TOP 12 recipes for finger-licking bell pepper lecho for the winter

This appetizer seems to have absorbed all the sunny colors of summer, as well as the bounty of autumn, and has become one of the favorite preparations for the winter. Despite the fact that this is a national Hungarian dish, it has long been recognized as one of its own in many families. Lecho made from sweet bell peppers, prepared for the winter, under the delicious name “You'll Lick Your Fingers,” has become especially popular.

Features of preparing lecho from bell pepper

Every housewife has made this dish at least once. With the onset of autumn, an abundance of vegetables appears in markets and garden beds, including sweet peppers, carrots, tomatoes and onions. They are the main ingredients of lecho.

How to properly prepare food and containers

For cooking, only ripe, elastic, fleshy vegetables are used. For a spectacular appearance, choose red, orange and yellow peppers. All components of the dish are washed, the stalk of the pepper is cut off and the seeds are scraped out.

The stalk of the tomatoes is also cut out, and the onions and carrots are peeled. The jars are well washed and sterilized using steam, oven frying or microwave.

The best recipes

Although the main ingredients are similar, there are enough different lecho recipes to suit any, even the most refined, taste.

Classic lecho made from bell peppers and tomatoes “You will lick your fingers”

Despite the fact that this is a national Hungarian dish, it is the classic Bulgarian lecho, also called “Finger-lickin’ good,” that has won the greatest love. Ingredients needed to prepare it:

• tomatoes – 4 kilograms;
• bell pepper – 5 kilograms;
• sugar – 250 milliliters;
• salt – 2 tablespoons (heaped);
• vegetable oil – 250 milliliters;
• table vinegar (9%) – 50 milliliters.

The peeled pepper is cut into 5-8 pieces, depending on its size. The stem of washed tomatoes is cut off, minced in a meat grinder, and the juice is poured into a large saucepan. Then add salt and sugar and place the pan, covering it with a lid, on low heat.After boiling, add sunflower oil to the juice and add bell pepper.

After the lecho begins to boil, simmer for half an hour over low heat, stirring constantly, and then remove from the stove and add vinegar. Then the filling and tomato sauce are poured evenly into sterilized jars. It is important to cook lecho for no more than 30-40 minutes so that it does not turn into puree.

Option without vinegar

This option is suitable for people suffering from diseases of the digestive system, as well as diabetes or hepatitis. Despite the fact that it is not difficult to make lecho without vinegar, it has an exquisite, “velvety” taste. It can also be used as a separate sauce or filler for many dishes, in particular rice.

Ingredients include tomatoes, peppers, sugar and garlic. The cooking principle is the same as that of classic lecho, only at the end, instead of vinegar, crushed garlic and black pepper are added.

Without sterilization

Lecho for the winter can be done without sterilizing the jars. First of all, prepare tomato juice, then boil it for half an hour to evaporate excess moisture. Then add garlic, sunflower oil and vinegar, spices and cook for 15 minutes. Then add the pepper and boil everything together for another 15 minutes. The jars are fried in the oven and the finished lecho is poured into them.

With tomato juice

You can use tomato juice instead of fresh tomatoes. For a bright and rich taste, it is advisable to use homemade juice, which is taken at the rate of 3 liters per 4 kilograms of bell pepper. This lecho can be consumed either fresh or rolled into jars.

In Hungarian

A delicious Hungarian-style lecho recipe suitable for both rolling and eating fresh. It is somewhat different from the Bulgarian version.

Compound:

• sweet pepper – 3 kilograms;
• tomatoes – 0.9 kilograms;
• carrots – 3 pieces;
• onion – 300 grams;
• garlic – 1 large head;
• smoked lard (lard) – 100 grams;
• sweet paprika – 10 grams (1 tablespoon);
• white (wine) vinegar - 3 tablespoons
• sugar – 50 grams (2 tablespoons);
• salt – 25 grams (1 tablespoon).

With garlic

A tasty and healthy option would be to preserve lecho with garlic for the winter. The sauce will not only brighten up long winter evenings with bright summer colors, but will also act as a preventative against various diseases. For 3 kilograms of pepper and 3 kilograms of tomatoes, take 2 heads of garlic, as well as 10-15 black peppercorns.

Through a meat grinder with carrots

You can prepare lecho for the winter by passing tomatoes and carrots cut into circles for convenience through a meat grinder. The pepper itself is cut into strips, and the onion into half rings, garlic and allspice peas are added, and then everything is simmered for half an hour.

In a slow cooker

Using a slow cooker, you can quickly prepare lecho for lunch and, of course, preparing salad for the winter will also not be difficult. Chopped onions and carrots are cooked in the “Stew” mode, with the addition of a large amount of oil. Then add the grated tomatoes and simmer for another 10 minutes. Then add pepper, sugar and cook for another 30 minutes.

With rice

This option can be either a side dish or a separate dish, and it is tasty and quite nutritious. It is consumed both warmed and cold.

You need to prepare lecho like this:

• take equal parts of onions, carrots and peppers (500 grams each);
• 3 kilograms of firm tomatoes;
• 250 grams of sunflower oil;
• 2 tablespoons salt;
• 250 grams of sugar;
• and 250 grams of rice.

After cooking all the vegetables for half an hour, add rice and cook for another half hour.Then the snack is poured hot into jars and rolled up for the winter.

With beans

A tasty and satisfying lecho is obtained by adding beans. For 3.5 kilograms of tomatoes take 2.5 kilograms of sweet bell pepper, 1 hot pod and 500 grams of beans.

With green pepper

Lecho with green bell pepper looks original in jars. For 1 kilogram of tomatoes take 2 kilograms and 100 grams of carrots. Cooking time is 45 minutes, after lecho you can close it in sterilized jars. This snack is not only bright, but also very healthy.

Acute treatment

For lovers of “spicy” foods, just such a snack is suitable; in addition, it is consumed in winter as a preventative against colds. For 2.5 kilograms of tomatoes take 2 kilograms of bell pepper, 3 hot pods and 2 heads of garlic. After cooking, the snack can be rolled into sterilized jars or eaten fresh.

Storage periods and rules

Lecho rolled into pre-sterilized jars is stored in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. A basement, cellar and even a pantry are suitable, where the lecho is stored at room temperature. The main thing is the tightness of the jar.

In an open jar, it can be stored only in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.