Description
Shopska Salad is a refreshing and vibrant Bulgarian salad featuring diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers tossed with a simple olive oil and vinegar dressing, topped with crumbled feta or Bulgarian cheese. Perfect as a light appetizer or side dish, this salad is crisp, tangy, and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 8 smaller tomatoes, diced
- 2 cucumbers, diced
- 1 large green pepper, de-seeded and diced
- 1 large red pepper, de-seeded and diced
- 6 green onions, chopped
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive or sunflower oil
- 2-3 tablespoons red wine or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Topping
- 150 g Bulgarian or Feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Dice the tomatoes, cucumbers, green and red peppers, and chop the green onions. Combine all these prepared vegetables in a large salad bowl. Toss gently to mix evenly.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for several hours or until well chilled. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to become refreshingly cool.
- Add dressing and serve: Just before serving, remove the salad from the refrigerator, then pour in the olive oil, vinegar, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix thoroughly to coat the vegetables with the dressing. Finally, top the salad with crumbled Bulgarian or Feta cheese and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh tomatoes for the best flavor and texture in the salad.
- Adjust the amount of vinegar and salt according to your taste preference.
- Traditional shopska salad uses Bulgarian white brine cheese; feta is a widely available alternative.
- This salad is best served chilled but can be kept refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
