Culinary Specialities Bulgaria

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

Breakfast

Breakfast is not given nearly as much importance in Bulgaria as lunch and dinner. Nevertheless, there are a few dishes that are considered typical options for breakfast.

Mekitsa (vegetarian)

Mekitsa is a flatbread made from kneaded dough that is deep-fried in hot oil. The bread is usually topped with sweet things such as powdered sugar.

Lyutenitsa (vegetarian)

This is not a complete dish, but rather a spread that is often eaten on bread or crackers. The spread consists of peppers, chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, salt, sugar and oil. For this, 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 covered with a combination of eggs, yogurt and cheese as well as feta. When baked, the dough rises and becomes fluffy. The cheese melts and, together with the other ingredients, results in a kind of airy cheese bread.

Starters (Salads)

Starters usually consist of bread or mixed platters with various bite-sized items. Salads are also popular as a starter.

Shopska Salad (vegetarian)

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

Ovcharska Salad

This salad is "just" another variation of the Shopska salad, but the addition of other ingredients changes the taste quite a bit. In addition to the original ingredients (cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, onions and cheese), mushrooms, eggs and ham are added. The salad is especially popular in summer, as it makes a good snack on hot days thanks to its fresh ingredients.

Snezhanka Salad (vegetarian)

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

Soups and Stews

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

Bob Chorba (vegetarian)

This soup is often called Bulgaria's national dish. Beans are the main ingredient in this dish. They are soaked in water overnight. Afterwards, the water is drained and the beans are slowly cooked in a pot. With diced peppers, onions, spices and salt, it is cooked 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, vegetable pieces cooked in fish broth are used. Typical vegetables for this soup include 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.

Gyuvech

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

Main Dishes

Kavarma

We list this dish first among the main courses, as it is very similar to a stew and could just as well be listed in that category. It is a mix of various types of meat and vegetables, slow-cooked in a clay pot for a long time before it is served. This dish is often served in a loaf of bread.

Drusan Kebab

For this traditional dish, pork is diced and fried with tomatoes, dried peppers and onions. Sometimes it is served with fried eggs on the side.

Breaded Kashkaval (vegetarian)

Breaded kashkaval is particularly well suited for vegetarians. The dish consists of deep-fried and pan-fried kashkaval cheese, which is then served like a schnitzel with salad or fries.

Chushki Burek (vegetarian)

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

Patatnik (vegetarian)

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

Desserts

Often simply plenty of fruit is eaten, but there are also very well-known desserts such as chocolate mousse. We present two typical desserts in this section.

Garash Cake (vegetarian)

This chocolate cake is a very popular dessert. Five delicate layers of dough are covered with dark chocolate. These are then stacked on top of each other, alternating between dough and chocolate. The entire cake is also covered 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 consists of grated pumpkin, nuts, sugar and cinnamon. Whether cut into slices or divided into smaller pieces, the dish is finished with powdered sugar. This dish is also often served for breakfast. Yogurt is an excellent accompaniment to this dish.

Drinks

Above all, alcoholic beverages produced locally in Bulgaria are very popular and well known. In particular, you can find various 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. This grape ripens particularly well in warmer climates and is then used for both 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 journey!

We wish you a wonderful trip to Bulgaria and much joy in your culinary exploration of this diverse country. For more information on tolls in Bulgaria, please see our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to optimally plan your trip and see the appropriate toll products displayed. If you have any questions, we are always available via email.