Step 1

Please read the entire recipe before starting. Some processes are to be done parallel to each other.

Step 2

Heat oven to 400°F.

Step 3

Wash tomatoes, and place them on a thin baking sheet (or pan) covered with foil. Roast for 20-30 minutes, or until tomato skin shrivels up. Take tomatoes out of the oven and set aside for a few minutes. Raise the temperature in the oven to 480°F.

Step 4

Wash peppers and place on a thin baking sheet (or pan) covered with foil. You may need to place them in two rows (one in the pan, and one on the bottom of the oven), or roast peppers in two batches. (Note: if you are roasting peppers in two batches, to time it well start this entire process by roasting one batch of peppers first, then roast tomatoes, and finally roast the second batch of peppers.)

Step 5

Roast peppers for on one side for about 25 minutes (check once or twice), then turn them over if they’re done on the bottom end. They'll have little black patches here and there, and the skin will be coming up. They’ll also be soft, and will exert some of their fluid. For the next 20 minutes frequently check the peppers, and turn them to the side if necessary to make sure they’re roasted evenly on all sides. At about 45-50 minutes total from the start of roasting, peppers should be done. (Don’t be overly concerned with time, instead, see that peppers are completely roasted but not burned.)

Step 6

As soon as you place peppers in the oven to roast, carefully skin roasted tomatoes and transfer to a large pot on the stove. (Tomatoes should fill up only about 1/3 to 1/2 of the pot as the peppers will be added later). Crush tomatoes with a potato masher (do not dice or cut up, only press, crush and squash), and bring to boil on medium, stirring frequently. (Stir well and often throughout the process.) Bring temperature to low and keep boiling for several minutes or until tomato juice thickens a bit. Add oil, and simmer for several more minutes.

Step 7

Add sugar and vinegar, and stir well. Bring the temperature up to medium and simmer for one full hour (60 minutes) stirring frequently.

Step 8

This is around the time when you should take the peppers out and turn the oven off. Protect your working area, whether it’s the floor, a table, or the counter. Prepare a large bowl with water, and one bowl in which you’ll place peeled peppers. Put on your gloves. Peel peppers by removing the stem and discarding it. Then flatten the pepper out so its insides are exposed. Use a knife to scrape off all seeds (then discard them), but make sure you’re not scraping off pepper meat. The next step is to peel off all of the skin, and the black dots that formed while roasting. This is a tricky part as you may lose some pepper meat (and even some of the peppers, as they might be bad quality and too thin to peel). You can use your fingers or a knife to peel the peppers. You’ll soon find your preferred way of doing this. Once a pepper is peeled, if necessary, dip it in water to remove a final few seeds and quickly transfer to the big dry bowl. Although it’s easier to dip the pepper in water first and get rid of all seeds that way, don’t do it. You want to keep as much of the pepper’s own moisture, fluid and juices, so keep the contact with water to a minimum. Repeat this process until all peppers are peeled.

Step 9

Cut peeled and deseeded peppers into one-half inch stripes.

Step 10

By now the tomatoes have been cooking for about an hour so add the peppers in, as well as 1-2 chili peppers (whole) and salt to the pot. Stir well. Cook for another 45 minutes on medium. Again, stir frequently and thoroughly.

Step 11

Halfway through the previous step, heat oven to 200°F. Wash your glass jars with water and detergent, rinsing well. Then line them up in a deep pan, and place in the warm oven for 15-20 minutes. This will sterilize them. Take out of the oven and don't touch.

Step 12

Peel garlic cloves, then slice. Add to the pot and stir. Wash and mince parsley. Add to the pot and stir. Add salt and stir.

Step 13

After peppers and tomatoes have been cooking for 45 minutes total, turn the heat off. Take the chili peppers out of the pot and discard. Wearing gloves, get a kitchen towel and use it to pick up a hot glass jar then transfer hot pindjur into it carefully. Continue filling jars until you run out of pindjur. Fill each jar all the way to the top, and close each lid tightly.

Step 14

Store in a cool place. Pindjur keeps up to a few months. After you open each jar, transfer it to the fridge.

Step 15

Serve alone with bread, crackers or biscuits, or as a side to your main meal.