What to eat in Bulgaria

May 25, 2016

Bulgarian food is no doubt one of the best in Europe. Bulgarians are famous for their use of fresh vegetables, delicious dairy products, and a range of exquisite spices. Discovering their offered delicacies is one of the highlights of your visit to the beautiful country. Most of the dishes are influenced by iconic ones in Turkey, Greece, or Serbia, but in Bulgaria they will always have that special touch that makes them unique. Here’s a breakdown of their best dishes using unbelievably mouth-watering pictures that had us searching for the nearest Bulgarian restaurant! And whats more, you can sample all of that without making a dent in your pocket. Just pick one of the many budget hotels in Bulgaria, and go on a food-exploration trip.

Salads

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Shopska: tomatoes/cucumbers/parsley/grated sirene (salty sheep or cow’s cheese)
Chushki: roasted peppers/parsley/garlic/olives/olive oil
Snezhanka: yogurt/cucumbers/parsley/walnuts/garlic
Tsveklo: beetroot/olives/cheese

Bulgarians love to start their meals with a hearty salad and these are the amazing ones worth trying. Most of them are served without dressing. Oil and vinegar can be added upon request.

Soups

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Tarator: traditional yogurt soup with cucumbers and parsley (served cold)
Bob: delicious beans soup
Supa ot Kopriva: nettle soup (a plant similar to spinach)
Shkembe: tripe soup wih garlic (great for breakfast too)

There are two types of people in this world: those who love soups taking their time to enjoy every single sip and those who skip it completely. In Bulgaria, you’ll miss a lot if you skip it! Just take our word for it!

Appetizers

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Chushki byurek: pepper stuffed with cheese and herbs, then fried!
Surmi: Stuffed vine or cabbage leaves (with either rice or minced meat)
Strakhlivets: Chicken liver (cooked in various different ways)
Shopski: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers, and sirene.

A good appetizer is definitely a guilty pleasure. You are tempted to just eat only appetizers as your whole meal every single time you’re in a restaurant, right? With these traditional Bulgarian appetizers, you’ll develop a whole new addiction (especially for those vine leaves and stuffed peppers).

Main Course

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Kyufteta: spicy meat balls (used in burgers as well)
Kebapcheta: grilled kebabs
Gyuvech: vegetable stew with lamb meat
Moussaka: potatoes and minced meat cooked in layers

Grilled meats are extremely popular in Bulgaria and for good reason. Such dishes are usually served with French fries. The one dish you have to try is the Moussaka though. There are a lot of variations for this specific dish throughout the region and parts of the Middle East as well. If all that talk about Bulgarian food makes you crave for it, plan your next holiday soon. We have some really good holiday packages from Dubai, that will take you on a gastronomical treat.

By Amal Ghali