pepper.
  14. Bring the sauce to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow to cook until the sauce reaches your desired consistency, which should be that of a thick spread.
  15. Remove the bay leaf and adjust the seasoning.
  16. This recipe can be canned and stored so that the sauce can be enjoyed for up to 2 years.
Category: Appetizers
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2 thoughts on “Zacusca – Romanian Eggplant and Red Pepper Spread”

  1. For canning, can it be done in water bath or does it need pressure caner? How long to process?
    I have lots of eggplants this year.

    Reply

    • I hope you enjoy the recipe! Although I know that this recipe is often preserved by canning, but I’m not an expert, so I don’t have a good answer to your question.

      Reply

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