World Flavors Cookbook

Ispod Peke (Under the Bell)

A traditional Croatian method of slow-cooking meat or octopus with vegetables under a heavy metal or clay bell covered with hot embers.

Cuisine: Croatia

Ingredients

• 2kg lamb, veal, or octopus
• 1kg potatoes, peeled and halved
• 3 onions, quartered
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 2 bell peppers
• Olive oil
• Sprig of rosemary
• 100ml white wine
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare a large wood fire until you have a thick bed of hot embers.
2. Place the seasoned meat and vegetables in a round shallow pan.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and add rosemary.
4. Cover the pan with the heavy metal bell (peka).
5. Shovel hot embers over the bell until it is completely covered.
6. Slow-cook for about 2 hours. Halfway through, quickly lift the lid to add white wine and rotate the ingredients.
7. Serve directly from the pan.