ReceptnaptárShopska salad (Bulgarian tomato, cucumber and pepper salad with cheese)
Shopska salad is much younger than you might think: Bulgaria's state tourism company made it popular in the 1950s. Its colours echo the Bulgarian flag: white cheese, green cucumber and pepper, red tomato. Since then it has become Bulgaria's national salad, found on almost every table on summer evenings.
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Ingredients
Method
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- Cut the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers into small cubes.
- Mix with the parsley, onion, salt, vinegar and oil.
- When serving, grate or crumble plenty of cheese over the top and add olives if you like.
Source: Wikibooks Cookbook – Shopska Salata (Tomato, Cucumber, and Bell Pepper Salad) (CC BY-SA 4.0), adapted and translated. This page is also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tips
- Choose ripe summer tomatoes, because they determine almost all of the salad's flavour.
- Roasted peppers give it a truly Bulgarian taste: roast them, peel them, and only then dice them.
- Grate the cheese over the top, cold, at serving time so it forms a light, snowy layer. The most traditional version is made with sunflower oil.
Frequently asked questions
What is sirene?
A salty Bulgarian white cheese that can be made from cow's, sheep's or goat's milk. Feta is a good substitute.
Can I make it ahead?
You can cut the vegetables 1-2 hours in advance, but add the dressing and cheese only at serving time, otherwise the salad releases liquid.
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