Recipe #2: Шопска салата (Shopska Salad)

Шопска салата (Shopska salad) is a Bulgarian staple and is as delicious as it is easy to make. It is best with vegetables fresh from the garden as opposed to the store-bought variety, which tend to be bland and comparatively flavorless.

1 large or 2 medium cucumbers – peeled and diced
2 tomatoes – diced
1 bell pepper – seeded and diced
½ an onion – minced
¼ cup grated or crumbled сирене (sirene or white cheese)
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
salt
black pepper
fresh parsley

Mix vegetables. Drizzle on oil and vinegar. Add salt, pepper, and parsley to taste. Top with сирене (you can substitute feta for сирене … just don’t tell a Bulgarian).