Greek Sausage and Peppers Recipe (Spetzofai)
Spetzofai – this Greek sausage and peppers recipe is hearty, smoky and simmered in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect with crusty bread, over rice or a side of fries, this one-pot wonder brings Mediterranean comfort straight to your table.
Servings: 4 - 6
Calories: 571kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp virgin olive oil , or more as needed
- 3 green peppers , sliced
- 2 red bell peppers , sliced
- 2 yellow bell peppers , sliced
- 1 spicy green pepper , sliced (optional)
- 4 cloves garlic , sliced or chopped
- 1 pound (450g) pork sausage, sliced see notes
- 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes , halved
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅓ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ⅓ tsp hot paprika
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 14 oz (400g) canned tomatoes, , fire roasted tomatoes are ideal
- ⅓ tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
- 2 tbsp ouzo or tequila (optional)
- salt and pepper , to taste
- fresh thyme or oregano , to garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sauté the peppers and sliced garlic for 5-10 minutes, or until they start to soften.4 tbsp virgin olive oil, 3 green peppers, 2 red bell peppers, 2 yellow bell peppers, 1 spicy green pepper, 4 cloves garlic
- In the same pan, push the peppers aside, add the sliced sausages and cook until they are colored on both sides.1 pound (450g) pork sausage, sliced see notes
- Add the seasoning, vinegar and sugar. Stir in the fresh sliced tomatoes and cook until they start to soften.1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, ⅓ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp sweet paprika, ⅓ tsp hot paprika, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, ⅓ tsp red pepper flakes
- Add the canned tomatoes and simmer, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened and peppers are completely soft. Stir in a little water, as needed, if the pan is getting too dry.14 oz (400g) canned tomatoes,
- Drizzle with ouzo (or similar) if using and set alight to blister the peppers and add a hint of smokiness. The alcohol will burn out fairly quickly but stand back just in case!2 tbsp ouzo or tequila
- Taste, adjust seasoning and sprinkle with fresh thyme. Serve hot with plenty of bread for dipping or spoon over pasta or rice.salt and pepper, fresh thyme or oregano
Video
Notes
- Note 1 – Try sweet Italian sausage, Spanish chorizo, kielbasa or even chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter option. You can also try mixing two different sausage varieties – I like adding smoked sausages.
- Note 2 – Green long peppers are used in Greece but I haven't been able to find them anywhere else! They look like Anaheim peppers and are mildly spicy. You can use whatever varieties are available to you, picking mostly sweet peppers and adding a few hot ones for a kick if you like!
- Upping the vegetables – make this stew even heartier by adding sliced onion, zucchini and even eggplant. The vegetables need to cook down until very soft, almost melting into the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 571kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 1486mg | Potassium: 1097mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3172IU | Vitamin C: 278mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 4mg
