Punjena paprika facts for kids
Punjena paprika and potatoes
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Punjena paprika (pronounced [pûɲenaː pǎprika]) is a delicious dish from Southeastern Europe. Its name means "stuffed pepper." This meal is made with peppers that are filled with a tasty mix of meat and rice. It also includes ingredients like tomatoes, eggs, and various spices. You can use either green or red peppers for this dish.
This dish has different names depending on the country. It's called Punjena paprika in Croatian and Serbian. In Bosnian, it's Filovana paprika, and in Slovenian, it's Polnjena paprika. Bulgarians call it Palnena Chushka, while Macedonians say Polneti Piperki. In Czech, it's Plněná paprika, and in Slovak, Plnená paprika. Hungarians call it Töltött paprika, and in Ukrainian, it's Фарширований перець. It's a popular summer meal in many countries. These include Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Ukraine. There are also many different ways to make this dish across the Balkan region.
How Stuffed Peppers Are Made
Stuffed peppers are a classic dish in all cuisines of Southeastern Europe. Most often, people make them by filling peppers with a mix of minced meat, rice, and several spices.
In Bulgaria, the filling is usually made with rice that has been steamed first. Onions, minced meat, and spices are added. This mixture is then cooked a little and carefully put inside cleaned peppers. After the peppers are filled, they are placed in a baking dish with some water and baked in the oven. Sometimes, if a raw egg is added to the cooled filling, the stuffed peppers can be cooked in a pan. They are boiled almost like they are being steamed.
Besides meat and rice, other fillings can be used. Some people use vegetables like leek and rice, or beans. Others might use fresh cheese and eggs. The peppers themselves can be fresh or dried. Dried red peppers are often used, especially in southeastern Serbia around Pirot and Dimitrovgrad. This is common during the winter months.
See also
In Spanish: Punjena paprika para niños
