Šopska salata is a traditional cold salad that is also one of the national dishes of Bulgaria. Often served during summer, when one can find it in most Bulgarian restaurants, the salad consists of chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, roasted or raw peppers, and Bulgarian cheese.

It was originally created in the 1950s, when Bulgarian top chefs were asked to create dishes that would attract tourists to the country. The vegetables are typically salted, drizzled with sunflower oil, and sprinkled with grated Bulgarian sirene cheese on top.

Some people substitute sunflower oil with olive oil in hopes to enhance the dish, but it is believed that it only spoils the authentic taste of the salad. A perfect, light and refreshing dish for hot summer days, shopska salad is a healthy bite of Bulgarian tradition.

The word shopska in its name refers to the frugal Shopi people from the Shopluk region, where Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia meet.