What are the Bulgarian words for the vegetables, greens and spices in the dishes that you try in a restaurant?

Are “tikva” and “tikvichka” the same thing? Where to put stress in the word "krastavitsa"? Are “kambi”, “kapii”, “piperki” all “chushkas”? Let’s try to choose a vegetable salad or side dish in restaurants in Bulgaria. How not to get lost while reading the names of vegetables and spices in Bulgarian?

Fruitful Bulgarian land fills the counters of markets and shops with different seasonal vegetables throughout the year. The choice is always great, and prices are traditionally low. Vegetables, along with meat, occupy a significant place in traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Therefore, in Bulgarian restaurants vegetable dishes, salads and side dishes are well-deservedly popular.

Gourmets know that the best company for meat and fish dishes is certainly vegetables. In Bulgarian restaurants they are skillfully prepared - grilled, deep-fried, stewed, baked, pickled and, of course, served fresh. They always come in combination with traditional greens and spice.

One of the most popular vegetables is, of course, the red sweet pepper. Only few can explain why residents of the former Soviet Union habitually call it "Bulgarian". The birthplace of the "Bulgarian" pepper is Central and South America. And in Europe, it first appeared thanks to the colonizers and began to grow in Portugal and Spain. Then it settled down in Turkey, from where it came to Bulgaria, where it absorbed the local gentle sun, the fresh mountain wind and the hard work of Bulgarian farmers. At the end of the 17th century, the pepper continued its spread from the territory of Bulgaria to the southern regions of Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, where the locals called this unusual and tasty vegetable "Bulgarian pepper". And this name is already 300 years old!

So, in the restaurant you’d like to choose the vegetables on the menu and find out what spices the dish is seasoned with, but don’t know what they are called in Bulgarian? Or maybe you are visiting the market to buy ingredients for your special stew or fantastic minestrone soup but you don’t know how to explain to what you need to the seller? There is a solution! Just look at our tables with the translation of the names of vegetables, herbs and spices.

Vegetables (en)	Зеленчуци (bg)	Zelenchutsi (translit.)
Asparagus	Аспержи	Asperzhi
Beetroot	Цвекло	Tsveklo
Black radish	Черна ряпа	Cherna Ryapa
Broccoli	Броколи	Brokoli
Brussels sprouts	Брюкселско зеле	Brukselsko zele
Cabbage	Зеле	Zele
Carrot	Моркови	Morkovi
Cauliflower	Карфиол	Karfiol
Celery	Целина	Tselina
Corn	Царевица	Tsarevitsa
Courgettes	Тиквички	Tikvichki
Cucumbers / Gherkins	Краставици/Корнишони	Krastavitsi/Kornishoni
Eggplant	Патладжан	Patladjan
Garlic	Чесън	Chesan
Green beans	Зелен фасул	Zelen fasul
Gumbo	Бамя	Bamya
Hot Peppers	Люти чушки	Lyuti chushki
Kohlrabi	Алабаш	Alabash
Leek	Праз	Praz
Onion	Лук	Look
Parsnip	Пащърнак	Pashtarnak
Potato	Картофи	Kartofi
Pumpkin	Тиква	Tikva
Radish	Репички	Repichki
Sweet Peppers	Чушки/Камби/Пиперки/Капии	Chushki/Kambi/Piperki/Kapii
Tomatoes	Домати	Domati
Turnip	Ряпа	Ryapa
Zucchini	Тъмни тиквички	Tamni tikvichki

Greenery (en)	Зеленолистни и билки (bg)	Zelenolostni I bilki (translit.)
Basil	Босилек	Bosilek
Chinese cabbage	Китайско зеле	Kitaisko zele
Coriander	Кориандър	Koriandr
Dill	Копър	Kopar
Green onions	Зелен лук	Zelen look
Green salad	Маруля	Marulya
Nettle	Коприва	Kopriva
Parsley	Магданоз	Magdanoz
Rosemary	Розмарин	Rozmarin
Ruccola	Рукола	Rukola
Sorrel	Киселец	Kiselets
Sorrel Spinach dock	Лапад	Lapad
Spearmint	Мента	Menta
Spinach	Спанак	Spanak

Spices (en)	Подправки (bg)	Podpravki (translit.)
Anise	Анасон	Anason
Bay leaf	Дафинов лист	Dafinov list
Capers	Каперси	Kapersi
Caraway	Ким	Kim
Cardamon	Кардамон	Kardamon
Chili	Чили	Chili
Clove	Карамфил	Karamfil
Cumin	Кимион	Kimion
Curry	Къри	Kari
Estragon	Естрагон	Estragon
Fenugreek	Сминдух	Sminduh
Garlic	Чесън	Chesan
Ginger	Джинджифил	Gingirfil
Horseradish	Хрян	Hryan
Marjoram	Майорана	Mayorana
Nutmeg	Индийско орехче	Indiysko orekhche
Oregano	Риган	Rigan
Salt/Spicy Salt	Сол/Шарена сол	Sol/Sharena sol
Thyme	Мащерка	Mashterka
Thyme	Чубрица	Chubritsa
Turmeric	Куркума	Kurkuma

And even for those who adhere to the principles of vegetarianism and veganism, it is not at all necessary to cook for yourself constantly. Sometimes you can go to a restaurant! In the large cities of Bulgaria - in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna - vegetarian/vegan restaurants are opened for guests. Their dishes and desserts are very healthy, tasty and varied. Many of them have food delivery service. Interesting? Here is a list of such restaurants.