Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Bulgaria

Yogurt and white cheese thread through banitsa, cold soups, grilled meats and pepper relishes. That is the short version of what Bulgaria cooks. Look for Shopska salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers under snowy grated sirene), Banitsa (phyllo whirls with sirene cheese and egg, breakfast icon) and Tarator (cold yogurt soup with cucumber, dill, walnuts). Created in the 1960s by the state tourism agency Balkantourist to give Bulgaria a national dish; its colours match the flag. This atlas has 39 Bulgaria dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

39 dishes.

AyranAyranSalted yoghurt thinned with cold water, drunk with kebabs and pilaf.BanitsaBanitsaphyllo whirls with sirene cheese and egg, breakfast iconBob chorbaBob chorbamonastery-style bean soup with mint and savoryBozaBozaThick fermented millet drink, faintly sour, sold from dedicated shops.Elenski butElenski butwhole salt-cured ham dried in a wooden tub, sliced thinGarash tortaGarash tortaFlourless walnut layers under dense dark chocolate ganache.GevrekGevrekSesame-crusted bread ring sold hot from morning stands with yoghurt.Greyano vinoGreyano vinoRed wine warmed with honey, cloves and orange, drunk in winter.GyuvechGyuvechslow oven stew named after its earthenware dishKapamaKapamalayers of meats, sauerkraut and rice sealed in a pot and bakedKashkavalKashkavalfirm yellow cheese, sliced, breaded and fried or gratedKatakKatakSour fermented milk spread with garlic and savory, eaten on bread.KavarmaKavarmaclay-pot pork with peppers, mushrooms, onionsKebapcheKebapchegrilled minced pork-beef rolls seasoned with cuminKiselo mlyakoKiselo mlyakothick Bulgarian yoghurt of Lactobacillus bulgaricus fameKiselo zeleKiselo zeleWhole cabbages soured in barrels; leaves used for sarmi, brine drunk cold.KozunakKozunakSweet braided Easter bread pulled apart in strands, with raisins.Kurban chorbaKurban chorbaLamb or mutton soup cooked in a cauldron and shared at village feasts.LukankaLukankaflattened, air-dried pork-and-beef sausage with cumin and pepperLyutenitsaLyutenitsapepper-tomato relish spread thickly on breadMastikaMastikaStrong anise spirit turning cloudy with water, drunk with cold mezes.MavrudMavruddark native red grape from Thrace, tannic and long-livedMekitsiMekitsifried dough rounds with powdered sugar, jam or sireneMelnik wineMelnik winedense red from the far southwest, aged in cliff-cut cellarsMentaMentaBright green peppermint liqueur served over crushed ice.Mish-mashMish-mashscrambled eggs with peppers, tomatoes, sireneMusakaMusakapotato and mince bake under yoghurt-egg toppingPrintsesaPrintsesaOpen toast baked with minced meat or cheese topping, eaten hot.RakiaRakiagrape or plum brandy sipped with shopska saladSarmiSarmicabbage or vine leaves rolled around rice, minceShkembe chorbaShkembe chorbatripe soup spiked with garlic, vinegar, chiliShopska saladShopska saladtomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers under snowy grated sireneSireneSirenewhite brined cheese crumbled over salads and baked into pastriesSnezhankaSnezhankastrained yoghurt with cucumber, garlic, dill and walnutsSudzhukSudzhukdried spiced sausage, pressed flat and often smokedTaratorTaratorcold yoghurt soup with cucumber, dill, walnuts

  • Lyutenitsa

    Pepper-tomato relish spread thickly on bread. Ready in 50 min prep and 2 hr 30 min cooking. About 4 jars…

  • Ayran

    Salted yoghurt thinned with cold water, drunk with kebabs and pilaf. 5 min to prepare. 4 glasses. A drink recipe…

  • Bob chorba

    Monastery-style bean soup with mint and savory. Ready in 20 min prep and 1 hr 30 min cooking. 6 servings.…

  • Elenski but

    Whole salt-cured ham dried in a wooden tub, sliced thin. A charcuterie & cured recipe from Bulgaria.

  • Garash torta

    Flourless walnut layers under dense dark chocolate ganache. Ready in 45 minutes prep and 40 minutes cooking. One cake, 12…

  • Gevrek

    Sesame-crusted bread ring sold hot from morning stands with yoghurt. Ready in 30 min prep and 20 min cooking. 8…

  • Greyano vino

    Red wine warmed with honey, cloves and orange, drunk in winter. Ready in 10 minutes prep and 25 minutes cooking.…

  • Gyuvech

    Slow oven stew named after its earthenware dish. Ready in 30 min prep and 2 hr 20 min cooking. 6…

  • Kapama

    Layers of meats, sauerkraut and rice sealed in a pot and baked. Ready in 45 minutes prep and 3 hours…

  • Kashkaval

    Firm yellow cheese, sliced, breaded and fried or grated. Ready in 15 min prep and 10 min cooking. Serves 4.…