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Chushki byurek
Bulgarian roasted peppers stuffed with sirene and egg, fried in a crumb coat
Chushki byurek are one of the great autumn dishes of Bulgaria: in September, when the long red peppers ripen around Plovdiv and Pazardzhik, they are roasted, peeled, filled with sirene and egg, then dipped in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fried. The outside crunches, the pepper is silky and sweet, and the salty cheese melts inside. They are served hot as a main course with a tomato salad, or cold the next day. Chef's tip: dry the peeled peppers well before filling; a wet pepper is the usual mistake, and the batter slides off and the oil spits.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the peppers
For the filling
For the coating
For frying
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Roast 8 long red peppers under a hot grill or over a flame, turning, until blistered and soft but not collapsed. Put in a covered bowl for 10 minutes, then peel carefully, keeping the stalk on. Snip a small slit and pull out the seeds.
25 minStep 2: Pat the peppers dry inside and out with kitchen paper.
3 minStep 3: Mash 9 oz sirene or feta with 1 egg and 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley and spoon into the peppers, filling them about three-quarters full. Press the slit closed.
8 minStep 4: Roll each pepper in 2 ⅛ oz plain flour, dip in 2 eggs, then press into 3 ½ oz dried breadcrumbs to coat.
6 minStep 5: Heat 1 cup sunflower oil in a frying pan to about 1 cm deep over a medium heat. Fry the peppers in batches, turning, until deep golden and crisp all over, about 3 minutes a side. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 19 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chushki byurek take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 35 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of long red peppers?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sirene or feta?
- Goat's cheese or ricotta salata, same amount.
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