The Macedonian version of a chopped salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers and white [feta] cheese.

The entire Balkan Peninsula claims Shopska as their salad: Macedonians claim it to be theirs, Serbs say, nope, it’s ours… Bulgarians also say it’s all theirs. Greeks, too, though they decided to call it “Greek Salad” and added a few olives to it.

Not just Shopska, though. We fight about the ownership of Ajvar, land, Baklava, land, Kebapi, Musaka, and land.

But I have to add that, if we leave politics aside, we are the best of friends. Not kidding. We love one another like brothers and sisters. 

About that Shopska Salad…

You should know that this whole chopped mess is the epitome of everything I love to eat, starting with all things cheese and tomato juices. When making this salad, make sure that your tomatoes are juicy because that is what makes this salad so amazing. We don’t add fancy salad dressings. It’s oil and vinegar. Full stop. BUT you don’t need anything else because all the flavors blend so well together, and with the help of the tomato juice and creamy feta, oh mah gaaaaahhhh! It’s like a flavor explosion!

Also, and if you wanna eat it the authentic way, it’s one bowl, several forks, and a big feast of grilled meat on the side. That’s how you eat this salad. All the forks in one salad bowl. There’s no room for “ewwwww” around here. Gotta be real, gotta be genuine.

ENJOY!

Albanian Cuisine· Balkan Dishes· Bulgarian Cuisine· cuisine· Macedonian Cuisine· Serbian Cuisine

Shopska Salad

The Macedonian version of a chopped salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers and white [feta] cheese.

The entire Balkan Peninsula claims Shopska as their salad: Macedonians claim it to be theirs, Serbs say, nope, it’s ours… Bulgarians also say it’s all theirs. Greeks, too, though they decided to call it “Greek Salad” and added a few olives to it.

Not just Shopska, though. We fight about the ownership of Ajvar, land, Baklava, land, Kebapi, Musaka, and land.

But I have to add that, if we leave politics aside, we are the best of friends. Not kidding. We love one another like brothers and sisters. 

About that Shopska Salad…

You should know that this whole chopped mess is the epitome of everything I love to eat, starting with all things cheese and tomato juices. When making this salad, make sure that your tomatoes are juicy because that is what makes this salad so amazing. We don’t add fancy salad dressings. It’s oil and vinegar. Full stop. BUT you don’t need anything else because all the flavors blend so well together, and with the help of the tomato juice and creamy feta, oh mah gaaaaahhhh! It’s like a flavor explosion!

Also, and if you wanna eat it the authentic way, it’s one bowl, several forks, and a big feast of grilled meat on the side. That’s how you eat this salad. All the forks in one salad bowl. There’s no room for “ewwwww” around here. Gotta be real, gotta be genuine.

ENJOY!

Alas, we save the best for last. Bombici, translating into “miniature bombs”, are delicious truffles consisting of a date, almond, fig and cocoa powder mixture. These babies are covered in a rich and decadent chocolate ganache and rolled in coconut flakes. Hungry yet?

Balkan Dishes· cuisine· Macedonian Cuisine· Serbian Cuisine

Bombici

Alas, we save the best for last. Bombici, translating into “miniature bombs”, are delicious truffles consisting of a date, almond, fig and cocoa powder mixture. These babies are covered in a rich and decadent chocolate ganache and rolled in coconut flakes. Hungry yet?

Vanilici, literally meaning mini vanilla cookies, are a Macedonian favourite. These cookies are rich, buttery and flaky that have a wonderful vanilla essence. Vanilici are typically sandwiched between a homemade fruit jam and garnished with a generous sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar.

Albanian Cuisine· Balkan Dishes· Bulgarian Cuisine· cuisine· Macedonian Cuisine· Serbian Cuisine

Vanilici

Vanilici, literally meaning mini vanilla cookies, are a Macedonian favourite. These cookies are rich, buttery and flaky that have a wonderful vanilla essence. Vanilici are typically sandwiched between a homemade fruit jam and garnished with a generous sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar.

This one’s for all you meat lovers out there. Kebapi, similar to what we all know and love as sausages, are grilled minced meat composed into the shape of a sausage. Onions, vegeta (which is a very popular mixture of Macedonian herbs) and paprika are what give this dish its savoury flavour. Kebapi are usually served with freshly baked flatbread and kajmak, which is similar to sour cream (maybe even tastier?)

Albanian Cuisine· Balkan Dishes· Bulgarian Cuisine· cuisine· Macedonian Cuisine· Serbian Cuisine

Kebapi

This one’s for all you meat lovers out there. Kebapi, similar to what we all know and love as sausages, are grilled minced meat composed into the shape of a sausage. Onions, vegeta (which is a very popular mixture of Macedonian herbs) and paprika are what give this dish its savoury flavour. Kebapi are usually served with freshly baked flatbread and kajmak, which is similar to sour cream (maybe even tastier?)

Serbian cuisine, as a heterogeneous one, is actually derived from mixed cuisines, mostly influenced by Mediterranean (especially Greek), Hungarian, Turkish and Austrian cuisines. Ćevapčići, which is actually a meal with heavily grilled ground meat patties and a lot of spicy condiments, is considered to be the national dish of Serbia.

Depending on the country region, you can find different methods to cook a traditional classic meal. The Serbian cuisine is rich in fat meals, and almost every dish contains meat.

The one certain thing about the Serbian cuisine, is the fact that all people in this country will usually serve three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, lunch being the most consistent one. It usually has three courses: soup, the second course, and a dessert which in most cases will be a baked cake.

Serbians make large variety of dishes in their own home, many of which be purchased in stores by Westerners. Rakija (fruit brandy), jam, jelly, various pickled food, notably sauerkraut (kiseli kupus - pickled cabbage), ajvar and even sausages are prepared in a family get-together event.

This book is Collection of 129 All-Time Best Traditional Serbian Dishes for Any Occasion.

Balkan Dishes· cuisine· Serbian Cuisine

Serbian Cuisine

Serbian cuisine, as a heterogeneous one, is actually derived from mixed cuisines, mostly influenced by Mediterranean (especially Greek), Hungarian, Turkish and Austrian cuisines. Ćevapčići, which is actually a meal with heavily grilled ground meat patties and a lot of spicy condiments, is considered to be the national dish of Serbia.

Depending on the country region, you can find different methods to cook a traditional classic meal. The Serbian cuisine is rich in fat meals, and almost every dish contains meat.

The one certain thing about the Serbian cuisine, is the fact that all people in this country will usually serve three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, lunch being the most consistent one. It usually has three courses: soup, the second course, and a dessert which in most cases will be a baked cake.

Serbians make large variety of dishes in their own home, many of which be purchased in stores by Westerners. Rakija (fruit brandy), jam, jelly, various pickled food, notably sauerkraut (kiseli kupus - pickled cabbage), ajvar and even sausages are prepared in a family get-together event.

This book is Collection of 129 All-Time Best Traditional Serbian Dishes for Any Occasion.