Speca të Mbushura
Speca të Mbushura (SPEH-tsa tuh mboo-SHOO-ra)
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Sweet bell peppers stuffed with a fragrant mixture of rice and seasoned ground beef, slowly baked in a tomato sauce until tender. A colorful and satisfying Kosovar home-cooking staple.
Nutrition & Info
Equipment Needed
Presentation Guide
Vessel: deep baking dish
Garnishes: fresh parsley
Accompaniments: crusty bread, yogurt
Instructions
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1
Sauté diced onion in oil until soft, then add ground beef and cook until browned.
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2
Stir in partially cooked rice, tomato paste, paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
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3
Stuff each pepper with the mixture, leaving a little room at the top for the rice to expand.
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4
Stand peppers upright in a baking dish and pour tomato sauce around them.
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5
Add enough water to come halfway up the peppers, cover with foil, and bake at 180°C for fifty to sixty minutes.
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6
Remove foil for the last ten minutes to brown the tops slightly.
Did You Know?
Kosovar families often grow their own peppers specifically for stuffing, favoring the large sweet varieties.
Chef's Notes
Equipment Tips
- baking dish
- mixing bowl
- skillet
Garnishing
fresh parsley
Accompaniments
crusty bread, yogurt
The Story Behind Speca të Mbushura
Stuffed peppers are one of the most widespread dishes in Kosovar home cooking, reflecting the Ottoman culinary tradition of dolma that spread across the Balkans. Each household has its own variation of the rice and meat filling, often passed down through generations. In Kosovo, the dish is particularly popular in late summer when peppers are in season, and families prepare large batches to share with neighbors.
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