Strumica, 1 October 2023 (MIA) — The village of Bosilovo near Strumica held its first Ajvarijada red pepper festival to promote traditional foods, small-scale food producers and local pepper growers, MIA's Strumica correspondent reports.

The event began with twenty home cooks setting up and firing their wood-fired stoves. Then they baked locally grown red peppers and began making Bosilovo's traditional ajvar.

"I hope that as well-known red pepper producers, we will show that our home cooks make the best ajvar, following a recipe passed down from generation to generation," Bosilovo Mayor Risto Manchev said.

Ajvarijada 2023 visitors were offered samples to taste the freshly made ajvar, served with hand made white cheese.

Vendors also provided samples of lutenica, malidzhano and other traditional dips and spreads made of red peppers.

The festival also included entertainment acts, including folk song and dances.

Ajvarijada 2023 was organized by the Municipality of Bosilovo with the support of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. mr/