Punjene Paprike (Croatia)

An authentic recipe for traditional Croatian Punjene Paprike, highlighting tender bell peppers packed with seasoned meat and rice in a flavorful tomato sauce.

Level Medium Prep 30 min Cook 60 min Servings 4 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

90 min

Makes 4 servings

Prep 30m

Cook 60m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Croatian Punjene Paprike, highlighting tender bell peppers packed with seasoned meat and rice in a flavorful tomato sauce.

Traditional Croatian stuffed peppers cooked in a savory, aromatic tomato sauce.

Instructions

Wash the bell peppers, cut off the top stems, and carefully remove all the seeds and membranes.
In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, uncooked rice, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Stuff each bell pepper loosely with the meat and rice mixture, leaving a little room at the top as the rice expands during cooking.
In a wide pot, heat the oil over medium heat. If making a roux-based sauce, lightly brown the flour, then pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth.
Carefully arrange the stuffed peppers upright in the pot so the sauce surrounds them.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, cover the pot, and cook on low heat for about 50 to 60 minutes until the peppers are tender and the meat filling is fully cooked.
60 min

Nutrition

Calories 420

Protein 24g

Carbs 32g

Fat 22g

Fiber 5g

Sugar 8g

Sodium 680mg

Serving Size 1 serving (1-2 stuffed peppers)

Cooking Timeline

Prep 30 min

Cook 60 min

Total 90 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.3 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.6
Presentation 9.2
Nutrition 8.0
Value 9.5
Instructions 9.4
Ingredients 9.2
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.0
Would Make Again 9.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

An exceptionally hearty and comforting Eastern European classic that brings warmth and rich traditional flavors to the table.

Pros

Comforting homestyle flavor
Balanced sauce
Great for meal prep

Cons

Requires careful handling of peppers

Overview

Traditional Croatian stuffed peppers cooked in a savory, aromatic tomato sauce.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Croatian Punjene Paprike, highlighting tender bell peppers packed with seasoned meat and rice in a flavorful tomato sauce.

Tips

Do not pack the meat filling too tightly into the peppers, as the rice expands while cooking
Punjene Paprike often taste even better the next day after the flavors have melded together
Serve alongside smooth mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious tomato sauce