Food Bulgarians are extremely proud of their food, and it is definitely worth exploring. Let me start by saying that there is no such thing as purely Bulgarian cuisine - it has been greatly influenced by food traditions in neighbouring countries. So, each nation may claim a dish as their own, while, in fact, most dishes are common for the Balkan countries. Nevertheless, there are different country-specific versions, so don’t give up on trying traditional food in Bulgaria just yet - it can be a truly authentic, mouth-watering experience.

Staples of Bulgarian cuisine Cheese and yoghurt When it comes to Bulgarian food favourites, there is nothing like cheese and yoghurt.

They are important ingredients in many traditional dishes, and actually, these are two of the few food items which can be defined as entirely Bulgarian. According to some historical data, yoghurt originated in Bulgaria thousands of years ago when this land was inhabited by Thracians. In 1905, a Bulgarian scientist discovered the bacteria which makes milk turn into yoghurt, and it was named after his country where it can be naturally found: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus.

So, what is so special about Bulgarian yoghurt? It is not sweet like most types of commercially available yoghurt abroad, and it has a slightly sour taste. In fact, the Bulgarian term is “кисело мляко” (kiselo mlyako) which translates as “sour milk”. This makes it go extremely well with all sorts of dishes, and it is indeed generously used in Bulgarian cuisine. Bulgarian cheese is another great local favourite. It is white brined cheese, similar to the more well-known Greek feta cheese but different in flavour. It can be made of goat’s milk or sheep milk, but the most popular version is of cow milk. It can be added to salads, baked dishes and even soups.

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Grilled meat Meat is quite popular among Bulgarians, especially when grilled. Pork and chicken are the most common types of meat, followed by beef and lamb. There are several dishes you can find for sure on every restaurant menu in Bulgaria, and two of them are “kebapcheta” and “kyufteta”. Both are made of minced meat (usually pork), just their shape is different. “Kyufteta” are meatballs, and they are normally large and flattened, with onion and various spices. “Kebapcheta” are stick-shaped, seasoned with cumin and black pepper. You can also find them on the street in special grill kiosks. Lyutenitsa You will hardly find a Bulgarian who doesn’t love lyutenitsa and praise it as the best thing in the world. It is a vegetable paste which is simple and utterly delicious. The classical lyutenitsa is made of roasted peppers, tomatoes, vegetable oil and spices, but other versions exist, too. It can be finely or coarsely ground, although the latter is usually preferred as more authentic. It is most often used as a spread on a piece of bread, but it could be also had as a side dish or an appetizer. Lyutenitsa is closely linked to the tradition of food preservation and to life in Bulgarian villages. Most people keep fond memories of their grandmother making lyutenitsa in a huge cauldron over the fire and associate its lovely taste with home. Store-bought lyutenitsa is typically not as good as the homemade version, but it is still possible to find a good-tasting lyutenitsa in shops. Banitsa

Banitsa is a favourite pastry for all Bulgarians and probably the most popular breakfast option. It is made of layers of filo pastry sheets and a mixture of eggs and cheese. There are other versions which include spinach, pumpkin or leeks as main ingredients. Banitsa is easy to make at home, and you could also buy it from any bakery. Still, homemade banitsa is usually much better tasting.

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Typical Bulgarian dishes Here is a list of some of the most popular Bulgarian dishes which can be found on almost any restaurant menu: Shopska salad (шопска салата)

It is not just a salad; it is a national symbol and is made of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onion and white cheese. Ovcharska salad (овчарска салата) This salad is quite heavy with loads of ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, peppers, mushrooms, ham, boiled eggs, and cheese. Tarator (таратор)

Cold soup of yoghurt, cucumbers, garlic, dill and walnuts; it may seem like a weird combination for a soup, but it is super refreshing, and it is perfect for the summer heat.

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Beans soup / beans stew (боб чорба / боб яхния) The Bulgarian version has a distinctive flavour, thanks to the dried mint seasoning Tripe soup (шкембе чорба)

It is made of beef or lamb stomach, milk, and seasoned with garlic, vinegar and hot pepper. Before you think it’s disgusting, you should try it, as many Bulgarian swear by it, and it is also known as a hangover cure. Mish mash (миш маш)

Mix of scrambled eggs, bell peppers, tomatoes, onion and white cheese

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Fried mashed potato balls (картофени кюфтета) They are often served with yoghurt-based creamy sauce seasoned with garlic. Panagyurski eggs (яйца по панагюрски) Poached eggs with a rich sauce of yoghurt, white cheese and garlic Sirene po shopski (сирене по шопски)

White cheese is the main ingredient - it is prepared in a traditional pottery pot called “gyuveche” together with bell peppers, tomatoes and eggs on top. Stuffed bell peppers (пълнени чушки) Bulgarians like stuffing their food with more food; stuffed bell peppers are an excellent example. There are different ways to prepare them: they can be stuffed with a mix of white cheese and eggs or with cooked rice with vegetables/meat. Musaka (мусака) Musaka is a favourite dish of all Bulgarians. It is made of potatoes and minced meat baked with a delicious layer of eggs and yoghurt on top. Kyufteta & kebapcheta (кюфтета & кебапчета) Meatballs and stick-shaped minced meat which are extremely popular among Bulgarians

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Kavarma (кавърма)

Heavy meat (chicken or pork) dish with onions and other vegetables

Below you can find some traditional seasonal dishes:

● drob sarma (дроб сарма) - spring dish made of lamb entrails, rice and spring onions baked with a mix of eggs and yoghurt on top

● lozovi sarmi (лозови сарми) - rice balls with minced meat or vegetables wrapped in grape leaves (typical spring dish)

● zelevi sarmi (зелеви сарми) - rice balls with minced meat or vegetables wrapped in sauerkraut leaves (typical winter dish, especially around Christmas time)

Zelevi sarmi This is a free excerpt from the book Everything You Need To Know About Living In Bulgaria. You can get the full book here.

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