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  • Shopska Salad (Bulgarian Salad)

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    Shopska Salad is a traditional Bulgarian side dish that is quick and easy to prepare with simple ingredients. This healthy salad is gluten-free and vegetarian, made with fresh vegetables and feta cheese.

    shopska salad - bulgarian salad with feta cheese in a bowl

    Shopska salad is a traditional Bulgarian salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt.  It’s topped with finely grated feta cheese. It’s similar to a Greek salad.

    Traditionally, we use white brine cheese called ‘sirene’ (the word in Bulgarian has nothing to do with sirens. haha :)) which is made of goat’s milk, sheep milk, and cow milk. It is very similar to Greek feta cheese which is very popular here in the States, that’s why I used feta cheese. The name of the salad comes from the region Shopluk which is an area roughly where Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia meet.

    This Shopska salad is a wonderful side dish to your next BBQ. Serve it along side grilled chicken or steak

    shopska salad in a white bowl

    Ingredinets To Make Shopska Salad

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

    • Tomatoes
    • Cucumber
    • Green bell pepper
    • Olives
    • Red onion
    • Bulgarian feta cheese (sirene) – you can also use Greek feta
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Salt
    shopska salad ingredients

    How To Make Shopska Salad

    • In a large bowl mix together tomatoes, cucumber, green bell peppers, and chopped red onion. Drizzle with olive oil, and season salt.
    • Grate feta cheese over the salad so that it’s nicely covered. Serve immediately or chill before serving.
    how to make shopska salad - process images

    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. 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.

    A Simple Side Salad Recipe

    I love that it only takes minutes to make this wonderfully fresh salad and it goes with so many mains. It is a super healthy salad that is also easy peasy to make. The ingredients are simple and it literally takes about 10 – 15 minutes to prepare. This salad serves 4-6 people depending on your appetites. 

    close up image of shopska salad

    Make It Into A Meal

    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 even meals when the weather is hot.

    TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN

    Recipe Notes and Tips for the Best Shopska Salad

    • Chop all of the veggies into evenly sized pieces so that it’s easy to eat.
    • Use fresh and ripe ingredients for the best flavors.
    • Once you have made the salad, taste a little and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
    cucumber tomato and grated feta salad in a bowl

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    shopska salad - bulgarian salad with feta cheese in a bowl
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    Shopska Salad (Bulgarian Salad)

    Shopska salad is a Bulgarian salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, olives, seasoned with olive oil and salt, and topped with grated feta cheese.
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 175kcal

    INGREDIENTS

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • In a large bowl mix together tomatoes, cucumber, green 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. Serve immediately or chill before serving.
    • Serve immediately or chill before serving.

    TIPS & NOTES

    • Chop all of the veggies into evenly sized pieces so that it’s easy to eat.
    • Use fresh and ripe ingredients for the best flavors.
    • Once you have made the salad, taste a little and adjust the seasoning to your taste.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 376mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 731IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course Salad
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Keyword bulgarian salad, shopska salad

    shopska salad

    shopska salad garnished with a fresh parsley leaf
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    Comments

    Tomasz

    Shopska salad is not a Greek salad. There is no feta cheese, only Bulgarian Shopski cheese and no olive oil, but only good sunflower oil. If we add olive oil and feta cheese, we don’t have Shopska salad, but Greek horiatiki without olives.

      Dear Tomasz, I was born and raised in Bulgaria and have eaten enough Shopska salad to know exactly how to make it. There is no such thing as Bulgarian Shopski cheese. The exact Bulgarian name for cheese is ‘sirene’ which is a crumbly brine cheese made of cow, sheep, and/or goat milk, very similar to feta and the closest you can find in most grocery stores outside of Bulgaria. I will also respectfully disagree with you that you don’t have to use sunflower oil for Shopska salad. Olive oil is very popular and widely used in the Mediterranean countries (including Bulgaria) and it is what we have always used for this salad.

    Amanda Wren-Grimwood

    5 stars
    I love cheese in a salad and this sounds perfect with grilled meat!

    Sherri

    5 stars
    This is such a beautiful, colorful and flavorful salad! Love the grated feta cheese on top! This would be perfect to take for my lunch to work! 🙂

    Emily

    5 stars
    What a great looking salad! Can’t wait to try it.

    Allison

    5 stars
    This reminds me of a Greek salad, which is one of my faves. So tasty!

    Caroline

    5 stars
    I love the sound of all the crunch in this salad, and it would make a great potluck dish, as you say.

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