Traditional Bulgarian Shopska Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Sirene
Shopska salad is a Bulgarian summer salad of ripe tomatoes, cucumber, pepper and a little onion, lightly dressed with sunflower oil and finished with a thick snowy cap of finely grated sirene. The cheese stays on top rather than being tossed through the vegetables.
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Illustrated cooking guide
Step-by-step visual method
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Written method
Instructions
Read through once, then cook at your own pace with the illustrated guide above.
- 1
Cut the tomatoes and cucumber into even bite-size pieces. Dice the green pepper; if using a roasted pepper, peel and seed it first. Thinly slice the onion.
- 2
Combine the tomatoes, cucumber, pepper and onion in a shallow salad bowl. Add the sunflower oil and, if using, the small amount of vinegar. Toss gently and taste before adding salt because sirene is salty.
- 3
Mound the dressed vegetables neatly. Finely grate the cold sirene directly over the entire surface to form the characteristic thick white cap; do not toss the cheese into the vegetables.
- 4
Finish with parsley if desired and serve immediately, with the colorful vegetables visible only around the edge beneath the grated sirene.
Cook notes
Tips
Chill the sirene so it grates into fine, snow-like shreds.
Use flavorful field-grown tomatoes; watery tomatoes dilute the salad.
Dress the vegetables just before serving and add the sirene last.
Cook smarter
Helpful notes
Practical storage, serving, swap, and troubleshooting notes for a better first try.
Storage Tips
- Shopska salad is best assembled immediately before serving.
- Refrigerate undressed cut vegetables and grated sirene separately for no more than 1 day.
- Do not freeze.
Substitutions
- A firm sheep's-milk feta may stand in for sirene when Bulgarian sirene is unavailable.
- Use a mild green frying pepper in place of a Bulgarian pepper.
What to Serve With
- Grilled meats for a hearty meal.
- Fresh crusty bread to scoop up the salad.
- Roasted potatoes as a side for added sustenance.
Common Mistakes
- Tossing the grated sirene into the salad instead of leaving it as a snowy cap.
- Using olive oil as the dominant flavor instead of sunflower oil.
- Salting before tasting the naturally salty sirene.
Recipe FAQ
Can I make Shopska salad in advance?
Prepare the vegetables ahead if needed, but dress them and grate the sirene over the top only just before serving.
Is Sirene cheese necessary for this recipe?
Sirene is traditional; a firm sheep's-milk feta is the closest substitute when Bulgarian sirene is unavailable.
What if I don't like red onion?
Use a smaller amount or omit it; onion should never dominate the tomatoes, cucumber and pepper.
Kitchen tools
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Rice cooker
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Baking sheet
Useful for roasting, baking, broiling, and sheet-pan prep.
Chef knife
A basic prep tool for vegetables, herbs, aromatics, and proteins.
Cutting board
Keeps prep organized for chopping, slicing, and staging ingredients.
Measuring spoons
Useful for balancing spices, salt, acids, and sauces.
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