Hit among Americans: Bosnian and Austrian making homemade ajvar

European chefs Fred Regal and Muharem Dedić are making a unique sauce in the US that has already become a brand under the name „Majka Ajvar“, reports the BH news agency Patria.

Muharem Dedić from BiH came to Rochester in 1999, and his mother still lives in BiH.

- She used to make ajvar and that's actually how it all started – says Muharem, explaining that the sauce is named Majka Ajvar precisely because of all the mothers who make such a sauce.

The ingredients are simple: lots of peppers, eggplants, roasted red peppers, onions, spices, and it can be used on bread, pasta, or any meat.

Austrian Fred Regal said that people from the Balkans know what ajvar is, but Americans don't know enough. Regal is the owner of a catering company (food production and delivery), and a year ago Muharem suggested they try producing ajvar.

They went through a long process of obtaining permits and production rights. In January, they finally sold their product to many local stores.

- I think we are the only ones making this kind of sauce in the United States, but our sauce is homemade, made in Rochester. Where we come from, mom's food is the best – said Dedić.

They produce 400 jars daily, and each batch takes three hours. They fill 160 jars in one batch.

Their product can be found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and they are trying to expand the market to all states.