I’ve written about Bulgarian places to visit, but I haven’t yet addressed one of my favourite topics: food. Bulgarian food is a mixture between Greek, Turkish, Serbian, and other influences. It differs slightly from region to region.
Breakfast Bulgarian
In the mornings, Bulgarians enjoy fried dough and pastry. The most popular Bulgarian pastry is the Bantsa. Traditional banitsa It is a round, filled pie with cheese, yogurt and eggs. This pie is perfect for a savory breakfast with a glass of wine. ayran Very well done!
Mekitsa Another popular breakfast choice in Bulgaria is. You can add anything to these simple deep-fried donuts, whether sweet or savory. To enjoy a mekitsa, slice it open like a tortilla and add your favorite toppings.
Bulgarian Toasts fried These are similar to French Toast, but unlike those, they usually come with a piece of cheese in Bulgaria. This is a filling breakfast that will keep your stomach full for hours.
Lyutenitsa It is a Bulgarian delicacy that is very popular. It’s a red relish made of peppers and tomato. It can contain spices, eggplants, or garlic. It is delicious on a piece of bread for breakfast. But it has also become a popular garnish to meat dishes. Don’t be afraid to order it if you see it on the menu. If you’re staying at a self-catering accommodation, a jar lyutenitsa makes a great budget breakfast.
There is one more breakfast that Bulgarians prepare at home. Popara. It’s made from hot milk, cheese, butter and bread. It might not look or sound appealing, however it is actually quite tasty and children love it.
Bulgarian Food
A Bulgarian meal starts with a shot of rakia and a small salad. By a “shot”, I mean rakia fruit, a strong and flavorful beverage. Salads are available in many shapes and sizes but, from my observations, Bulgarians prefer simple vegetable salads to accompany their drink.
Salads & Spreads
The most popular Bulgarian dish is a simple salad. Shopska. To make the shopska, you will need cucumbers (or other vegetables), tomatoes, peppers, onions and grated cheese. Shopska can be made in a variety of ways: with peeled or roasted peppers; without onions. You can’t find a restaurant in Bulgaria that doesn’t serve Shopska.
Traditional Bulgarian restaurants will usually have a wide variety of spreads in their salads or appetizers. Remember lyutenitsa? You can find it at most restaurants, along with an eggplant paste. You can try kyopolou – an aubergine and roasted peppers dish, or katak – a spread of cheese, yogurt, roasted peppers, and garlic. Another must-try item is snezhankaA spread made with yogurt and cucumbers that is very similar to Greek Tzatziki. Snezhanka is available with or without nuts and garlic. All of this goes very well with pita bread which (again!) Garlic can be added or not.
If you live near the sea, you can always find a great deal of fun. Tarma Spread (fish roe). Most restaurants offer combined platters so you can try more appetizers. You can easily eat a meal of Greek-style mezze with these salads and spreads.
Bulgarian Food – Soups
The selection of soups is not very large in Bulgaria. A typical restaurant usually has a decent chicken broth and some season’s vegetables cream soup. There are two stars in the Bulgarian soups: Fish soup, tarator soup.
You can also find out more about the following: Fish soup If you are on the Bulgarian coastline, this is a must try. There are differences between the fish broth on the northern Bulgarian coastline and the one found in the southern sea region. In the North, the soup has a heartier taste, is made with tomato and served with a chilly chile paste to spice it up. In the South, the soup has a more lemony taste and is clearer. Both are delicious but I would choose the northern one with a little chilly paste.
Now, The tarator It’s something else. It’s cold soup made with yogurt and cucumbers, served with dill. It’s a very unusual soup, and most people avoid it. However, I find it refreshing on a hot summer day. Try it and let me know what you think in the comments!
Fish and Seafood
If you love eating fish, Bulgarian coastline is a foodie’s paradise. Menus are filled with mussels or sea snails. Shrimps and squids can also be found. They are available steamed, fried or grilled, as well as in risottos and soups. There are many ways to prepare the fish. It can be marinated, smoked or grilled. I love mussels that are steamed with garlic and wine.
Bulgarian Food – Meat Dishes
The typical Bulgarian food is always tasty and filling. There is no shortage of meat dishes. Here are some of the most popular Bulgarian meat dishes.
Bulgarians are known for their barbecues kyufte The following are some examples of how to get started: Kebapche. Both are minced meatballs but the kyufte has a round shape and the kebapche has a long shape. Cumin is used to prepare the meat, which gives it a unique taste. These grilled dishes have a Turkic influence. They are great with a salad of cabbage or perhaps with French fries. lyutenitsa.
Sach You must try these dishes if you happen to be in a Bulgarian traditional restaurant. The sach, a clay pot in which meat and vegetables are cooked, is the most popular dish. The sach pot is brought to the table on an iron stand and stays hot for quite a while, keeping the food warm during the meal. In fact, by the time the meal is over, the pot will still remain hot.
Kavarma Another typical Bulgarian dish is a mixture of meat and vegetables cooked in the oven. It’s a mixture of meat and vegetables that are cooked in the oven. The recipe can vary from region to region, and even family to family. But it’s always hearty, perfect for a cold day.
I could go on for hours about Bulgarian cuisine, but it’s now time to move on to dessert. To set the record straight, don’t be afraid to try other things. A Giant Bean Salad, Vine leaves sarmi, Roasted peppers, lukanka You should not miss the traditional Bulgarian sausages.
Bulgarian Desserts
Desserts are heavily influenced by Turkish cuisine in Bulgaria. Baklava and other sweets are available in many pastry shops. There are also many shops that sell a wide variety of cakes. I have never been tempted by them.
My favorite Bulgarian dessert is the Nougat ice cream with figues, a treat made with roasted walnuts.
Final Thoughts regarding Bulgarian Food
As you can see I love Bulgarian food. The smell of peppers roasted on a grill and of fresh figs immediately remind me of Bulgarian cuisine. You can read more about Bulgarian cuisine or find out which city is the most trendy in Bulgaria by reading my Food in Plovdiv Post next