Culinary Specialities Bulgaria

Bulgarian cuisine is very diverse. Not only the country’s traditional recipes, but also influences from neighboring countries make Bulgarian dishes truly special. Thanks to modern adaptations and the creation of new dishes, there are also plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. There’s something for everyone!

Breakfast

In Bulgaria, breakfast is not nearly as important as lunch and dinner. Still, there are a few dishes that are considered typical breakfast options.

Mekitsa (vegetarian)

Mekitsa is a flatbread made from kneaded dough that is deep-fried in hot oil. Most of the time, the breads are finished with sweet toppings such as powdered sugar.

Lyutenitsa (vegetarian)

This is not a ready-made dish, but rather a spread that is often eaten on bread or crackers. The spread is made from peppers, chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, salt, sugar, and oil. The peppers are diced, fried, and then cooked with the other ingredients in oil and water. The spread is also often served as a dip with meat dishes.

Banitsa (vegetarian)

For this dish, pieces of puff pastry made from buttered phyllo pastry are topped with a mixture of eggs, yogurt, and cheese as well as feta. When baked, the dough rises and becomes fluffy. The cheese melts and the ingredients together create a kind of airy cheese bread.

Starters (Salads)

Typically, starters include bread or mixed platters with various small bites. Salads are also often eaten as a starter.

Schopska Salada (vegetarian)

This salad is quick and easy to prepare and consists only of vegetables, topped with grated Bulgarian sirene cheese. The salad is eaten not only as a starter, but also as a side dish with the main course.

Ovcharska Salad

This salad is “just” another variation of the Shopska salad, but adding the other ingredients changes the taste considerably. In addition to the basic ingredients (cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cheese), mushrooms, eggs, and ham are added. The salad is especially popular in summer, as its fresh ingredients make it a great snack on hot days.

Snezhanka Salad (vegetarian)

We would probably describe this salad more as a dip. It is very similar to the typical Greek tzatziki. This creation, made mainly from yogurt, garlic, and cucumbers, is garnished with dill, ground walnuts, oil, and salt, and is light and refreshing.

Soups and Stews

In Bulgaria, there is a wide variety of different soups. Since some soups are very hearty and filling, many of them can also be eaten together with bread as a main course. In winter, warm, hearty soups are served, while in summer, cold soups are offered.

Bob Tschorba (vegetarian)

This soup is often referred to as Bulgaria’s national dish. Beans are the main ingredient. They are soaked in water overnight. After that, the water is poured off and the beans are slowly cooked in a pot. With diced peppers, onions, spices, and salt, it is simmered until the desired consistency is reached.

Ribena chorba

Ribena chorba is a fish soup. It is prepared with various types of fish or fish heads. In addition, pieces of vegetables cooked in fish broth are used. Typical vegetables for this soup are potatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, and tomatoes.

Shkembe Chorba

This soup is often eaten as a hangover cure after a long night. It consists of tripe, water, flour, milk, red wine vinegar, garlic, paprika, and hot chili peppers.

Guvech

This stew consists of vegetables, meat, and spices. Potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables are cooked for a long time together with meat and spices. This gives the stew its own distinctive taste. The stew can also be prepared vegetarian, as well as with fish. There are many variations of this stew.

Main Courses

Kavarma

We list this dish first among the main courses because it is very similar to a stew and could probably just as well be listed in that category. It is a mix of various meats and vegetables that is slowly cooked in a clay pot before it can be served. This dish is often served in a loaf of bread.

Drusan kebab

For this traditional dish, pork is diced and sautéed with tomatoes, dried peppers, and onions. Sometimes fried eggs are served as a side dish.

Kashkaval Pane (vegetarian)

Kashkaval pane is especially suitable for vegetarians. The dish consists of fried and pan-seared Kashkaval cheese, which is then served like a schnitzel with salad or fries.

Chushki Burek (vegetarian)

To cook this recipe, peppers are needed as the main ingredient. Chushki burek is a stuffed pepper that is then fried. The pepper is filled with a mixture of cheese, eggs, and fresh herbs. It is then coated in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy. It is usually served with a sour garlic-yogurt sauce or a fresh salad.

Patatnik (vegetarian)

Patatnik is a potato dish. For it, potato slices, onions, salt, pepper, eggs, sirene cheese, and diced peppers are simply mixed together and baked in the oven.

Desserts

Often, people simply eat a lot of fruit, but there are also well-known desserts such as chocolate mousse. In this section, we present two typical desserts.

Torta Garash (vegetarian)

This chocolate cake is a very popular dessert. Five delicate layers of dough are covered with dark chocolate. They are stacked so that dough and chocolate alternate. The entire cake is also coated with chocolate or a creamy ganache. It is then decorated with walnuts, coconut, almonds, and chocolate.

Tikvenik (vegetarian)

This pastry consists of thin, filled sheets of dough. The most common filling is made from grated pumpkin, nuts, sugar, and cinnamon. Either sliced or cut into smaller pieces, the pastry is refined with powdered sugar. This dish is also often served for breakfast. Yogurt is an ideal accompaniment.

Drinks

Alcoholic beverages produced in Bulgaria are especially popular and well known. In particular, you can find many different types of wine and fruit brandies everywhere—and you should definitely try them!

Mavrud

This wine is made from a native and very popular Bulgarian grape variety. In warmer climates, the grape ripens particularly well and is then used for single-varietal wines and blends.

Rakia

Rakia is considered the national drink. It is a fruit brandy made from many different fruits, such as peach or apricot. The drink is produced in most parts of the country and is very popular.

The Europamaut Team wishes you a pleasant trip!

We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and lots of joy on your culinary exploration of this diverse country. You can find more detailed information about tolls in Bulgaria in our guide. Feel free to use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and to have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, you can reach us anytime by email.