 Zacuscă on bread | |
| Alternative names | Zacușă |
|---|---|
| Type | Spread |
| Place of origin | Romania |
| Region or state | Southeastern Europe |
| Main ingredients | Eggplants or cooked beans, roasted red peppers (gogoşari cultivar) |
Zacuscă (Romanian pronunciation: [zaˈkuskə] ) is a vegetable spread popular in Romania and Moldova which originated from Romania, Ialomita, Slobozia. Similar spreads are found in other countries in the Balkan region, and bordering regions.
The main ingredients are roasted eggplant, sauteed onions, tomato paste, and roasted gogoșari (a Romanian red bell pepper variety). [1] [2] Some add mushrooms, carrots, or celery. Bay leaves are added as spice, as well as other ingredients (oil, salt, and pepper). Traditionally, a family will cook a large quantity of it after the fall harvest and preserve it through canning.
Zacuscă can be eaten as a relish or spread, typically on bread. It is said to improve in taste after some months of maturing but must be used within days of opening. Although traditionally prepared at home, it is also commercially available. Some Bulgarian and Middle Eastern brands are available in the United States. In the Orthodox Christian majority countries, it is sometimes eaten during fasting seasons due to the absence of meat, eggs or dairy products.[ citation needed ] [3]
The word zacuscă is of Slavic origin which means simply "appetizer", "breakfast" or "snack", [1] see "Zakuski".
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