Shopska Salad

Name: Shopska Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Bulgaria
Ingredients: 3 tomatoes, diced; 2 cucumbers, diced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1/2 red onion, finely diced; 1/4 cup chopped parsley; 3 tbsp sunflower or olive oil; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar; Salt; 1 cup grated sirene (Bulgarian white cheese)

4 servings15 min prep0 min cookEasy Bulgaria

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Shopska Salad

Story updated September 17, 2026

Shopska salad, a bright mix of tomato, cucumber, peppers, and grated sirene cheese, is a relatively modern creation, developed and promoted in the mid-20th century by Bulgaria's state tourism authority as a signature national dish to showcase to foreign visitors. It's named for the Shopi people of the Sofia region.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

3 tomatoes, diced
2 cucumbers, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 tbsp sunflower or olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Salt
1 cup grated sirene (Bulgarian white cheese)

Instructions

1Combine tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, and red onion in a large bowl.
2Toss with parsley, oil, vinegar, and salt.
3Divide among plates or a serving platter.
4Generously grate the sirene cheese over the top just before serving.

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