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Sharena sol
Sharena sol (шарена сол): Bulgarian coloured salt of savory, paprika and fenugreek for dipping bread
Every Bulgarian kitchen has a jar of sharena sol, 'mottled salt', and every guest knows the ritual: tear a piece of warm bread, dip it in sunflower oil or a dab of butter, then press it into the salt. The blend is earthy and herbal from summer savory (chubritsa), mellow and sweet from paprika, with a faintly maple-like warmth from blue or common fenugreek. It also goes on boiled eggs, grilled vegetables, potatoes and tomato salads. Village grandmothers in the mountains each have their own mix, sometimes with dried thyme or toasted pumpkin seeds. The usual slip is buying ready-ground old paprika, which tastes dusty and turns brown; use fresh, bright red paprika and keep the jar out of the sun. Chef's tip: toast the fenugreek seeds in a dry pan just until they smell of caramel before grinding them; a few seconds too long and they turn bitter.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds
- 3 tbsp coarse sea salt
- 3 tbsp dried summer savory
- 2 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toast 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium-low heat for 1–2 minutes, shaking the pan, until a shade darker and fragrant. Tip onto a plate to cool.
3 minStep 2: Grind the fenugreek and 3 tbsp coarse sea salt in a mortar or spice grinder until the salt is fine and the seeds are powdered.
2 minStep 3: Rub 3 tbsp dried summer savory between your palms to break it up, then mix it with the salt, 2 tbsp sweet paprika and 1 tsp dried thyme until evenly coloured.
2 minStep 4: Store in a sealed jar away from the light and use within 3 months. Serve in a small bowl next to warm bread (gluten-free if needed) and a saucer of sunflower oil for dipping.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 10 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sharena sol take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 7 minutes to prepare and 3 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of fenugreek seeds?
- Leave them out, or add a little extra mustard seed (you lose the slightly bitter, maple-like note).
- What can I use instead of sweet paprika?
- Smoked paprika, half the amount.
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