AI-generated image
Sirene po shopski
Sirene po shopski: white cheese baked in a clay pot with tomato, roasted pepper and an egg
Order 'cheese the Shop way' in a Sofia mehana and it arrives sizzling in its own little clay pot, the lid still on: cubes of white brined cheese softened in butter with tomato and roasted red pepper, an egg set on top and a chilli pepper standing upright in the middle. The cheese goes molten at the edges and salty-soft in the centre, the tomato juices bubble around it, and you mop it all up with warm bread. It is a classic of the Shop region around Sofia, eaten as a hot starter with a cold salad. Traditional sirene is made with animal rennet, so look for a vegetarian white cheese or a feta labelled vegetarian. The usual slip is cracking the egg in too early, which turns the yolk chalky; add it only for the last few minutes. Chef's tip: soak very salty cheese in cold water for 30 minutes first, or the dish will be too sharp to eat.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 9 oz vegetarian Bulgarian white cheese (sirene)cut into 2 cm cubes
- 1 oz butter
- 2 ripe tomatoesdiced
- 2 roasted red pepperspeeled, cut into strips
- 2 eggs
- ½ tsp dried summer savory
- ½ tsp sweet paprika
- 2 long green chillies (optional)
- 1 tbsp parsley (optional)chopped
Shop this recipe on Amazon
What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (6)
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Divide 2 ripe tomatoes, 2 roasted red peppers and 9 oz vegetarian Bulgarian white cheese (sirene) between the pots in layers and sprinkle with ½ tsp dried summer savory and ½ tsp sweet paprika. Dot with the rest of the ½ oz butter.
4 minStep 3: Cover with lids or foil and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the cheese is soft and the tomatoes are bubbling at the edges.
14 minStep 4: Uncover, crack one of the 2 eggs into the middle of each pot, push a 2 long green chillies into each if you like and bake uncovered for 4–6 minutes more, until the white is set and the yolk still wobbles.
5 minStep 5: Scatter over 1 tbsp parsley and serve at once in the pots, with crusty bread (gluten-free if needed).
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 26 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 37 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sirene po shopski take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- 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 butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Caramelised clay-pot tofu and mushrooms
Kho is the slow braise of the Mekong Delta: food simmered in a little clay pot (nồi đất) with dark caramel and seasoning until the sauce is sticky and the flavours go deep. This vegetarian cousin of cá kho tộ (braised fish) uses golden tofu and meaty mushrooms in place of fish, cooked in coconut water, as cooks do in the south, and finished with plenty of black pepper. Serve it bubbling in its pot with steamed rice and a sour soup or plain boiled vegetables. Chef's tip: take the caramel (nước màu) to a deep mahogany, darker than you think, just before it smokes; pale caramel only tastes sweet, while dark caramel gives the bittersweet, smoky flavour of a real kho.
Vietnamese
Spinach with mushrooms
A bright green, savoury puree of potato, mushrooms and fresh spinach cooked in home-made baby stock. Thick and smooth, it's a good way to get iron-rich greens into babies of 8–18 months. Serve warm; spare portions freeze well.
Black bean tacos with lime slaw
Proof that a meat-free taco night can be the best one. The beans are mashed with chipotle and cumin so they hold together in the tortilla, and a quick lime slaw adds crunch.
Mexican