Sirene po Shopski (Baked Cheese with Tomatoes and Peppers)
Local name: Сирене по шопски
In short: Slabs of salty white cheese baked in small dishes with tomatoes, peppers, butter and an egg until bubbling. Served hot with bread. It takes about 33 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Total
- 33 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 430 kcal
Sirene po shopski is a hot meze or light main: a slab of Bulgarian white brined cheese baked with sliced tomato, mild pepper, butter and an egg on top, usually in a small clay dish. It arrives bubbling at the table, and you scoop it up with bread. The cheese is salty, so the dish needs no added salt. Serve it with a salad and a glass of cold white wine.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Grease four small ovenproof dishes with a little of the butter.
- Put a slab of cheese in each dish and top with sliced tomato and pepper rings.
- Dot with the rest of the butter and sprinkle with the paprika, oregano and black pepper.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese softens at the edges and the tomatoes begin to release juice.
- Crack an egg into each dish and bake for 5 to 6 minutes more, until the whites are set and the yolks are still soft. Bake a minute or two longer for a firm yolk.
- Serve hot, straight from the oven, with bread for scooping.
Tips
- Taste the cheese first. If the brine is very salty, rinse the slabs in cold water for a few minutes and pat them dry. Use a firm cheese, because soft types spread out in the oven.
- Skip the egg for a lighter starter, or add a spoonful of lyutenitsa or a few olives to each dish.
Questions and answers
What cheese is best for sirene po shopski?
Use a firm sheep or cow milk sirene, or a block of feta. Soft, crumbly cheeses melt away in the heat.
Can I make it ahead?
Assemble the dishes up to 4 hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. Add the egg just before baking.
Is sirene po shopski a starter or a main?
Both. One slab is a meze for sharing, and two slabs with salad and bread make a light meal.
How long does it take to make Sirene po Shopski (Baked Cheese with Tomatoes and Peppers)?
About 33 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 18 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sirene po Shopski (Baked Cheese with Tomatoes and Peppers)?
About 430 kcal per serving, with 22 g of protein, 6 g of carbohydrates and 34 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 430 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Fat | 34 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1250 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
