Bulgaria is home to many amazing world heritage sites, beautiful beaches, and delicious food. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there are some dishes that shouldn’t be missed!

Bulgarian is a Slavic language, and shares its vocabulary and grammar with Russian, Serbian, Macedonian, and Romanian. It has an Eastern Orthodox Christian majority, and some members of the Muslim minority also practice religion in the country.

Like other Slavic languages, Bulgarian has a complex system of case and verb agreement. The grammatical gender of nouns and adjectives is distinguished, as is the number and vocative case. There are four moods in Bulgarian: indicative, renarrative, imperative, and subjunctive. The latter is often used to convey doubt or the lack of witnessing, and it is pronounced in a distinctly different way than the others.

Located on the shores of the Black Sea, Bulgarian cuisine frequently incorporates sea fish. The most popular fish is cod, which is prepared baked or grilled and served with lemon wedges, garlic, and herbs. The country is also a large producer of rose and lavender oils, which are commonly used in cooking.

While many Bulgarians have embraced international cuisines, some of the traditional foods that have stuck around are quite delicious! For example, a common breakfast is mekitsa, which are deep-fried simple donuts that can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients. Other popular breakfast options include shopska salad, tarator, and banitsa.

Many of these dishes are traditionally served with rakia, a strong fruit brandy. Rakia is also popular after dinner or in the evening to unwind with friends, especially after a long day.

Bulgarians enjoy a variety of beverages, including horovata, a fermented drink made with wheat or millet and flavored with honey. It’s a perfect choice for a hot summer day and pairs well with desserts like banitsa. Another refreshing drink is ayran, which is a mix of yogurt, water, and salt. It’s a great companion to sarma and other dishes, as it has a similar taste and consistency.

Bulgarians are also fond of ovcharnika, a thick soup that’s similar to chicken noodle soup and has a unique flavour thanks to the addition of beetroot. Unlike other beetroot-based recipes, the beetroot is mixed in with the meat instead of pureed to create a soup that’s both hearty and filling.