Shopska salad is a classic Bulgarian cold starter that’s perfect on its own or served alongside grilled meats. Popular across the Balkans—in countries like Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Romania—this refreshing salad combines ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumber, green peppers, olives and onion, tossed with extra virgin olive oil, a splash of white wine vinegar (optional), plenty of fresh parsley and a generous crumble of Feta or traditional Bulgarian cheese. Finish with extra crumbled cheese on top and it’s ready to serve.
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Shopska Salad – Bulgarian Food
A vibrant, easy-to-make Bulgarian salad that works as a starter or a side with grilled dishes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Julia
Ingredients
- 250 g Ripe Tomatoes
- 1 Large Cucumber
- 1 Medium Onion
- Handful of Flat-Leaf Parsley
- 50 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp White Wine Vinegar (optional)
- 2 Green Peppers
- 200 g Feta Cheese (or Bulgarian cheese)
- 120 g Olives of your choice
Instructions
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Wash the peppers.
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Option 1: Roast whole peppers on a foil-lined baking tray at 200°C for about 20 minutes. Allow to cool, then peel off the skins and remove the membranes.
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Option 2: Or simply chop fresh peppers into bite-sized pieces and add them raw to the bowl.
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You can also combine both roasted and fresh peppers for added texture and flavor.
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Wash the tomatoes and cucumber and cut into chunks. Finely chop the parsley. Peel and thinly slice the onion into separate rings. Add all the vegetables and olives to a large bowl.
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Crumble the Feta (or Bulgarian cheese) by hand or with a fork and add it to the bowl.
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Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and, if using, the white wine vinegar. Toss gently to combine and finish with additional crumbled cheese on top.
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Serve immediately as a starter or as a colorful side to grilled meats.
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Nutrition
Calories: 326 kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 11 g (4%), Protein: 8 g (16%), Fat: 28 g (43%), Saturated Fat: 9 g (56%), Cholesterol: 44 mg (15%), Sodium: 1109 mg (48%), Potassium: 361 mg (10%), Fiber: 3 g (13%), Sugar: 6 g (7%), Vitamin A: 1325 IU (27%), Vitamin C: 22.4 mg (27%), Calcium: 292 mg (29%), Iron: 1.2 mg (7%)
Nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and may vary based on ingredient brands, substitutions, and portion sizes.
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Bulgarian
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