Mish-mash
Photo: Ikonact · Public domain

History

Mish-mash is the Bulgarian summer breakfast, evolved from peasant kitchens turning leftover roast peppers into a fast skillet meal. The name (literally, mish-mash) reflects the dish's improvisational character. Eat with bread and a glass of ayran in Plovdiv's morning cafes from June through September while the peppers are in season.

Common allergens: Egg, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 2Hands-on 15 minTotal 20 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe tomatoes, diced
  • 2 green peppers, diced
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 100g Bulgarian sirene cheese, crumbled
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
  • 1 teaspoon sweet Bulgarian paprika
  • Salt, pepper
  • Parsley to garnish

Method

  1. Heat oil in a heavy pan. Cook onion until soft.
  2. Add peppers; cook 4 minutes.
  3. Add tomatoes and paprika; cook until the tomato has broken down, about 5 minutes.
  4. Pour in the beaten eggs. Stir gently with a wooden spoon as the eggs set.
  5. Just before the eggs are fully cooked, fold in the crumbled sirene.
  6. Season; remove from heat. Garnish with parsley and serve with bread.

Tip from the editors. Don't overcook the eggs; pull from the heat when they still look slightly wet. The sirene melts as the dish rests.

Where to eat mish-mash

Mish-mash in Plovdiv

Pavaj ★ 4.6

$$ 25-45 BGNBrunchModern Bulgarian late brunchKapana

Pavaj opens at noon as Kapana's late-brunch stop. Farm-driven Bulgarian small plates with house bread; weekend afternoons settle into long tables and Mavrud.

OrderFarm vegetable plate with Mavrud glass

Directions

Aylyakria ★ 4.4

$$ 20-35 BGNBrunchModern Bulgarian and gluten-free brunchKapana

Aylyakria runs an early-Kapana brunch in a Revival-era room. Banitsa, shopska, mish-mash and gluten-free options listed, alongside Bulgarian wines.

OrderBanitsa with sirene, shopska salad, glass of Bulgarian wine

Directions

Hemingway ★ 4.0

$$ 30-55 BGNBrunchRefined garden brunchCentre

Hemingway's Gurko Street garden runs a slow Bulgarian brunch through summer. Refined room, seasonal salads and grilled plates, glass of Bulgarian wine.

OrderBulgarian breakfast plate, glass of Mavrud

Directions

Mekitsa and Coffee ★ 4.8

$$ 8-20 BGNBrunchBulgarian breakfast counterCentre

Plovdiv's only mekitsa-to-order counter on the pedestrian Knyaz Alexander spine. Classic with sirene, jam, honey, plus pesto or halva combinations daily.

OrderMekitsa with sirene and honey, Bulgarian coffee

Directions

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