Баница
Banitsa
A layered filo pastry baked with a filling that’s often eggs, yogurt, and brined white cheese; versions can also be sweet or vegetable-filled.
EggsDairyGlutenSesameTree Nuts
Bulgarian Cuisine Guide
Bulgarian Allergen Guide
Spot the usual suspects (sirene, yogurt, filo) before they spot you.
Typical base flavors:Roasted peppers, tomatoes, garlic, dill, savory, paprika
Common cooking fats:Sunflower oil, butter, sometimes lard
Staple dairy:Sirene (white brined cheese), kiselo mlyako (yogurt), kashkaval
Popular formats:Grilled minced meats, salads, soups, filo pastries
Eating style:Meze-like sharing plates plus hearty mains
Where surprises hide:Cheese toppings, yogurt sauces, breadcrumbs, and pastry layers
Allergen Overview
How common each allergen is in this cuisine. Always confirm with staff.
Gluten
Often Present
Wheat shows up in filo pastries, breads, thickened soups, and breadcrumb binders for minced meats.
Dairy
Often Present
Sirene, yogurt, butter, and kashkaval are signature ingredients and common toppings.
Eggs
Sometimes Present
Eggs are frequent in pastries and sometimes appear in salads or as a binder in mixtures.
Fish
Usually Avoidable
Traditional everyday dishes lean meat- and dairy-heavy; fish appears more in coastal menus and specific dishes.
Shellfish
Rare
Shellfish is not central to most Bulgarian staples, but can appear in Black Sea seafood restaurants or mixed grills.
Soy
Rare
Soy is not traditional in most recipes, but can appear via processed sauces, marinades, or meat substitutes.
Sesame
Sometimes Present
Sesame can appear on breads/pastries and in spice mixes; it’s less common than dairy or wheat.
Tree Nuts
Sometimes Present
Walnuts are popular in salads, dips, and sweet pastries, especially winter desserts.
Peanuts
Rare
Peanuts are not a traditional default, but may appear in modern desserts or as bar snacks with cross-contact.
Hidden Ingredients to Watch
Unexpected allergen sources that may not be obvious on menus.
Sirene/kashkaval sprinkled “on top”
Adds dairy even when the menu description focuses on vegetables.
Found in: Salads, roasted vegetables, fries, grilled plates
Yogurt-based sauces and dips
Bulgarian yogurt is used as a base for soups, salads, and garlic dips.
Found in: Tarator, milk salads, kebab sides, meze boards
Breadcrumbs or soaked bread in minced meat
Adds gluten and can be an unlisted binder for patties.
Found in: Kufte, meatballs, stuffed vegetables
Filo sheets (kori)
Almost always wheat-based and often brushed with butter (dairy).
Found in: Banitsa variants, tikvenik, bakery pastries
Spice mixes and stock cubes
Can include wheat or milk powders and create cross-contact surprises.
Found in: Soups, stews, grilled meats, sauces
Featured Dishes
Шопска салата
Shopska salata
A classic chopped salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers, finished with grated sirene cheese and sunflower oil.
Dairy
Баница със сирене
Banitsa sas sirene
The most iconic savory banitsa: filo layers baked with a rich filling of eggs, yogurt, and brined white cheese (sirene).
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Таратор
Tarator
A chilled summer soup made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, and oil, sometimes finished with walnuts and ice-cold water.
DairyTree Nuts
Кюфте
Kufte
Grilled minced-meat patties seasoned with onion and spices, served hot with sides like salad, fries, or lyutenitsa.
SoyEggsGluten
Тиквеник
Tikvenik
A sweet filo pastry roll filled with grated pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, and often walnuts, then baked and dusted with powdered sugar.
EggsDairyGlutenSesameTree Nuts
What to Ask the Staff
Copy these questions to show restaurant staff. Available in English and .
English
- Does this dish contain wheat flour, filo pastry, breadcrumbs, or any other gluten?
- Is there sirene, kashkaval, yogurt, butter, or cream in it?
- Are eggs used in the filling, batter, or as an egg wash?
- Is the food prepared on shared surfaces with breaded or flour-dusted items?
- Can you make the salad without cheese and use clean utensils?
- Do you add walnuts or other nuts (including as garnish)?
- Are any sauces or spice mixes pre-made and do they contain milk or wheat?
- Is the soup served with bread/croutons or thickened with flour?
- Can you confirm how the meat patties are bound (breadcrumbs or eggs)?
- Is there any sesame on top or sesame used in the bakery case?
- Съдържа ли това ястие пшенично брашно, кори (фило), галета или друг глутен?
- Има ли сирене, кашкавал, кисело мляко, масло или сметана в него?
- Използват ли се яйца в плънката, панировката или като намазка?
- Приготвя ли се на обща скара/повърхност с панирани или поръсени с брашно храни?
- Може ли салатата без сирене и с чисти прибори?
- Добавяте ли орехи или други ядки (включително като поръска)?
- Има ли готови сосове или подправки и съдържат ли мляко или пшеница?
- Сервира ли се супата с хляб/крутони или сгъстява ли се с брашно?
- Може ли да потвърдите как са свързани кюфтетата (галета или яйца)?
- Има ли сусам отгоре или използва ли се сусам в витрината/пекарната?
Menu Glossary
Common menu words to help identify ingredients and allergens.
глутен= gluten
Found in wheat and many baked goods like filo pastries.
пшеница= wheat
Primary gluten grain; used in breads, flour, and pastry sheets.
брашно= flour
Often wheat-based; used for doughs and thickening soups/sauces.
кори (фило)= filo pastry sheets
Almost always wheat-based and a common source of gluten.
галета= breadcrumbs
Gluten source; sometimes used as a binder in minced-meat dishes.
сирене= brined white cheese
Dairy; commonly grated over salads and used in banitsa.
кашкавал= yellow cheese
Dairy cheese; used in toppings, pastries, and grilled dishes.
кисело мляко= yogurt
Dairy staple; base for tarator and many sauces/dips.
масло= butter
Dairy fat; used in pastries and cooking.
сметана= cream
Dairy; may appear in soups and sauces.
яйца= eggs
Common in pastry fillings, batters, and sometimes as a binder.
орехи= walnuts
Tree nuts; common in tikvenik and sometimes tarator or salads.
сусам= sesame
May appear as a topping on breads/pastries or in seed mixes.
фъстъци= peanuts
Not traditional by default, but can appear in modern desserts or as snacks with cross-contact.
соя= soy
Can appear in processed sauces, marinades, or meat substitutes.
риба= fish
More common in coastal menus; ask about frying oil and sauces.
скариди= shrimp
Shellfish; usually limited to seafood-focused restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gluten (filo pastries, bread, breadcrumbs), dairy (sirene, yogurt, butter), and eggs (pastry fillings and washes) are the big three. Nuts show up often in sweets like tikvenik.
Related Guides
Explore similar cuisines and dietary guides for more allergen insights.
Dietary Guides
Important Disclaimer
Niblu provides ingredient and allergen guidance for convenience only. Always confirm ingredients and cross-contact risk with restaurant staff, especially for severe allergies.