Roasted red peppers, aubergine, garlic and olive oil are combined to create this classic Serbian condiment. But, a little goes a long way, so what on Earth do you do with all those leftovers?
Can You Freeze Ajvar?
Yes, you can freeze ajvar for up to 6 months. The best way to do this is to place it into a rigid container with a bit of headroom, being sure to press and tap any air bubbles out of the ajvar. Seal the container, and then place it into the freezer.
Do Does Ajvar freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Ajvar? Yes
How to Freeze Ajvar
Freezing ajvar isnāt a simple process, since we need to make sure to preserve as much flavor and texture as possible. Therefore, follow our steps for success.
- Prepare Container: As the water content of ajvar is fairly high, you need to pick a container that will have a little headroom for the paste to expand into.
- Add Ajvar to the Container: Place the ajvar into the container, trying to avoid the rim of the jar. If the ajvar does expand on the rim after the container is sealed, there will essentially be a small hole in the container which will let air in.
- Remove Air Bubbles: Tap out any air bubbles from the ajvar. Press the paste with a small spoon to compact it a little, too – that will remove air. You can then seal the container fully.
- Freeze: Finally, pop the container into the freezer.
If you don’t think you’ll use such a large portion of ajvar then the other option is to freeze cubes of it into an ice cube tray. You can then pop a cube out as and when you need it.
3 Tips for Freezing Ajvar
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing ajvar to have the best results:
Glass Containers are Your Friend
Glass containers are often your friend in the freezer, and this is the case here. The reason for that is ajvar is packed with colour. A plastic container will absorb some of this colour and you’ll never get it out.
Consider Freezing the Ingredients
If youāre a fan of fresh ajvar, you could freeze the ingredients when theyāre fresh in the summer, and then thaw and prepare them in the winter. The benefit to doing this is that ajvar ingredients donāt need to hold up their texture.
Mix After Thawing
Once thawed, you may find the ajvar has become a little oily or split in appearance. A quick and vigorous stir should fix this.
How Long Can You Freeze Ajvar?
Generally, ajvar can be frozen for around 6 months before it may lose a little colour and flavour.
In truth, though, you could freeze ajvar for longer than that – the paste won’t spoil in your freezer, allowing you to keep a stock of great ajvar in your freezer from one summer to the next.
Once opened, a jar of ajvar should be kept in the fridge for up to 10 days. Try to ensure the top has a thin layer of oil over the surface to keep it air sealed.
How Do You Defrost Ajvar?
The simplest way to defrost ajvar is to place it in your fridge.
Crack the lid open a little to allow for some level of airflow, and then place the container onto a tea towel so that any condensation can be absorbed easily, preventing a mess in your fridge.
Can You Refreeze Ajvar?
Yes, you can refreeze ajvar.
Sine ajvar is mostly oil, itās very rare for any bacterial growth to occur within the dip. This means that the dip can retain a great level of safety and flavour throughout and after freezing, which is certainly ideal for a great dip.
Does Ajvar Freeze Well?
Yes, ajvar freezes tremendously well!
The main reason for this is that any damage to the texture that might occur on the part of the freezer burn has already occurred thanks to the blender that you used to make the ajvar.
For example, if there is any level of textural degradation in your freezer, youāre unlikely to even notice.
The only thing we would recommend with ajvar is to ensure the lid of your container is secured well – that will make sure that no flavour is lost during freezing.
Ajvar Freeze Recipe
It’s quite impressive how just 6 ingredients can come together to produce such a punchy, powerful condiment. This recipe is perfect for freezing using the method above:
Freezer-Friendly Ajvar Recipe
20
servings10
minutes55
minutes1
hour5
minutesIt might only have a few key ingredients but ajvar can pack a punch. This recipe is simple, delicious and also perfect for freezing:
Keeps the screen of your device ON
Ingredients
60ml Olive Oil
5 Red Peppers
1 Aubergine
5 Garlic Cloves, Grated
1tsbp White Vinegar
1tsp Salt
Directions
- Place the peppers and aubergine on a baking tray then pop it under a hot grill for 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, until they are charred all over.
- Immediately remove them from the oven and pop them into a sandwich bag. Seal the bag up and allow them to cool. Once cooled, remove the charred skins and then remove the stalks and seeds.
- Place the roasted peppers, aubergine and garlic into a food processor or blender and blitz until it forms a paste. Add a pinch of salt, the oil and vinegar then continue to process until it all comes together.
- Tip it into a small pot and simmer it over a low heat for 30 minutes, this will help to thicken the sauce up a little and intensify the flavour further.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste, allow it to cool and then either pop it into an airtight container for 7 to 10 days or freeze it using the method above.
Notes
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing ajvar or ajvar in general, then these may help:
Yes, generally, you can freeze ajvar from the shops. It can be frozen in the pot it came in as long as there is room for it to expand into.
So, how would u use ajvar?
What dishes????
You have a few options
Try spreading it on bread, add a spoonful to hot roasted vegetables, stir some through pasta or risotto, use as a sauce alongside most meats.