Description
Shopska Salad is a traditional Balkan fresh vegetable salad, featuring diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, dressed with a tangy vinegar and olive oil dressing, and topped with crumbled Bulgarian or Feta cheese. This vibrant and refreshing salad is perfect for warm weather or as a light side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 8 smaller tomatoes, diced
- 2 cucumbers, diced
- 1 large green pepper, de-seeded and diced
- 1 large red pepper, de-seeded and diced
- 6 green onions, chopped
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil or sunflower oil
- 2-3 tablespoons red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Topping
- 150 g Bulgarian cheese or Feta cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Dice the tomatoes, cucumbers, green and red peppers, and chop the green onions, then place all these prepared vegetables into a large salad bowl.
- Chill the Salad: Toss the vegetables gently to combine, cover the bowl, and chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld.
- Mix Dressing and Serve: Just before serving, remove the salad from the fridge and add the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix everything well to evenly coat the vegetables with the dressing.
- Add Cheese Topping: Crumble the Bulgarian or Feta cheese over the top of the salad and serve immediately for a fresh, vibrant taste.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm tomatoes for best texture.
- Adjust vinegar quantity to your preferred level of tanginess.
- Bulgarian cheese or Feta provides a salty, creamy contrast to the fresh veggies.
- This salad can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours but is best eaten fresh.
- For a slightly different flavor, try adding fresh mint along with parsley.
