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Sharena Sol (Bulgarian)

bulgarian-sharenasolSharena sol is a Bulgarian mix of spices which plays a big role in the country's traditions. It is also a much loved addition to different types of food. If you ever visited the country, you may have seen in the tourist shops some colourful jars with layers of spices. While they look pretty, the layering is a pure tourist attraction. And guess what, you can make the same blend in your own kitchen and add to your dishes a tasty Balkan flavour. It is hard to say where Sharena Sol comes from but it is considered a purely Bulgarian spice blend. The name translates to English literally as "Colourful Salt".

Different sources have different opinions about the mandatory ingredients of Sharena Sol. According to some, it must contain at least 5 spices in order to be “the real thing”. Which is probably true because the blend sold by most commercial brands contains the following ingredients: fenugreek, savoury, corn flour, paprika and salt. What I don't like so much about the commercial kinds is that the salt is often the main ingredient, hence the whole blend is way too salty. I decided to dig a bit more and to look at various sources in order to come up with a still simple but flavourful recipe. Turned out that grated pumpkin seeds are another important ingredient. I don't think they add too much flavour to the blend but they make the mixture fuller and bring taste. So in my view the above listed 6 spices make the simplest kind of Sharena Sol that tastes great without being overwhelming. Some sources mention thyme and honey garlic to be also part of the mandatory ingredients but in my view they can be considered “good to have”. Here are few more spices that you may or may not add to your blend: oregano, dill, black pepper, spicy pepper, cumin, spearmint, parsley, basil. I do not recommend you to add them all, but rather start with the base and then mix in one by one up to four additional ingredients. Make sure you taste the blend after each new spice.

The best way to make any spice blend is to use whole dried spices and to mince them with a mortar and pestle or with a spice grinder altogether. This, however, is not always as easy as it sounds so you can just buy some or all of the spices already ground.

1 Tbsp. dried fenugreek
2 Tbsp. dried savoury
1 Tbsp. ground paprika
2 Tbsp. fine corn flour
2 Tbsp. pumpkin seed meal
1 tsp. sea salt

Optional ingredients (don't use all of them):
1 Tbsp. dried thyme
1 Tbsp. dried honey garlic
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1 Tbsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. spicy pepper
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried spearmint
1 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1 Tbsp. dried dill

Combine all ingredients. If any of them need grinding, use a mortar and pestle or a spice or coffee grinder.

Mix very well and transfer to a jar.

Keep the jar closed with a lid.

Cook's Notes:

  • If you decide to add any of the optional ingredients, add them one by one and try the blend, before adding another. Beware that using them altogether is not a good idea. I would recommend adding a maximum of 4 optional spices.
  • If you add any of the optional ingredients, feel free to add also more salt to taste.
  • Store your Sharena Sol in a closed jar for about 1 year.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Sharena Sol is traditionally served with bread. A very common Bulgarian-style breakfast is slices of bread or toast with butter, sprinkled with Sharena Sol. That's for me the taste of childhood, especially if accompanied by a herbal tea.
  • But you can sprinkle Sharena Sol on many foods: creamy soups, rice, sandwiches, eggs, grilled meat or grilled vegetables. I am sure that once you try it, you would find many uses for it.

How to Store This Spice Blend:
Keep your Sharena Sol in a closed jar, in a cool and dark place. You can store it for about a year or even more, considering also on the expiration dates of the separate spices.