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Bulgarian Shopska Salad Recipe

Bulgarian Shopska Salad Recipe

A fresh and authentic Bulgarian Shopska Salad made with ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, peppers, onions, parsley, and traditional sirene cheese. This refreshing Balkan salad is simple to prepare and perfect alongside grilled meats, fresh bread, or summer meals.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Bulgarian
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large ripe tomatoes diced
  • 1 large cucumber diced
  • 1 green bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 small red onion finely sliced
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 5 ounces 140g Bulgarian sirene cheese, finely grated
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • Salt to taste

Method
 

  1. Dice the tomatoes into medium-small pieces and place them in a large bowl.
  2. Dice the cucumber, thinly slice the pepper, and finely slice the onion. Add them to the bowl along with the chopped parsley.
  3. Gently toss the vegetables together until evenly combined.
  4. Drizzle with sunflower oil and red wine vinegar.
  5. Add a small amount of salt if needed, keeping in mind that the sirene cheese is already salty.
  6. Finely grate the sirene cheese generously over the top of the salad until most of the vegetables are covered.
  7. Serve immediately while fresh and chilled.

Notes

  • Use the ripest tomatoes available for the best flavor.
  • Traditional Bulgarian Shopska Salad is often made with sunflower oil rather than olive oil.
  • Roasted peppers can be substituted for raw peppers for a sweeter, smokier variation.
  • Feta cheese can be used if Bulgarian sirene cheese is unavailable.