A couple months back I tried this very beautiful Sunflower bread. It is baked for special occasions in Bulgaria. Other than this bread I did not know much about Bulgarian food. I was totally undecided on whether I could come up with a complete meal from a region about which I knew next to nothing.
Then I saw these peach cookies or Praskovki and my mind was made up. These cookies are so pretty. They are shaped and painted to look like peaches. I simply HAD to cook a meal from Bulgaria so I could try out these cookies.
As I researched some more I found out that a lot of different vegetables are grown in Bulgaria. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a host of vegetarian dishes with ingredients that I routinely stock up. I made shopska, a vegetarian salad that is very popular with the locals and tourist alike. It is very addictive for a dish with such simple ingredients so it is no surprise it is so popular. Though fresh vegetables play a big part, the cheese makes this dish. It is nothing like cheese we had tasted before. I would not try this dish unless you had the right cheese or else you would be eating something very different not shopska. :)
Cucumber salads are common in a large part of the world. Tarator (cold cucumber soup) is the Bulgarian variation. I rounded out the meal with patatnik (potato pancakes). My daughter loves potatoes so I have tried to make as many variations of potato dishes as possible. I also got a chance to try two new ingredients.
Sirene is a white cheese from Bulgaria made with sheep's milk. I visited the local Mediterranean store and found Rodopa brand Bulgarian Feta in brine. Research told me this was the cheese I was looking for. There is a lot of controversy on the use of the word 'Feta' in the European Union but I will side step that and focus on the taste of this cheese. The cheese comes soaking in brine and has a salty taste. But that is where the similarity with the feta cheese we get in the regular grocery stores in the US ends. This cheese is light and full of rich flavor and blends very well with the vegetables it is served with.
Rose hip jam is the second new ingredient I used. I found some rose hip butter at the local Mediterranean store. It turned out to be the kind of jam I like, not overtly sweet.
As they say in Bulgaria, Dobar Apetit!
Here are the recipe for the dishes on the menu
And for dessert
Then I saw these peach cookies or Praskovki and my mind was made up. These cookies are so pretty. They are shaped and painted to look like peaches. I simply HAD to cook a meal from Bulgaria so I could try out these cookies.
As I researched some more I found out that a lot of different vegetables are grown in Bulgaria. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a host of vegetarian dishes with ingredients that I routinely stock up. I made shopska, a vegetarian salad that is very popular with the locals and tourist alike. It is very addictive for a dish with such simple ingredients so it is no surprise it is so popular. Though fresh vegetables play a big part, the cheese makes this dish. It is nothing like cheese we had tasted before. I would not try this dish unless you had the right cheese or else you would be eating something very different not shopska. :)
Cucumber salads are common in a large part of the world. Tarator (cold cucumber soup) is the Bulgarian variation. I rounded out the meal with patatnik (potato pancakes). My daughter loves potatoes so I have tried to make as many variations of potato dishes as possible. I also got a chance to try two new ingredients.
Sirene is a white cheese from Bulgaria made with sheep's milk. I visited the local Mediterranean store and found Rodopa brand Bulgarian Feta in brine. Research told me this was the cheese I was looking for. There is a lot of controversy on the use of the word 'Feta' in the European Union but I will side step that and focus on the taste of this cheese. The cheese comes soaking in brine and has a salty taste. But that is where the similarity with the feta cheese we get in the regular grocery stores in the US ends. This cheese is light and full of rich flavor and blends very well with the vegetables it is served with.
Rose hip jam is the second new ingredient I used. I found some rose hip butter at the local Mediterranean store. It turned out to be the kind of jam I like, not overtly sweet.
As they say in Bulgaria, Dobar Apetit!
Here are the recipe for the dishes on the menu
And for dessert
This is my entry for the letter B for BM #44 for the theme Around the world in 30 Days. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#44.
I am enjoying your series Varada, love that potato pancake and the dessert!..
ReplyDeleteOnce again, a nice spread of Bulgarian meal and an awesome post. I am speechless. Don't know what else to say.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dishes, but the names are difficult to read,..
ReplyDeleteOh i m loving those peach cookies varada!!! Lovely they look!!
ReplyDeleteLovely spread and amazed to learn that the peach looking object is in fact a cookie but not the fruit. If it wasn't mentioned, I wouldn't have realized that it is not a fruit.
ReplyDeleteWow! those peach cookies just steal the show! A very tempting spread as well.
ReplyDeleteAmazing clicks Varada and that Bulgarian meal looks so colorful and delicious.
ReplyDeleteYou are rocking with this amazing spread , nicely done . I like the peach cookie most , it is just stunning..
ReplyDeleteLovely I am really enjoying your post every day that is a fantastic spread superb.
ReplyDeleteVarada that peach cookie sure is stunning. .looks so good and peach is such a pleasant flavour.
ReplyDeleteThe complete set shows your effort in putting together such a interesting meal. Kudos.
wow such an delicious platter again :) peach cookies looks really attractive dear :) superb spread again from you .. Lots of effort , I know how it is .. Gud job !!
ReplyDeleteyou are flooring me with your full meals
ReplyDeleteohh my God Varada...i want to simply stop writing posting and sit in front of this PC waiting for yorus lovely posts...loved your research , choice of recipes and lovely presentation...i am floored seeing the peach cookies....
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting wonderful meal! I wonder how you managed meal after meal from all these countries!!
ReplyDeleteits amazing how you have cooked meal after meal Varada. I am bookmarking this.
ReplyDeleteWow what a amazing spread. I am off to taste the individual entries.
ReplyDeleteYummy spread of dishes. I made tarator for this marathon.
ReplyDelete