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Pastrmajlija (North Macedonia)

An authentic recipe for traditional Macedonian Pastrmajlija, featuring an elongated bread crust filled with savory cured or fresh meat and rich lard.

Level Medium Prep 40 min Cook 25 min Servings 2 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

65 min

Makes 2 servings

Prep 40m

Cook 25m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Macedonian Pastrmajlija, featuring an elongated bread crust filled with savory cured or fresh meat and rich lard.

North Macedonia's iconic oval-shaped bread pie topped with seasoned chunks of meat and rich lard.

Ingredients

Servings

Units

Dough

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup lukewarm water

Toppings

400 g pork shoulder or loin (cut into small cubes)
salt and black pepper (to taste)
3 tbsp lard or butter (cubed or melted)
1 tsp dried chili pepper flakes (optional, for garnish)

Equipment

Baking sheet Lined with parchment paper
Large mixing bowl For dough preparation
Rolling pin For shaping oval crust

Instructions

In a bowl, mix lukewarm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
Combine flour and salt in a large mixing bowl, add the yeast mixture, and knead into a smooth, elastic dough.
Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
60 min
Season the diced meat generously with salt and black pepper.
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Divide the dough into two portions and roll each into an oval shape resembling a small boat with raised edges.
Arrange the seasoned meat cubes densely along the center of each dough boat.
Distribute pieces of lard or butter over the top of the meat.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the meat is fully cooked and tender.
25 min

Nutrition

Calories 480

Protein 28g

Carbs 52g

Fat 18g

Fiber 2g

Sugar 2g

Sodium 720mg

Serving Size 1 pastrmajlija

Cooking Timeline

Prep 40 min

Cook 25 min

Total 65 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.7
Presentation 9.2
Nutrition 7.5
Value 9.2
Instructions 9.4
Ingredients 9.3
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.0
Would Make Again 9.0

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

An incredible Macedonian culinary heritage dish featuring a crispy crust and savory, juicy meat filling.

Pros

Rich traditional flavor
Crisp and chewy crust
Hearty and satisfying

Cons

Requires dough rising time

Overview

North Macedonia's iconic oval-shaped bread pie topped with seasoned chunks of meat and rich lard.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Macedonian Pastrmajlija, featuring an elongated bread crust filled with savory cured or fresh meat and rich lard.

Tips

Brush the baked crust edges with a bit of butter right out of the oven for an extra soft and glossy finish
Cut into slices across the oval shape before eating for easy sharing
Add pickled peppers or hot peppers on the side to complement the rich meat flavor