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Pirot's Spicy Secret: 'Ironed Sausage' Faces Climate Threat
20 Feb
Summary
- Pirot's 'ironed sausage' is a seasoned meat delicacy with a unique flattened shape.
- The sausage has gained recognition for its quality and organic production methods.
- Climate change and dwindling goat herds threaten the future of this traditional food.
In Pirot, Serbia, a unique delicacy known as 'ironed sausage' or 'peglana kobasica' is a centuries-old tradition. This spicy sausage is crafted from selected meats, richly seasoned and naturally dried, with its name derived from a distinctive bottle-flattening technique that gives it a horseshoe shape.
Recognized for its high-quality, sustainably produced, and organic ingredients, Pirot's ironed sausage earned a state certificate for regional excellence in 2022. Producers, numbering around 35-40 certified individuals, use locally sourced beef and goat meat seasoned with garlic and spices from the nearby Stara Planina mountain.
Making the sausage involves thoroughly removing fat and connective tissue, followed by daily hand-flattening for flavor and shape. The intricate process concludes in time for Pirot's January sausage fair, a popular event drawing visitors from Serbia and neighboring Bulgaria.
Despite its growing demand, the future of this traditional sausage is uncertain. Businesses are threatened by dwindling goat herds and increasingly warmer, humid winters, which experts attribute partly to climate change. This situation poses a risk to a craft passed down through generations.
