📍 Where this dish comes from: Meteora, Thessaly · Meteora monasteries
Discover the history of this region →
Discover the history of this region →
Spetzofai is a rustic, bold dish from the mountains of central Greece — thick slices of country sausage pan-fried with bell peppers in a spiced tomato sauce. It is the kind of food that warms you from the inside out, tastes like it took hours when it takes under 30 minutes, and makes an entire house smell like the best taverna you have ever walked into.
What You’ll Need
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 420kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Greek country-style sausages or Italian sausages (natural no fillers)
- 3 large bell peppers (red and green) sliced
- 1 large onion sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Pinch of chili flakes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prick sausages and brown in olive oil over medium-high heat until golden all around, about 8 minutes. Remove and slice thickly on the diagonal.
- In the same pan, saute onion and peppers until softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, paprika, and chili flakes.
- Deglaze with red wine. Add crushed tomatoes. Simmer 10 minutes.
- Return sliced sausages to the pan. Simmer together 8-10 minutes until sauce has thickened and sausages are cooked through.
- Taste, season, and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 420kcal | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Fiber: 3.5g
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Health Benefits
- Bell peppers provide over 200% of the daily vitamin C requirement per serving, which enhances the absorption of iron from the pork sausage dramatically.
- Capsaicin from chili flakes temporarily increases metabolic rate and fat oxidation.
- Lycopene from tomatoes is a potent cardiovascular protector.
Pairs Well With
- Classic Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
- Spanakorizo — Keto Spinach Rice