Fërgesë (Albanian Baked Peppers, Tomatoes and Cheese)
In short: Sweet peppers and tomatoes stewed with garlic and oregano, folded with cottage cheese, feta and egg, then baked until bubbling and lightly golden. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 5 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 5
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 335 kcal
Fërgesë is a summer dish from Tirana, made when peppers and tomatoes are at their sweetest. The vegetables simmer down to a thick sauce, then meet cottage cheese, feta and egg in a clay or baking dish and bake into something between a stew and a savory pudding. It is eaten straight from the dish with bread. The cheese keeps it creamy, while oregano and garlic give it a Mediterranean backbone.
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a wide, deep pan over medium heat. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft and golden at the edges.
- Add the pepper strips and cook for 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until they soften and start to brown.
- Stir in the garlic, paprika and oregano, then add the tomatoes and salt. Simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce is thick and the oil separates at the edges.
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and butter a 24 cm (9 1/2 in) baking dish or clay dish.
- Beat the eggs with the cottage cheese and half of the feta until just combined.
- Spread half of the pepper mixture in the dish, spoon the cheese mixture over it and cover with the remaining peppers. Scatter the rest of the feta on top.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbling, lightly golden and set. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve hot from the dish with bread.
Tips
- Roasted peeled peppers from a jar can replace fresh ones. Skip the pepper-cooking step and add them with the tomatoes.
- For a little heat, add a pinch of chili flakes with the paprika. If your feta is very salty, use a little less of it or reduce the salt in the sauce.
Questions and answers
What is fërgesë?
Fërgesë is a baked Albanian dish of peppers and tomatoes bound with cottage cheese, feta and eggs. It is a main course eaten with bread, and it is most popular in summer.
Can I make fërgesë ahead of time?
Yes. Cook the pepper sauce up to 3 days ahead, then assemble and bake. Baked fërgesë keeps for 3 days in the fridge and reheats well at 170°C (340°F).
Is fërgesë served hot or cold?
Usually hot, straight from the dish, with bread. Leftovers are also good at room temperature the next day.
How long does it take to make Fërgesë (Albanian Baked Peppers, Tomatoes and Cheese)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Fërgesë (Albanian Baked Peppers, Tomatoes and Cheese)?
About 335 kcal per serving, with 16 g of protein, 16 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 335 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
