This meatless Monday I would like to introduce to you Spicy Shopska Salad with Grilled Sweet Paprika, a variation from the traditional Bulgarian recipe and one of my all-time favorite vegetable salads. I would eat this salad every day, literally! It is fresh, summery, very easy to make recipe, very tasty and quite healthy. Even if this salad can be made all year round I prefer to make this salad in the summer, because the quality of the tomatoes. A good quality tomato can make the simplest dish taste delicious, and I prefer mines organic and in the season. Trust me, nothing compares with a good tomato that grew in the old fashion way under the sun with no enhancers.

Ingredients for Spicy Shopska Salad with Grilled Sweet Paprika :

4 big tomatoes

1 cucumber,

1 red bell pepper,

1 green bell pepper

½ chilli pepper

1 medium onion

100g feta cheese

150 g seedless black olives

½ tbs parsley

70 ml olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Vinegar

Preparation Method for Spicy Shopska Salad with Grilled Sweet Paprika:

In a non-stick pan, sprayed with oil, roast the red and green pepper bell. When it is nicely roasted set them aside to cool down. Meanwhile dice the vegetables in cubes and place them in a large bowl, mix them gently. Clean and dice the roasted peppers and add them to the vegetable mixture. Grate the feta cheese over the mixture and sprinkle the finely chopped parsley over it. Stir it again so the cheese is evenly spread. In a shaker or a small blender mix for a minute the salt, vinegar, pepper and oil, then pour the dressing over the salad. Divide the salad over 4 plates and is ready to be served.

Tips:

Choose matured tomatoes. They are deep red, firm and have a beautiful strong tomato smell. If you don’t find any in your local supermarket, pick some tomatoes that still have the branch attached and place them in an open box near a window, and let them mature for a few days. This way you will have the full flavor of tomatoes all year long.

You can find feta cheese in the Turkish or Greek shops, but it is also available in most supermarkets.

As for the olive oil, make sure to avoid the one made from olive pits. This is lower quality, and not the-real-deal.

The best type of onions to use with this salad are red onions. They have a distinctive, spicy flavor, which goes great with the other flavors in this salad.

Last, but not least, some people prefer to add quartered boiled eggs to this salad. It will still be meatless, but not vegan.

Enjoy the Spicy Shopska Salad with Grilled Sweet Paprika with family and friends !

Bon appetite!