Albanian Fergesë (tomato, pepper and feta dip)

AKA the most fun you can have with feta, tomatoes and peppers

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Watch me make this dish on TikTok

Did you know Albania has an incredible food culture?

I didn’t have a clue until I went there for the first time last year. The country has influence from Greece, Turkey, Persia, and the Balkans which means plenty of fresh vegetables - and lots and lots of feta-like cheese called Kaçkavall.

One of the national dishes is Fergesë. It originates in the capital of Tirana which is exactly where I stay when I’m in Albania.

I ordered this dish a lot.

We’re basically talking about a gooey, messy dip of tomatoes, bell peppers, and feta. Serve it with bread and it’s the lunch or side dish of dreams. It’s also incredibly flexible - this is one of those dishes that every family has their own recipe for.

Traditionally, this dish is placed in clay pots and roasted in the oven but you can also make it on the stovetop (or in the oven in a standard dish). I’ve also included some alternatives for when tomatoes and peppers are not in season - like now.

Get ready for a taste explosion.

Serves 4

• 4 roasted red peppers (from a jar is fine), roughly diced