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If youโve read my bio or watched my stories, you already knowโIโm a loud and proud Bulgarian immigrant ๐ง๐ฌ, and I love giving Bulgarian Recipes the hype they deserve. Yes, I live in Canada now ๐จ๐ฆโwhich, honestly, is the perfect place to be loud and proud about your culture because itโs so multicultural โbut I was born in Bulgaria, to two very Bulgarian Bulgarians ๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐จ, and spent most of my childhood there running wild and eating Banitsa.
Why Say It Simple When You Can Say It the Bulgarian Way?
But, seriously, I love my people ๐. You know how every culture has its own little proverbs and metaphors? Well, ours are absolute Slavic-style sassy poetry ๐คฃ.
We donโt say โSlow downโโฆ Instead, we say: โPetko isnโt born yet, but theyโre already sewing him a hatโ ๐งข (ะัะต ะะตัะบะพ ะฝะตัะพะดะตะฝ, ะฐ ัะฐะฟะบะฐัะฐ ะผั ัะธัั).
We donโt say โDonโt mock othersโโฆ We say: โThe skinny guy laughed at the one without teethโ ๐ฌ (ะัะธัะผัะป ัะต ั ััะฑะตะป ะฝะฐ ัััะฑะตะป).
And instead of โItโs too lateโ… We go with: โYou put your hood on after the rainโ โ (ะกะปะตะด ะดัะถะด โ ะบะฐััะปะบะฐ).
Iconic, right? I could go on forever, but you get the ideaโweโre witty, weโre charming, and our food slaps ๐.
Bulgarian Recipes That Bring You Home
If you moved abroad in your early teens, you get it. Weโve spent most of our lives away from the motherland. However, we’ve spent just enough time back home to always keep a piece of it with us.
For me, the ultimate way to stay connected is through food. I grew up watching my mom and both my grandmas cook like actual queens in the kitchen. Theyโre the reason I get to share authentic Bulgarian recipes with you todayโjust like the ones below ๐!
My Top Easy Bulgarian Recipes
From soups to stuffed peppers to custardy desserts ๐ฎโthis list is packed with my all-timefave easy Bulgarian recipes that have been lovingly passed down through generations (aka, straight from my Bapche ๐ต). These dishes help me stay forever connected to my roots ๐ง๐ฌโand trust me, once you try them, youโll be hooked too!
Now, remember… Iโm the MODERN Nonna ๐ . This means I’ve modernized some of these to keep things a bit healthier and less time-consuming. But donโt worryโeach recipe still brings that authentic “back-home” taste like youโre sitting at Bapcheโs kitchen table discussing her life-long feud with Ivanka, the next-door neighbour ๐คฃ.
Sweet Easter Bread
Sweet Easter Bread is so nostalgic for me: it symbolizes tradition, family, love, and my childhood. This recipe is very easy, comes together with minimal hands-on work, and yields TWO fluffy, tender, sweet bread loaves.
This might be the healthiest cream of hidden veggie soup youโve ever had! When mom and dad taught me how to make the healthiest creamy soups without the heavy cream, I just never looked back.ย
There's nothing more comforting than my mom's homemade Bulgarian Potato Meatballs. The meat is so tender, and by using grated potatoes instead of breadcrumbs, these are light but super juicy and naturally gluten-free! We love scaling up this recipe to make a huge batch.
If you're a fan ofย yogurt, or you're the type who could eat a tub ofย Tzatzikiย with a spoon (no judgment ๐ ๐ฅ), then youโre gonnaย fall in loveย with thisย fresh and easyย Bulgarian Salad.
This soup is simply made with a few fresh ingredients: chicken, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and parsley. Itโs healthy and comforting and the perfect meal if youโre feeling a bit under the weather.
Thisย heartwarming bowl of goodnessย ๐ฅฃ brings together theย earthy vibes of fresh spinachย ๐ฟ and aย rich, creamy brothย thatโs basically a warm hug in soup form. Itโsย comforting,ย nutritious, and has been loved forย generations!
When the weather starts to cool down and you're craving a hearty, delicious meal, this Baked Beans and Pork Chops dish is perfect. The pork chops are tender and juicy, and the beans are creamy and delicate. I appreciate the simple seasoning, which packs a big flavor punch.
This Bulgarian Spanakopita Toast is a classic in my family, and I think it will be in yours too. It makes a plain toast ๐ breakfast or lunch absolutely shine – full of flavor, creaminess, and cheesy goodness. The spinach is bright and nutritious and the eggs make this substantial.
If you're hunting for theย best stuffed recipeย out there, congratsโyouโve officially found it ๐ฏ๐ถ๏ธ. Thisย legendary Bulgarian Stuffed Pepper recipeย has been in my family forย generations.
In the heart of Bulgaria, where a frugal lifestyle was a necessity, basic ingredientsโflour, salt, water, and yeastโformed the foundation of sustenance. With this recipe, you can experience the same joy, comfort, and cherished memories that have enriched my life for decades.
This Watermelon Feta Salad is so refreshing and light. Each bite contains creaminess from the feta, a little kick from the hot honey, sweetness from the watermelon, and zestiness from the lime juice.
These Bulgarian Meat and Cheese Sandwiches – aka the iconic "Prinzesi" ๐ฅช๐ง๐ฌ – are the definition of comfort food. They're crispy, cheesy, a little meaty, and packed with pure nostalgia.
This Bean Stew is the perfectย vegetarian-friendlyย dish thatย tastes like youโve been simmering it all dayโbut nope, you did that in half an episode of your favorite show ๐บ๐ .
This Bulgarian Moussaka with Potatoes is amazingly quick, perfect for a weeknight when you need dinner fast. It's cozy and comforting, full of warming flavors and hearty ingredients.
This is myย childhood in a bowlย ๐ฅฃโstraight-upย Bulgarian comfort food magic! We call itย "supa topcheta"ย (akaย meatball soup royaltyย ๐), and it's hands-down one of myย favorite soups in the world.
You'll love this Semolina Cake (Halva) for its irresistible nutty flavor and unique texture. Toasting the semolina creates an amazing cake that you'll want to make over and over.
These Bulgarian Honey Cookies, also known asย Medenki, remind me of my entire childhood in Bulgaria ๐ง๐ฌ. Imagine if a honey cookie and gingerbread cookie had a baby, and then we dipped that sweet, soft, chewy cookie baby into melted milk chocolate ๐คค!
Nothing hits like coming home to a warm bowl ofย lentil soupย ๐ฅฃโhealthy,ย comforting, and packed withย feel-good vibes. This oneโs been in my family forย generations, and it never disappoints!
Shopska Saladย is a totalย Balkan classicย ๐ฅโfresh, vibrant, and basically summer in a bowl. Itโs a flavor-packed shoutout to Bulgaria ๐ง๐ฌ, and trust me… one bite and youโll be ready to move there (or at least visit for the salad ๐).
Taratorย is a totalย Bulgarian staple ๐ฅโ๏ธ. Youโll find it onย every restaurant menuย in Bulgaria once the temps rise. Itโs the perfect sidekick toย grilled meat,ย fish,ย veggies, cevapiย (Balkan kebab vibes ๐)โor enjoy it solo on a hot day.
Theseย Mekitsiย are aย traditional Bulgarian breakfast treatโbut letโs be real, they totally double as dessert too ๐ฉ๐. Nothing beats aย homemade donut, and these babies areย fluffyย on the inside,ย crispyย on the outside, andย 100% irresistible.
Thisย Custard Cake ๐ฐโakaย "Biskvitena Torta"ย is proof that dessert doesnโt have to be complicated to beย amazing. Justย 15 minutes of prep, a few pantry staples, and you've got aย creamy, dreamy, no-fuss treatย that tastes like Bapche whipped it up.
I am more commonly known as โThe Modern Nonnaโ on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world โ my grandmaโs kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my lifeโฆ
Shout out to the grandmas with life-long next-door neighbor feuds! ๐๐คฃ I just love how food has the power to transcend culture and show us that deep down we really are all the same! ๐คฃ๐ฅฐ I canโt wait to try out some of these sayings and confuse my kids! ๐คฃ And the mekitsi looks a lot like beignets! Iโm a sucker for any type of powdered doughnut, so this is happening!๐๐ซถ๐ผ
Shout out to the grandmas with life-long next-door neighbor feuds! ๐๐คฃ I just love how food has the power to transcend culture and show us that deep down we really are all the same! ๐คฃ๐ฅฐ I canโt wait to try out some of these sayings and confuse my kids! ๐คฃ And the mekitsi looks a lot like beignets! Iโm a sucker for any type of powdered doughnut, so this is happening!๐๐ซถ๐ผ
This is so good!!! As a fellow Bulgarian, these recipes are on point! Your Bapche taught you well ๐
Can you do one for Polish people next?!?! ๐ต๐ฑ
I’m going to make that cake!