Traditional Spetsofai Spetzofai Recipe Spicy Greek Sausages with Peppers and Tomato sauce

Today I am cooking spetzofai. A rustic spicy Greek dish made with thick country sausages and peppers in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect over a glass of red wine or tsipouro! My husband loves it!

Spetsofai is a Greek dish, one can find in many variations. The famous spetsofai from Pelio contains aubergines, while in most areas, it is prepared with green or multicoloured mild bell peppers, or spicy peppers hot enough to make your eyes tear! (If using mild sausages, spice it up with some red hot chilli peppers and hot paprika and be generous with the seasoning. If using spicy and salty sausages, then use mild peppers and watch out the seasoning.)

Are you ready?

Ingredients:

• 4 spicy country sausages, sliced
• 1 red onion, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 green pepper, roughly chopped
• 1 yellow pepper, roughly chopped
• 1 sweet red pepper, roughly chopped
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• a cup of water
• 4-5 tbsps olive oil
• a glass of red wine
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 bay leaf (optional)
• 2 chili peppers (optional)
• a pinch of paprika
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper

And now let's make it!

1. To prepare this delicious Greek dish, place a saucepan over high heat, add one tbsp of olive oil and sauté the sausages, until nicely coloured. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on some kitchen paper and leave them aside.
2. Into the same pan, add the rest of the olive oil, the chopped onion and season with freshly ground pepper; sauté for a minute. Add the garlic and tomato puree and sauté for one more minute. Add the peppers and continue sautéing.
3. Deglaze with the red wine, scraping the bottom of the pan, with all the delicacies, and wait for it to evaporate. Then add the sugar, the canned tomatoes, a cup of water, the herbs and spices, turn the heat down to medium and cook for 25-30 minutes with the lid on, until the peppers tenderise.
4. Add the sausages and cook a little bit longer, until the sauce thickens. Check for seasoning; if you’re using too spicy or salty sausages, you’ll probably won’t need to add any salt or pepper.
5. Serve while still hot with some crusty bread aside or as a main dish with basmati rice. Bon appetit!