Pastrmajlija
Oval yeasted bread topped with pork seasoned with paprika and garlic. This version serves four and is baked until the meat is thoroughly cooked.
Pastrmajlija is a dish from North Macedonia: a yeasted base with raised edges and meat on top. Variations may use cured or fresh meat; this version uses fresh pork cut into small pieces. Hands-on preparation time is an estimate.
Ingredient allergens
Allergen listThere are no verified associations for these ingredients yet.
Method
- 01
Season the pork
Mix the pork with the sweet paprika, garlic, and salt for the pork. Cover and refrigerate while preparing the dough; keep it chilled until ready to use.
Ready to continue when: The pork is evenly seasoned and remains refrigerated.
10 min - 02
Activate the yeast
Dissolve the sugar in the lukewarm water and add the dried yeast. Leave it until the mixture begins to foam.
Ready to continue when: Foam or bubbles appear on the surface of the mixture.
10 min - 03
Make the dough
Mix the flour with the salt for the dough. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil, then knead until the dough is smooth and cohesive.
Ready to continue when: The dough is cohesive, smooth, and easy to handle.
10 min - 04
Let the dough rise
Cover the dough and leave it in a warm place until it has roughly doubled in volume.
Ready to continue when: The dough has visibly expanded to about twice its original volume.
45 min - 05
Shape the oval
Heat the oven to 230 °C. Punch down the dough and shape it into an oval, forming a slightly raised border around the centre.
Temperature: 230 °C / 446 °FReady to continue when: The dough is oval with a raised edge around the centre.
15 min - 06
Top and bake
Spread the seasoned pork in a single layer over the centre of the dough and press it in lightly, keeping the border clear. Bake until the dough is golden and the meat is thoroughly cooked.
Temperature: 230 °C / 446 °FReady to continue when: The dough is golden and the meat is thoroughly cooked.
20 min
Ingredients
Sources and review
Content researched, cross-checked and automatically validated. Sources consulted:
- Higiene de los alimentos www.aesan.gob.es/seguridad-alimentaria/higiene-alimentos
- Pontic Greek cuisine: the most common foods, ingredients, and dishes presented in cookbooks and folklore literature | OpenAlex openalex.org/W4206171805
- International Cooking: Food from North Macedonia - The Flavor Vortex www.theflavorvortex.com/international-cooking-food-from-north-macedonia/
- North Macedonia Food & Wine: A Guide to What to Eat and Drink - Undiscovered Balkans undiscoveredbalkans.com/north-macedonia-food-and-wine-guide/
- WELCOME TO MACEDONIAN CUISINE www.macedoniancuisine.com/
- - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifR16Xzvsuo
- Macedonian Food and North Macedonian Cooking | olivemagazine www.olivemagazine.com/travel/europe/cook-like-a-local-macedonia/
- Eat Local in North Macedonia - TasteAtlas www.tasteatlas.com/north-macedonia
- What to Eat in North Macedonia: Typical Macedonian Food and Specialties | Food on the Move www.jidlonacestach.cz/en/north-macedonia/
- North Macedonia Food Guide: A Road Trip Feast macedonia-car-rental.com/blog/north-macedonia-food-guide-road-trip?srsltid=AYCX9vIShp3bd6q9h…
- North Macedonia’s National Dish and Balkan Flavours | Remitly www.remitly.com/blog/en-au/food/national-dish-of-north-macedonia/
- North Macedonia Food Guide: Must-Try Dishes, Prices, and Tips www.travelwithhello.com/blog/macedonia-food-dining-guide
- Macedonia casera. Receta de cocina fácil, sencilla y deliciosa www.directoalpaladar.com/postres/receta-de-macedonia-casera
- Macedonian Pizza (Pastrmajlija) - International Cuisine www.internationalcuisine.com/macedonian-pizza/
- Pastrmajlija (Meat Pie) and Macedonia: The Cookbook - Tara's Multicultural Table tarasmulticulturaltable.com/pastrmajlija-meat-pie-macedonia/
- Macedonian Pizza | Pastrmajlija | Global Table Adventure globaltableadventure.com/recipe/macedonian-pizza-pastrmajlija/
- Pastrmajlija - North Macedonian meat-topped flatbread - MadGuru madguru.dk/opskrift/pastrmajlija-nordmakedonsk-fladbrod-med-kod/?lang=en
- Pastrmajlija - Macedonian Pizza | Diethood diethood.com/fried-pork-pizza/
- Macedonian Pastrmajlija - Ina Eats In inaeatsin.com/macedonian-pastrmajlija/
- - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdBbmnUJHQg
- HOMEMADE PASTRMALIJA | Macedonian cuisine www.macedoniancuisine.com/2018/09/homemade-pastrmalija.html
- ‘Pastrmajlija’: sabor balcánico con sello de Veles www.ultimahora.es/xaloc/gastronomia/2025/04/12/2365643/pastrmajlija-sabor-balcanico-sello-ve…
- Pastrmajlija — barquitas macedonias de masa con levadura y cerdo al horno | Recipheon recipheon.com/es/recetas/platos-principales/pastrmajlija-barquitas-macedonias-de-masa-con-le…
- Pastrmajlija - Gastronomía en Macedonia del Norte trek.zone/es/macedonia-del-norte/gastronomia/pastrmajlija
State: Published after documentary validation; no “Tested” label is shown.