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Bulgarian Shopska Salad

Published: Apr 17, 2016 · Modified: Mar 23, 2017 by Igor · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

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!

This colorful Bulgarian Shopska Salad is loaded with veggies! Perfect for hot summer days! | cookingtheglobe.com

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.

This colorful Bulgarian Shopska Salad is loaded with veggies! Perfect for hot summer days! | cookingtheglobe.com

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.

This colorful Bulgarian Shopska Salad is loaded with veggies! Perfect for hot summer days! | cookingtheglobe.com

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 colorful Bulgarian Shopska Salad is loaded with veggies! Perfect for hot summer days! | cookingtheglobe.com

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!

This colorful Bulgarian Shopska Salad is loaded with veggies! Perfect for hot summer days! | cookingtheglobe.com

Bulgarian Shopska Salad (Shopska Salata)

CookingTheGlobe
This colorful and fresh Bulgarian salad features lots of veggies, feta cheese, and a vinegar and olive oil dressing!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Cuisine Bulgarian
Servings 6 people
Calories 193 kcal

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

Calories: 193kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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Comments

  1. Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet

    April 21, 2016 at 6:39 pm

    I went to Bulgaria two years ago and I loved this salad!! I ate it everyday I was there.

    Reply
    • Igor

      April 21, 2016 at 8:06 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  2. Katie Crenshaw

    May 05, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    5 stars
    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!!

    Reply
    • Igor

      May 06, 2016 at 10:47 pm

      Yes, Katie, it is really good! Especially now, when hot days are approaching 🙂

      Reply
  3. JAMIE

    July 14, 2016 at 1:02 am

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
    • Igor

      July 22, 2016 at 8:48 am

      Jamie, thank you so much for the comment. You don't even imagine how much such words mean to me!

      Reply
  4. Eva

    October 11, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Igor

      November 25, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      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 😉

      Reply
  5. Jeff

    March 18, 2019 at 3:18 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply

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