Language/Bulgarian/Culture/Cuisine

Bulgarian Culture → Bulgarian Traditions → Cuisine

I'm excited to introduce you to Bulgarian cuisine! In this lesson, you'll learn new words related to food and drink, as well as discover some of the traditional dishes that Bulgarians enjoy.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Markets and Supermarkets in Bulgaria & Puppet Theatre.

Bulgarian Food

Bulgarian food is a unique and delicious blend of flavors, combining influences from the Balkans, the Mediterranean, and Eastern Europe. Here are some popular Bulgarian dishes you may encounter:

Banitsa

Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian pastry that's typically made with filo dough and a filling of either cheese, spinach, or minced meat. It's usually baked in the oven and served either hot or cold for breakfast, as a snack, or as a light meal.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Баница	/'banitsa/	Banitsa (pastry)

Shopska Salad

Shopska salad is a refreshing and colorful salad that's popular in Bulgaria. Made with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers, it's typically topped with Bulgarian sirene cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Шопска салата	/'shopska sa'latɐ/	Shopska Salad

Kavarma

Kavarma is a stew made with meat (usually pork or beef), onions, and peppers, and sometimes mushrooms or tomatoes as well. The meat is slow-cooked until tender and flavorful, and the dish is often served with rice or bread.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Каварма	/ka'varma/	Kavarma (stew)

Tarator

Tarator is a cold soup made with cucumbers, garlic, and yogurt or sour cream. It's usually garnished with walnuts and dill, and served as a refreshing appetizer during hot summer days.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Таратор	/ta'ratɔr/	Tarator (cold soup)

Lyutenitsa

Lyutenitsa is a type of relish made with roasted red peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes, flavored with garlic and spices. It's a staple of Bulgarian cuisine and can be used as a spread on bread or as a dip.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Лютеница	/'ljutenitsa/	Lyutenitsa (relish)

Beverages

Bulgarians enjoy a wide variety of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Here are some of the most popular:

Rakia

Rakia is a strong fruit brandy that's popular throughout the Balkans, including Bulgaria. It's usually made from plums or grapes, and can be enjoyed as an aperitif or digestif.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Ракия	/ra'kijɐ/	Rakia (fruit brandy)

Boza

Boza is a fermented drink made from corn or wheat flour, water, and sugar. It has a slightly sour taste and a low alcohol content, and is often served with pastries or other sweets.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Боза	/'boza/	Boza (fermented drink)

Ayran

Ayran is a refreshing yogurt-based drink that's popular throughout the Balkans and the Middle East. It's made with yogurt, water, and salt, and sometimes flavored with herbs like mint.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
Айрян	/'airjɐn/	Ayran (yogurt-based drink)

New Words

Here are some new words related to Bulgarian cuisine and beverages that you can add to your vocabulary:

• "месо" (meso) - meat
• "сирене" (sirene) - Bulgarian white cheese
• "лук" (luk) - onion
• "чушка" (chushka) - pepper
• "гъби" (gabi) - mushrooms
• "домати" (domati) - tomatoes
• "орехи" (orehi) - walnuts
• "акохол" (alkohol) - alcohol
• "бира" (bira) - beer
• "вино" (vino) - wine

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed learning about Bulgarian cuisine and beverages! As you continue your Bulgarian language journey, I encourage you to try some of the traditional dishes I've mentioned and practice using the new words you've learned in context. Stay tuned for more lessons on Bulgarian traditions!

Sources

• Bulgarian cuisine - Wikipedia
• Bulgarian Food Guide: What You Should Know And Love

Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Bulgarian Literature & Music Festivals.

Table of Contents - Bulgarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and sounds

• Cyrillic alphabet
• Vowels
• Consonants

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing yourself
• Numbers 0-100

  ---

Bulgarian Traditions

• Bulgarian Folklore
• Cuisine
• Holidays and Customs

  ---

Nouns and Adjectives

• Gender
• Cases
• Adjectives

  ---

At the Restaurant

• Ordering Food
• Making Special Requests
• Paying the Bill

  ---

Bulgarian Cinema and Literature

• Bulgarian Cinema
• Bulgarian Literature
• Literary Translation

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Perfective and Imperfective Verbs
• Past Tense

  ---

Traveling

• Transportation
• Booking a Hotel
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Bulgarian Music

• Bulgarian Pop Music
• Traditional Bulgarian Music
• Music Festivals

  ---

Future Tense and Modals

• Future Tense
• Modal Verbs
• Conditional Sentences

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Celebrations and Festivities

• Birthday Parties
• Weddings and Marriage Customs
• Religious Holidays

  ---

Bulgarian Theatre and Performance Arts

• Bulgarian Theatre
• Puppet Theatre
• Dance

Other Lessons

• Breakfast in Bulgaria
• Bulgarian Cinema
• How to say ‘Hello’ in Bulgarian
• Weather in Bulgaria
• At the restaurant
• Literary Translation
• Bulgarian Literature
• Every Day Life in Bulgaria
• Markets and Supermarkets in Bulgaria
• Family in Bulgaria