Whether you’re looking for a traditional Bulgarian meal or something more exotic, you’ll find a variety of recipes available. Traditional recipes utilize large amounts of vegetables, a variety of herbs, and a variety of spices. You’ll also find many soups, stews, and fresh salads in Bulgarian cuisine. The dishes share many similarities with Middle Eastern and Eastern European cuisine. The most common vegetables in Bulgaria are cucumbers, celery, cabbage, and green peppers. In addition to vegetables, Bulgarian cuisine also features a wide variety of cheeses.
One of the most traditional dishes in Bulgaria is banitsa. Banitsa is a kind of quiche that’s usually served for breakfast. Banitsa is made with feta or white cheese, yogurt, and peppers. You’ll also find versions made with veal and pork. This dish is often served as a hangover cure in Bulgaria.
Another traditional dish in Bulgaria is gyuvetch. Gyuvetch is made with red peppers and onions. You’ll also find a variation that’s made with aubergine. Other vegetables commonly used include cucumbers, zucchini, celery, and green peppers.
Other Bulgarian dishes include kozunak, a brioche-like bread. During the Easter holidays, Bulgarians eat kozunak for breakfast. Kozunak is traditionally made at the JoVan bakery in Sofia. There are also commercial versions available in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian yogurt is made from sheep or cow’s milk. The yogurt is traditionally sold in 500-milliliter containers. It’s said that the yogurt has excellent probiotic bacteria, making it extremely nutritious. It can be eaten plain or topped with fresh fruit.
Bulgarian food is mainly made of vegetables, but a few meats are also used. This includes beef, pork, lamb, and veal. You’ll find beef tripe soup and beef and sheep feta in Bulgarian cuisine. In addition, you’ll also find beef and pork kebapche. These dishes are great served on a bed of crunchy lettuce and lyutenitsa.
Another traditional dish in Bulgaria is kiselo mlyako, a yogurt with two types of bacteria. Kiselo mlyako is sold in 500-milliliter containers and is usually served as a starter. You’ll also find kiselo mlyako yoghurt in a jar, which you can use as a salad topping. Among Bulgarian yoghurts, kiselo mlyako has the highest concentration of probiotic bacteria, making it a very nourishing beverage.
Bulgarian food also includes a variety of pastries. There’s a variety of Bulgarian cheeses to choose from, including kashkaval, which is a yellow cheese, and lutenica, which is a savoury, spicy relish. Other pastries include popara, which is similar to feta, and kebapche. Aside from cheese, Bulgarian food also includes olives. Olives are an important vegetable in Bulgaria and are often used in cosmetics and food. Olives are also considered to have health benefits, making them a popular choice among Bulgarians.
There are many other traditional Bulgarian foods, including chuska burek, which is made of red peppers stuffed with sheep’s-milk cheese. Other dishes include moussaka, which is an oven-baked casserole of minced meat and onions. There are also a variety of sweet desserts.