Cuisine Traditions Dating Back To More Than An Era

Bulgarian food and wines are not only famous around the world, they simply will induce you to dare for more. There are numerous types of grapes and wines and wine tradition dates back to the era of the Thracians. The great number of sunny days in the southern parts of the country favours the red wine species, while in the North-the white wine ones. You should definitely get a chance to taste all the prominent varieties. For your pleasure we offer you tree wonderful bulgarian recipes:

• Chilled Yogurt and Cucumber Soup (Tarator)

Ingredients: 2-3 cucumbers (finely diced); 2 cups plain yogurt; 1/2 cup walnuts (ground); 3-4 cloves garlic (crushed); dill (finely chopped); 1/4 cup sunflower oil; salt

Beat the yogurt, add the crushed garlic, ground walnuts, finely diced cucumbers, oil and salt. Stir and dilute with cold water. Serve sprinkled with finely chopped dill. Makes 3-4 servings.

• Milk banitsa (Mlechna banitsa)

Ingredients: 400g flour; 9 eggs; 3/2 milk; 3/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cup semolina; 1 tbsp sunflower oil; 1 tbsp; vinegar; 1 cup water; 180g butter; confectioner's sugar

Prepare a medium-hard dough from the flour, 1 egg. oil, vinegar and water and roll into sheets (pre-made pastry sheets or filo dough may also be used). Place the sheets in a tray, basting each with melted butter. Bring the milk to a boil, add the sugar, remaining butter and semolina while stirring constantly, followed by the beaten eggs when cooled. Mix well and pour over the pastry sheets. Bake in a moderate oven. Cut in squares and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

• Shopska Salad (Shopska salat)

Ingredients: 3-4 tomatoes; 1 cucumber; 4-5 peppers; 1 onion; 1/4 lb. feta cheese; parsley; vinegar; sunflower oil; salt

Bake, peel and seed the peppers. Cut into small strips and add the diced tomatoes, cucumbers and onion. Add salt, oil and vinegar and mix. Serve in the shape of a pyramid, top with chopped parsley and lots of grated feta. Serves 2-3.