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Ajvar — Hamilton Euromarket

Ajvar — Authentic Balkan Roasted Red Pepper Spread

Ajvar (pronounced EYE-var) is a roasted red pepper spread from the Balkans — Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, and Bosnia all claim it as their own. Made from roasted red peppers, sometimes eggplant, garlic, sunflower oil and salt, it is the staple of Balkan meze, grilled meats and roštilj nights. Hamilton Euromarket stocks 50+ authentic ajvars from the brands diaspora families actually keep in their pantry — shipped nationwide from California, or pickup in San Jose & Alhambra.

Mild or Hot?

Mild ajvar is the classic — smoky, sweet, rich. Perfect on bread with kashkaval, alongside cevapcici and pljeskavice, or stirred into eggs. Hot (ljuti) ajvar adds chili — same depth, with heat. Most Balkan households keep both jars open at the same time.

Where it comes from

  • Serbian ajvar — Granny's Secret, Ask Homemade — smoky-sweet, often heavier on red pepper
  • Macedonian ajvar — Va-Va, Biljana, Vitaminka, Bas, Kostana, Mama's — typically blended with roasted eggplant
  • Croatian ajvar — Podravka, Hina, Dida Boza — slightly thicker, more pepper-forward
  • Bulgarian-style — Zergüt — closer to lutenica, with tomato added

How to use ajvar

  • On bread with kajmak, kashkaval, or feta — the classic meze opener
  • Alongside cevapcici, pljeskavice, kobasica — any grilled Balkan meat
  • Stirred into scrambled eggs or omelets
  • Spread on burgers, sandwiches, or pita
  • Mixed into pasta sauce, rice, or roasted vegetables
  • As a dip with kashkaval, olives, and cured meats for meze

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ajvar vegan? Yes — traditional ajvar is made from peppers, sunflower oil, salt, and sometimes eggplant and garlic. No animal products. The Va-Va Ajvar with Cheese variant is the one exception in our catalog.

Is ajvar gluten-free? Yes — authentic ajvar from Granny's Secret, Podravka, Vitaminka, Biljana, Va-Va, Bas, Mama's, Kostana, and Hina contains no wheat, rye, or barley. Always check the label for cross-contamination notices.

How long does ajvar last after opening? Refrigerate after opening and use within 30 days. Keep the jar sealed; pour a thin layer of olive oil on top to extend freshness.

What's the difference between ajvar, lutenica, pindjur, and zacusca? Ajvar is roasted red peppers (sometimes eggplant). Lutenica (Bulgarian) adds tomato. Pindjur (Macedonian/Serbian) is similar to ajvar but coarser. Zacusca (Romanian) is heavier on eggplant and tomato, slow-cooked.

Can you ship ajvar nationwide? Yes — ajvar is shelf-stable until opened, and we ship to all 50 states. Free shipping on orders over $175.

What's the best ajvar brand for first-time buyers? For Serbian ajvar, start with Granny's Secret. For Macedonian, try Va-Va or Vitaminka. For Croatian, Podravka is the classic. Hot lovers: try Mama's or Biljana De Luxe Hot.

Visit Hamilton Euromarket at 4160 Stevens Creek Blvd in San Jose or 445 W Main St in Alhambra to see the full selection — or browse and order online.

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Podravka Ajvar Hot Roasted Red Pepper & Eggplant Spread, Croatian 690g (1.5lb)

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Podravka Hot Ajvar — the Croatian ćevapi-side standard. Koprivnica's 1947 recipe in the chili-warmed register — kapija-pepper-and-eggplant mash wit...

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Grandma's Recipe Homemade Hot Ajvar (Roasted Red Pepper Spread)

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Grandma's Recipe (Ask Foods) Homemade Hot Ajvar, a roasted red pepper spread with added heat, in the Balkan tradition. A savory pepper relish serve...

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Va-Va Hot Ajvar, Macedonian Vegetable Spread 520g (1.1lb)

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Spicy ajvar simmered slowly at home is a taste that carries straight back to a Macedonian family kitchen. Va-Va's Hot Ajvar, a homemade-style spicy...

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Mama's Ajvar Hot Roasted Red Pepper Spread, Macedonian 550g (1.2lb)

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Mama's Hot Ajvar — Macedonian home-recipe, chili register. The chili-warmed cousin to Mama's mild — same slow-roast kapija, same oil-glossed finish...

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Mama's Mild Ajvar Roasted Red Pepper Spread, Macedonian 550g (19.4oz)

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Mama's Mild Ajvar — Macedonian family-recipe register. Mama's leans the home-kitchen voice — slow-roasted kapija pepper, oil-finished, the texture ...

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Kostana Serbian Ajvar Mild Vegetable Spread 670g (23.6oz)

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Kostana Mild Ajvar — Serbian small-jar register. The starter-format mild Serbian ajvar — slow-roasted kapija pepper, oil-finished, calibrated for t...

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Ask Homemade Mild Ajvar Roasted Pepper Spread, Serbian 550g (1.2lb)

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Ask Homemade Mild Ajvar — Serbian village-recipe register. Ask's Homemade line keeps the hand-mashed chunky character — kapija pieces visible, slow...

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Grandma's Recipe Mild Ajvar Roasted Pepper Spread 550g (1.2lb)

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Grandma's Recipe Mild Ajvar — Kosovo-Albanian family register. Grandma's Recipe carries the Kosovo-Albanian home-kitchen voice — slow-roasted kapij...

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Zimnica Hot Ajvar Roasted Pepper Spread 670g (23.6oz)

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Roasted pepper spread on fresh bread is a breakfast and a supper that many families make in autumn. Zimnica Hot Ajvar is a roasted pepper spread wi...

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Marco Polo Mild Ajvar Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant 547g (19.3oz)

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Ajvar gets made in big batches every autumn when the red peppers come in, then spooned onto bread all winter as a taste of home. This is Marco Polo...

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Podravka Ajvar Mild, Croatian Roasted Red Pepper Spread 100g (3.5oz)

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Podravka Ajvar Mild is a 100g single-serve jar of roasted red pepper and eggplant relish from Podravka — the Croatian food company from Koprivnica ...

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Va-Va Mild Ajvar Roasted Red Pepper Spread, Macedonian Style 2.35kg (5.2lb)

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Va-Va Mild Ajvar is a 2.35kg catering-size jar of mild roasted red pepper relish from Va-Va Premium Foods — a Macedonian preserved-food brand — del...

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Zimnica Ajvar Mild Vegetable Spread, Bosnian Style 540g (1.2lb)

Only 4 left!

A jar of ajvar spread on warm bread is the taste of late-summer pepper roasting that every Bosnian kitchen remembers. Zimnica's Premium Ajvar is a ...

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Va-Va Roasted Pepper, Macedonian Ajvar Spread 540g (1.2lb)

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Va-Va Roasted Pepper Macedonian Ajvar Spread is a jar of roasted red pepper relish from Va-Va Premium Foods — a Macedonian specialty food brand — i...

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Podravka Ajvar Mild, Croatian Red Pepper Spread 350g (12.3oz)

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Podravka Ajvar Mild is a 350g jar of roasted red pepper and eggplant relish from Podravka — the Croatian food company founded in Koprivnica in 1947...

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Jadranka Hot Roasted Ajvar Vegetable Spread, Croatian Style 670g (23.6oz)

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Jars of roasted red pepper ajvar lined up on the balcony each autumn are a fixture of Balkan family kitchens. Jadranka's Hot roasted vegetable spre...

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Biljana Mild Ajvar, Macedonian Vegetable Spread 670g (23.6oz)

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Ajvar on the table means home — the home-style jar your baba made every autumn, spread thick on warm bread. Biljana has made ajvar in North Macedon...

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Chef K Artisan Recipe Roasted Red Peppers Spicy Spread, Macedonian Ajvar 350g (12.3oz)

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Chef K Artisan Spicy — Macedonian small-jar heat register. The Artisan line of Chef K — kapija-pepper roast with chili-warmth in the starter format...

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Chef K Roasted Red Peppers Spread, Macedonian Ajvar 350g (12.3oz)

Only 4 left!

Chef K Macedonian Ajvar — small-format mild register. Chef K's mild kapija-pepper Macedonian recipe in the starter pour — oil-finished, sweet-smoky...

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Va-Va Mild Ajvar Roasted Vegetable Spread, Macedonian Style 500g (1.1lb)

Only 5 left!

Ajvar spread thick on fresh bread is the taste of Balkan autumns, when the peppers came in and every family made a batch. This is Va-Va's Mild Ajva...

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Zimnica Ajvar Hot Vegetable Spread, Bosnian Style 540g (19oz)

in stock

The kick of hot ajvar on a slice of bread is a taste that instantly brings back late-summer pepper season back home. Zimnica's Premium Ajvar is a h...

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Biljana Hot Roasted Pepper & Eggplant Ajvar, Macedonian Spread 530g (18.7oz)

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Biljana Hot Ajvar — eggplant blend, Macedonian heat register. The chili-warmed version of Biljana's eggplant-blended 1952 recipe — sweet-smoky velv...

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Hina Home Made Ajvar Reserva, Croatian Vegetable Spread 690g (24.3oz)

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Hina Reserva — the home-style Croatian ajvar premium tier. The Reserva line keeps the chunky hand-mashed texture and denser kapija ratio that mass-...

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Hina Hot Ajvar Roasted Red Pepper Spread, Croatian Style 690g (1.5lb)

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Hina Hot Ajvar — Croatian heat register, family jar. The chili-warmed version of the Hina Croatian recipe — kapija-pepper mash with eggplant velvet...

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Vegan