Shopska Toast With Sirene

Crispy toast topped with juicy tomato, cucumber, roasted pepper, and salty Sirene, finished with a little oregano.

Ingredients

• 2 slices bread
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 1/3 cucumber, diced
• 1 roasted red pepper from a jar, chopped (or fresh if you have it)
• 60–80 g Sirene cheese, crumbled (or Bulgarian feta)
• 1 tsp sunflower oil or olive oil
• 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice (optional but very Shopska)
• Pinch salt (optional, Sirene is salty)
• Black pepper, to taste
• Pinch dried oregano (or summer savory if you have it)

Instructions

• Toast the bread until golden and crisp.
• In a bowl, mix tomato, cucumber, and roasted pepper.
• Add oil and (optional) vinegar or lemon juice. Taste, then add a tiny pinch of salt only if needed. Add black pepper.
• Pile the salad mix onto the toast.
• Crumble Sirene generously over the top.
• Finish with a pinch of oregano. Eat right away while the toast is still crisp.

Notes

• If you want it warmer: put the topped toast (with Sirene) under a broiler/grill for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese softens. Then add the oregano.
• For extra crunch: rub the toast lightly with a cut garlic clove before topping.
• If you only have fresh pepper: slice and quickly pan-char it, or skip it and keep it tomato-cucumber-Sirene.

Nutrition

• Good source of protein and calcium from Sirene.
• Add a piece of fruit or a cup of yogurt on the side if you want a more filling meal.