Authentic Shopska Salad (Bulgarian Salad)

Shopska Salad (Шопска салата) is a traditional Bulgarian salad that is full of juicy tomatoes and crunchy cucumber, it’s refreshing and quick and easy to prepare. Featuring fresh vegetables and creamy brined white cheese, this colorful salad celebrates the flavors of my homeland, Bulgaria. Growing up, this salad was a staple at our dinner table during the summer months. I have enoyed making it from an early age and even though I live far away from my home country now, I continue to share it with my family and friends.

Follow my instructions below for making this delicious and authentic Shopska salad, a delightful summer salad that you’ll enjoy sharing with loved ones.

What is Shopska Salad

Shopska salad is a traditional Bulgarian salad that is quick and easy to prepare with simple ingredients. It is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt. It’s topped with finely grated brined white cheese called “sirene” in bulgarian (сирене). This salad is also sometimes referred to as the Bulgarian national salad not only because it’s so popular in Eastern Europe and the Balkan peninsula but also because the colors of the primary ingredients are the same as the colors of the Bulgarian flag: white Bulgarian feta cheese, green cucumbers, and red tomatoes.

It’s similar to a Greek salad.

Shopska salad origin

The name of the salad comes from the region Shopluk which is an area roughly where Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia meet. It is said that the salad was invented in the 1950s as part of the country’s tourism push at that time.

Ingredients Needed

You just need a handful of simple ingredients for this light and refreshing salad.

• Tomatoes: Juicy large beefsteak tomatoes are perfect for this salad.
• Cucumber: use long English cucumber
• Bell pepper: You can use green, red or yellow bell pepper.
• Red onion: Adds a nice zing to the salad.
• Bulgarian sirene cheese – this cheese is made of goat’s milk, sheep milk, and/or cow’s milk, it is salty and very creamy. You can find it in Publix or you can also try to make your own Bulgarian sirene cheese if you are feeling adventurous. If you can’t find any, you can substitute it with Greek feta cheese which is similar.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Optional garnished: Fresh chopped parsley and olives for garnish

Step by Step instructions for how to make Shopska Salad

• In a large bowl mix together chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumber, chopped bell peppers, and chopped red onion.
• Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt.
• Grate feta cheese over the salad so that it’s nicely covered.
• Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and olives. Serve immediately or chill before serving.

Can You Make This Ahead Of Time?

Because there are no leafy greens in shopska salad that can wilt, you can make this salad a couple of days ahead of time. Just make sure you add the olive oil and feta cheese just before serving. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It travels well, so it’s great to take on picnics or to potlucks and cookouts.

Serving suggestions

• Side Salad: This salad goes wonderfully with so many mains – like grilled chicken, steak, salmon and even a burger.
• Salad Entree: It’s really easy to boost this into a more hearty summer meal that’s great for meal prep. I like to add in some grilled chicken or shrimp for lunches and light dinner meals when the weather is hot.
• Potlucks: You can also double the recipe and bring it to a potluck or your summer BBQ party.

Storing Tips

You can store any salad leftovers for about a day or two in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s best eaten right away but leftovers will not go bad immediately.

More Salad Recipes

• Tomato Salad
• Mediterranean Tuna Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Broccoli Salad