If you visit Bulgaria, trying the local food should be part of the trip. Traditional Bulgarian dishes are built around simple ingredients that have been part of everyday cooking for generations: tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, beans, fresh herbs, yogurt, white brined cheese, and grilled or slow-cooked meats.

Some Bulgarian foods will look familiar if you have traveled elsewhere in the Balkans, but Bulgaria has developed its own versions, combinations, and traditions. A Shopska salad covered with grated sirene, a warm piece of banitsa for breakfast, or a bowl of cold tarator on a hot summer afternoon are as much a part of experiencing the country as visiting its monasteries, mountains, and historic towns.