Shopska salata
Shopska Salata is a refreshing and colourful Balkan salad! Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers are tossed in oil and vinegar before a hefty amount of sirene/feta cheese is grated on top. This is anything but delicate – it’s a real punchy dish with big bold flavours. Not bad for such a simple salad.
There is much debate over this salad’s origins. While it is commonly known as ‘Bulgarian Salad’, it comes from the mountainous Shopluk region where Bulgaria, Serbia and North Macedonia meet.
Most English recipes will say to use feta cheese. Traditionally, Shopska Salata is made with a Bulgarian Sirene cheese which is slightly softer and creamier.
balkanlunchbox.com
This is a really detailed recipe that delves into all of your options, including what substitutions you can make and why you might not want to. There’s even a quick video to follow if you need the visual guide. We tested this recipe and it was super yummy – one of our best lunches this year!