Shopska Salad comes straight from Bulgaria and it has everything you may possibly want: tons of fresh veggies combined with a salty feta cheese and dressed with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Heavenly!
I am continuing my journey through the beautiful but complex region of Balkans. Last week I made Serbian red pepper relish Ajvar and Serbian burger Pljeskavica, while today I am heading to the wonderful Bulgaria. What I know about this country? To be frank, not too much, except those facts that the capital is Sofia (when I was a kid I loved learning all the capitals in the world and I remember them till today) and that Bulgaria has a Black Sea coast. What I do know is that Bulgaria is famous for the delicious cold salad called Shopska Salata or simply Shopska Salad. It's regarded as a national dish there. The name comes from the Shopi people living in the region where Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia meet, called Shopluk. In other countries this salad may also be called a Bulgarian salad.
If you will ever be in Bulgaria, you'll see this salad literally everywhere. Even the smallest restaurants have it on their menu. This colorful salad is perfect for warm spring or hot summer days. It's so refreshing! That's, by the way, how it is eaten in Bulgaria. Families make it all summer long, while in winter it's not so popular.
Shopska salad is loaded with fresh vegetables. Let's count together: tomatoes, green onions, cucumber, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, parsley, olives! And all this goodness is topped with crumbled feta cheese (for the authentic recipe you would need Bulgarian sirene cheese, however feta is a pretty close match). A touch of red wine vinegar and olive oil, and this simple but addictive salad is done. Perfection. I love how all these different tastes mingle in the mouth!
This salad is often served as an appetizer with a glass of rakia (fruit brandy popular in Balkans). I bet it would be also great with grilled meats or other meat dishes. It's really versatile. I already ate two bowls of Shopska salad today and I think I will go for a third one. It's that good. Try it yourself and you'll see!
Bulgarian Shopska Salad (Shopska Salata)
Ingredients
- 4 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 15-20 kalamata or black olives, pitted and sliced in half
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, green and red bell peppers, parsley, salt, pepper, vinegar and olive oil. Mix well. Garnish with olives and feta cheese. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet
I went to Bulgaria two years ago and I loved this salad!! I ate it everyday I was there.
Igor
Thanks for stopping by, Nancy! I haven't been to Bulgaria yet, but I really believe that I will get there someday. The salad is great, I think it will be one of my go-to recipes in summer 🙂
Katie Crenshaw
This salad looks so incredibly delicious and healthy!!! I can eat this by the bowl fulls!! It is made of all my favorite things!!! Yum!!
Igor
Yes, Katie, it is really good! Especially now, when hot days are approaching 🙂
JAMIE
I have to tell you how much I love your blog. I just fell into it through pinterest and haven't left. You inspire me and I love your idea of cooking foods from around the world. That takes bravery! I will be trying many many recipes from your page I'm sure. I can't wait to explore it some more!!
Chao! XOXO
Igor
Jamie, thank you so much for the comment. You don't even imagine how much such words mean to me!
Eva
Igor, I just found your blog and I love it. Thank you for sharing Shopska salata, I am Bulgarian and this is also my way to prepare it at home. It is so pleasant to read all your recipe-stories! Tomorrow I will try to cook the Finnish salmon soup following your recipe:) Thanks again!
Igor
Eva, you've chosen the right recipe to try - Finnish salmon soup is the absolute favorite of this blog! Let me know how you liked it later. What about Shopska, it's so nice to hear from the Bulgarian that I made it right 😉
Jeff
Igor,
I have been to Bulgaria and have a Bulgarian nephew. This salad is delicious and your recipe reminds us to make it. The fresher the ingredients the better.
Thanks!