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This lutenitsa recipe is for a popular and traditional Bulgarian spread

made with red peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Bursting with flavors,
it’s eaten alongside meat, sausages, cheeses or spread on bread. This
delightful dip is a staple in most households, and while synonymous with
Bulgaria, it is also popular in the Balkans. Get to know this exciting
and flavorful Bulgarian lutenitsa spread.

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Table of Contents
What is Lutenitsa or Ljutenica?
History of Lutenitsa Sauce
Discovering Lutenitsa in Bulgaria
Lutenitsa Recipe – How To Make Bulgarian Lutenitsa At Home
Bulgarian Lutenitsa Recipe Tips
Where To Buy Lutenitsa
Lutenitsa Step by Step Instructions
Lutenitsa Recipe
More Related Cooking Products
More Local Food Experiences and Recipes
What is Lutenitsa or Ljutenica?
Ljutenica Bulgarian Ketchup by Authentic Food Quest
This sensational lutenitsa spread will become a new favorite at home
Lutenitsa, also spelled ljutenica or lyutenitsa, is a delicious spicy-
sweet spread, also referred to as Bulgarian ketchup.

It’s made with roasted red peppers, carrots, onions, tomatoes, an

eggplant and seasonings. However, there are many ways of making this
delicious dip or relish and every family has their own secret recipe.

The name ljutenica comes from the Bulgarian word ljut which means spicy.
As a result, you’ll find some versions that are spicy and others mild
based on the peppers and seasonings used.

Moreover, there are differences in the texture of lutenitsa ranging from

a smooth sauce to a coarse one with little pieces of vegetables.

This lutenitsa recipe is not complicated and easy to make at home. The
taste is sensational and the rich spread of roasted vegetables will
become a new favorite at home.

Lutenitsa vs Ajvar
Ajvar Balkan Dip Authentic Food Quest
Lutenisa and ajvar spreads are both made with roasted red peppers
Lutenisa and Ajvar are two typical Balkan spreads. Lutenitsa is most
often associated with Bulgaria, whereas Ajvar is associated with Serbia
and Macedonia.

Both of these traditional spreads are made with roasted red peppers.
However, the difference comes with the use of tomatoes. Lutenitsa is made
with tomatoes while Ajvar does not use any tomatoes.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST RECIPE: Ajvar Recipe: How To Make Delicious Roasted
Balkan Red Peppers Sauce
History of Lutenitsa Sauce
Lutenitsa Spread by Authentic Food Quest
Bulgarian lutenitsa gained popularity after WWII
Homemade lutenitsa is a traditional Bulgarian treat and a culinary symbol
of Bulgarian cuisine. The preparation and tradition is passed down the
generations and it is often associated with the end of the summer.

The history of Bulgarian lutenitsa is rather murky. One story attributes

its origins to the 1930s, when Bulgaria began intensively producing
tomatoes and red peppers for domestic consumption and export.

During WWII, lutenitsa was manufactured in large quantities and it

quickly gained popularity. By the 1950s lutenitsa was mass produced and
the Bulgarian government set a standardized recipe.

It was stipulated that lutenitsa should be made only with tomato and
pepper puree, onion, salt, sugar, and oil.

Later, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, many versions of lutenitsa
flooded the market. Added ingredients like carrots and eggplants were
popular additions to the lutenitsa recipe.

Today, you’ll find distant cousins like Ajvar, Pindjur or Zacuscă in

other Balkan countries.

This simple Bulgarian lutenitsa recipe combines red peppers, tomatoes,

carrots, eggplant, onions and garlic with a little sugar, salt and
pepper.

Discovering Lutenitsa in Bulgaria

Lutenitsa dip Traditional Bulgarian Food AuthenticFoodQuest
Ljutenica is an excellent dip to start your Bulgarian meal
In the three months we spent in Bulgaria discovering the local food
specialties, lutenitsa played a starring role in our meals.

This traditional dip is often served at restaurants as a starter before

meals. We also enjoyed it with meat dishes or simply slathered on bread.

Throughout our Bulgaria travels in Sofia, Bansko and Plovdiv, we noticed

slight variations in tastes and textures.

While always consistently delicious we appreciated the range in taste

from mild to slightly spicy.