Common ingredients for Bulgaria

These are common ingredients you may see on packaging and menus in Bulgaria. Local words are left unchanged so they stay readable in the original language; translate this page if you want supporting text and English names in your own language.

• бяло саламурено сирене (sirene cheese)

  byalo salamureno sirene

  The standard Bulgarian brine cheese, often just called 'сирене' (sirene).

• ванилия (vanilla extract)

  vaniliya

  Often sold in small sachets as 'ванилена захар' (vanilla sugar).

• вода (water)

  voda

• газирана вода (sparkling water)

  gazirana voda

• карамфил (cloves)

  karamfil

• картофи (potato)

  kartofi

• кисело мляко (yogurt)

  kiselo mlyako

  A staple Bulgarian yogurt, typically tangy and thick.

• краве масло (butter)

  krave maslo

  Often just referred to as 'масло' (maslo).

• лук (onion)

  luk

  Refers to yellow/white onion.

• мед (honey)

  med

• мононатриев глутамат (monosodium glutamate)

  mononatriev glutamat

  Less common in home cooking; often labeled as E621.

• орехи (walnuts)

  orehi

• оцет (vinegar)

  otset

  Usually refers to wine vinegar.

• свинска кайма (ground pork)

  svinska kayma

• свинска мас (pork fat)

  svinska mas

  Traditional rendered pork fat used for frying.

• свинско месо (pork)

  svinsko meso

• сирене фета (feta cheese)

  sirene feta

  Commonly imported style; distinct from traditional Bulgarian sirene.

• сода за хляб (baking soda)

  soda za hlyab

• сол (salt)

  sol

• телешка кайма (ground beef)

  teleshka kayma

• телешки бульон (beef broth)

  teleshki bulyon

• телешко месо (beef)

  teleshko meso

• царевично нишесте (cornstarch)

  tsarevichno nisheste

• чесън (garlic)

  chesan

• яйце (egg)

  yaytse