Bosnian Stuffed Peppers (Punjene Paprike)
A hearty and flavorful dish featuring bell peppers stuffed with a savory mixture of ground meat, rice, and vegetables, simmered in a rich tomato sauce. This is a classic comfort food in Bosnian cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 8-10 medium White peppers (or bell peppers)
- 600 g Ground beef
- 100 g Rice(rinsed)
- 1 large Onion(finely chopped)
- 1 large Potato(finely chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 tsp Vegeta (optional)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 3 tbsp Cooking oil
- 2 tbsp Flour
- 1 tsp Ground paprika
- 0.5 cup Tomato puree
- 4 cups Water
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash peppers, cut off tops, and remove seeds and membranes. Set tops aside. Rinse peppers to remove any remaining seeds.
- 2
Cook rice halfway (about 5 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- 3
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, chopped onion, potato, garlic, parsley, egg, Vegeta (if using), salt, and pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
- 4
Stuff each pepper with the meat and rice mixture, filling them but not packing too tightly.
- 5
Heat cooking oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Lightly brown the stuffed peppers on all sides, just until fragrant. Remove peppers from the pot and set aside.
- 6
To the same pot, add flour to the reserved oil and stir for about 1 minute until smooth, creating a roux. Be careful not to burn it.
- 7
Stir in ground paprika and salt. Cook for another minute.
- 8
Add tomato puree and water. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- 9
Carefully place the stuffed peppers back into the pot with the sauce. Ensure they are standing upright. If using the pepper tops, you can place them on top of the peppers.
- 10
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until peppers are tender and the filling is cooked through. If using larger bell peppers, the cooking time may need to be extended.
- 11
Serve hot with the sauce from the pot. Mashed potatoes are a traditional accompaniment.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using white peppers, which are smaller and often sweeter, is traditional, but regular bell peppers work well.
- ✓Do not overpack the stuffing, as the rice needs room to expand.
- ✓Adjust salt and pepper to your taste. Vegeta is a common seasoning in Bosnian cuisine and adds a savory depth.
🔄 Variations
- For a richer sauce, some recipes include a small amount of tomato paste.
- Some variations include finely chopped carrots or celery in the stuffing mixture.