Bulgarian food - you must try it

Day 4,168, 02:08 • Published in Ireland Bulgaria • by DonBobolino

Hello my friends from Ireland!

Today I will give you some information for traditional Bulgarian dishes. If you ever go to travel to Bulgaria you need to try some of this very tasty food. What makes Bulgarian food unique is the beautiful balance between meat, yoghurt, cheese, and vegetables that work perfectly for the Bulgarian climate.

Kiselo Mlyako: The Secret to Bulgarian Longevity



The yoghurt Kiselo Mlyako is usually served alongside Bulgarian classic dishes. It is a thick, with a sour taste and eating it is supposed to be a great way to keep your gut bacteria healthy.

Legend has it, the Nobel Prize winning zoologist and immunologist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov studied Bulgarian peasants and the Bulgarian foods they eat. He then attributed their longevity to the amount of yoghurt they consume!

Banitza



This traditional Bulgarian pastry is something you’ll find across the country at bakeries, coffee shops, canteens and bus stations. It’s buttery, cheesy, goodness is highly addictive. This snack (that goes very well with coffee) is prepared by stacking up layers of filo pastry dough – or fini kori as the Bulgarians call it, with butter and traditional Bulgarian cheese before it is baked. If you’re on a diet, you’ll definitely overshoot your calorie limit with a couple of Banitza, but trust me – it’s worth it.

Lukanka



If you’re looking for a quick snack or appetiser in Bulgaria, your best bet is to grab a roll or slice yourself some Lukanka. A traditional salami, Lukanka is the Bulgarian variant of the Italian soppressata.

Lukanka is great as a snack, to eat with veggies or with cheese over drinks. The salami is a mix of meat and fat, cured with spices and herbs before it is cased and dried out. Every region in Bulgaria has its own unique way of making Lukanka, and some even patent their local Lukanka at the Bulgarian patent office!

Tarator: Cool Cucumber Soup



A summer refresher for the Bulgarians, Taratov is always go-to at the start of any meal. Legend has it that the recipe for the soup was stolen from the Greeks and appropriated by Bulgarians after adding a little water. Look for Bulgarian food online and this is probably one of the first things you’ll find.
This fantabulous soup contains cucumber, yoghurt, garlic, dill, and water. Sort of like a watered down version of traditional finger food dip, and super refreshing. Hardcore meat lovers may prefer the Bulgarian beef soup, Teleshkov Vareno, but Tarator is always a classic.

Shopska Salata



According to Bulgarian tradition, Shopska Salata or the Shopska salad is what newlyweds sit down and eat as their first meal together after the ceremonies. The recipe may seem simple, with just a few fresh cut vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and peppers as ingredients.

What you’re often missing though is the traditional Bulgarian white cheese or ‘Sirene’ that is grated on top of the veggies, giving this salad its unique flavour. The name ‘Shopska’ was apparently inspired by a big group of very frugal folks called the ‘Shopi’ who are of Bulgarian ethnicity, often living in the mountainous regions of the country.


Lozovi Sarmi (Stuffed Grape Leaves)



One of the unique Bulgarian dishes you can taste is the Lozovi Sarmi. Often eaten as a starter and sometimes even a main course, Lozovi Sarmi uses grape leaves as a base, and stuffs them with minced meat, rice, herbs, yoghurt and more. Pro Tip: Dip the stuffed leaves in some yoghurt and down some mineral water after every leaf to feel the flavours, wash down the food better and cleanse your palate every

Moussaka



Chances are, you’ve seen and eaten Moussaka at restaurants all over the world. The dish found its way to Bulgaria from the Middle East when the Ottoman empire ruled for almost 500 years in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian Moussaka is a class apart. The baked dish may remind you of a lasagne, but with a lot more vegetables and eggs. The rich flavour of the local mushrooms and nutmeg make the Bulgarian moussaka stand out and are a real treat for the taste buds.

Sirene



This Bulgarian white cheese is a variety of the feta cheese, and Bulgaria is the only country that produces it.

This is because of certain strains of lactic acid that the Bulgarian people claim belong exclusively to them. The Sirene is a light, fresh cheese and is most famous in Shopska Salata and stuffed red peppers.

Rakia



Bulgarians usually make their own Rakia at home. They use grapes, plums, berries and more to make this fruity brandy. Trust me, the potency can be fairly high. At stores, the alcohol by volume percentage of Rakia is around 40%.

If you’ve got some Rakia on your hands, go visit a Bulgarian family or spend time with friends bonding over drinks.