The Bulgarian Shopska salata has no rivalry in the A Taste of Europe contest, organized by the European Parliament on its Facebook page; the competition features traditional recipes from the EU member countries. Everyone can cast their vote for one of the 28th national dishes. A taste of Europe is part of the efforts of the European Parliament to stimulate high turnout.
So far our traditional salad holds the first place with 14061 votes. The Cold beet soup from Lithuania is second with 2199; Romania’s Sweet cabbage rolls are currently third with 993 likes.
The goal of the European Parliament is to turn the European Elections into a celebration and show that the Old Continent is proud with its cultural diversity. The voting continues till 25th May, the date of the European Elections.
If you want to prepare a Shopska salata by yourself, here’s how to do it:
Ingredients:
4 tomatoes, chopped
1 large cucumber, unpeeled and chopped
4 green or red peppers, roasted or raw, chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped, or 6 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup Bulgarian cheese (sirene)
Salt and black pepper
Preparation:
Place tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onion and parsley in a large bowl and toss.
Place oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste in a screw-top jar. Cover and shake until well blended.
Toss dressing with vegetables, turn into a serving bowl. Top with crumbled or grated cheese and portion on chilled plates.
You can enjoy it with the traditional Bulgarian rakiya (grape brandy) or on it own. Bon Appétit!
