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Bulgarian Shopska salad - an invention of the communist era

Bulgarian Shopska salad - an invention of the communist era

Shopska salad is one of the most famous Bulgarian dishes that tourists should try while visiting the country. The combination of fresh vegetables and cheese is a culinary symbol of the country, which Bulgarians are proud of, as well as yogurt and fruit liqueur rakia. However, few people, including the Bulgarians themselves, know that this is not quite a traditional dish. Actually - it was the invention of the state tourist company during the communist era.

What's in Shopska Salad?

Shopska salad consists of chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh or roasted peppers, grated Bulgarian feta cheese, onion and parsley. It can be served with an olive or chili on top. It is best to order Shopska salad in summer, when the vegetables are at their freshest and richest.

How was shopska salad invented?

Shopska salad is believed to have been invented in the 1960s by the chefs of the Balkanturist state tourist enterprise. They wanted to offer tourists a "typical" Bulgarian dish that would showcase colorful vegetables, as Bulgaria's vegetables were thought to be some of the tastiest in Europe. The ingredients used were chosen in part because they are the colors of the Bulgarian flag - white, green and red - and therefore would inspire national pride.

Shopska salad has been presented on the menus of state restaurants as a healthy dish consumed for generations, although historians have found that it was not until the early 20th century that Bulgarians began to eat salads at all. Prior to that, their daily diet consisted mainly of beans, cabbage, onions, and turnips.

After the salad was introduced in state restaurants, it also found its way into Bulgarian homes. Today it is one of the most popular vitamin boosters served on tables in homes and restaurants. Bulgarians eat a lot of fresh salads and it's not uncommon for everyone to have a half-kilogram (one pound) salad bowl.

What does the title mean?

"Shopska" means that the salad comes from Shopluk (or Shopsko) - the historical and cultural area around Sofia. However, there is no evidence that lettuce really has anything to do with the region, which is mountainous and unsuitable for growing vegetables. The name was probably chosen to represent part of the Bulgarian culture, but we can only speculate about the true reason.

Where else can you get Shopska salad?

The salad quickly gained popularity and spread beyond Bulgaria. Travelers heading to Macedonia, Serbia and Romania will also find it on the local menu as Shopska or Bulgarian salad. More often it is compared with Greek salad, although its taste is completely different.

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