DélKERTÉSZ: A bottle of love

A carefully packaged, homemade delicacy is not only a heartwarming gesture, but we also know exactly what goes into the bottle: there are no hidden additives, only pure, real flavors. Although many people associate gardening with summer, thanks to thermal water heating, fresh Hungarian peppers and tomatoes are also available in winter, so we can confidently create vitamin-rich kitchen gifts from them at the end of the year. Here are three ideas to surprise your loved ones this year.

Spicy tomato jam

The excitingly sweet face of tomatoes, enriched with chili and ginger, becomes a real chutney-like specialty. It is a great accompaniment to festive roasts and cheese platters.

Ingredients: 1 kg of ripe tomatoes, 2 capsicum peppers, 1–2 chilies or hot peppers, 30 dkg of sugar, 1 dl balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon of grated ginger, salt.

Chop the vegetables, then cook them in a saucepan with all the ingredients over low heat, stirring frequently, for 1–1.5 hours until thick. Pour the hot jam into sterilized, small jars and steam.

Fried Capsicum Peppers in Spiced Oil

This antipasti is both delicious and spectacular: the red of the pepper strips and the green of the fresh spices evoke a festive atmosphere in the jar. It is also excellent as an appetizer, for sandwiches or salads.

Ingredients: 10–12 fleshy Capsicum peppers, garlic, fresh rosemary, whole pepper, salt, good quality oil.

Roast the peppers in the oven until their skins turn black. Cover and let them rest, then remove the skins and cut the pepper flesh into strips. Layer the peppers and spices in the jars, and finally pour over the oil. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 2–3 weeks, and if steamed, it retains its quality for even longer.

Homemade Red Gold

A staple of Hungarian cuisine, which takes on an even nobler form when made at home without preservatives or flavor enhancers, enriched with a smoky character.

Ingredients: 1 kg of capia or pritamin peppers, 1 large red onion, salt, pepper, sugar, a little vinegar, hot hot paprika to taste.

Sauté the finely chopped onion, add the chopped vegetables, at this point, if you want a spicy version instead of the delicate version, you can also add a little hot hot, then steam until soft. Continue cooking without a lid until the excess moisture evaporates. Puree with a hand blender until creamy, then add the salt, pepper, vinegar and sugar. After boiling for a few minutes, pour into jars and place in a dry place for 24 hours.

+ Packaging tip

Decorate the jars with natural asparagus, pine branches or dried orange slices. A handwritten label with the recommended use (e.g. “Eat with cheese!”) makes the surprise even more personal.

These homemade delicacies will not only enrich the holiday table, but also give a little attention and home warmth as a gift – exactly what we all want at the end of the year.