Šopska Salata (Macedonian Tomato, Cucumber and White Cheese Salad)
Local name: Шопска салата
In short: Chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onion dressed with oil and vinegar and buried under a snowy layer of grated white cheese. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 245 kcal
Šopska salata is the salad of summer in North Macedonia and across the region, served with grilled meat, with rakija and at nearly every restaurant. Ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and a little onion are chopped, dressed simply with sunflower oil, vinegar and salt, then covered with a thick drift of grated sirenje, the white brined cheese. Make it only when tomatoes are ripe and in season.
Instructions
- Combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, pepper and onion in a large bowl.
- Whisk the oil, vinegar and salt together, pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently. Let the salad stand for 5 minutes so the tomato juices mingle with the dressing.
- Transfer the salad to a serving dish and scatter over the parsley.
- Grate the cheese over the top on the coarse side of a grater, so it forms a thick snowy layer. Serve at once without tossing.
Tips
- Use ripe, in-season tomatoes. Their juices become the dressing, so an underripe tomato will make the whole salad taste flat.
- Add the cheese just before serving so it stays light and does not turn soggy. If the cheese is very salty, rinse it briefly and pat it dry.
Questions and answers
Can I make šopska salad ahead of time?
Chop the vegetables up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerate them separately. Dress the salad and add the cheese just before serving, because it turns watery on standing.
What cheese is used in šopska salad?
White brined sheep or cow cheese, called sirenje in Macedonia. Feta is an easy substitute, grated or crumbled.
Is šopska salad the same everywhere?
The base of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and white cheese is common across the Balkans. Details differ, such as the type of onion, roasted peppers and whether vinegar or lemon is used.
How long does it take to make Šopska Salata (Macedonian Tomato, Cucumber and White Cheese Salad)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Šopska Salata (Macedonian Tomato, Cucumber and White Cheese Salad)?
About 245 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 13 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 245 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
