Cooking & Markets

1. Къде е местният пазар?

   ka-DE e mestniyat pazar?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   "Kade e ~?" is the standard Bulgarian structure for asking where something is

2. Как се казва тази съставка?

   Kak se kazva tazi sastavka?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "Kak se kazva ~?" uses a reflexive verb meaning "how is ~? called?"

3. Това ястие много лютиво ли е?

   Tova yastie mnogo lyutivo li e?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "li" is a Bulgarian question particle placed after the focus of the question

4. Можете ли да препоръчате курс по готвене?

   Mozhete li da preporachate kurs po gotvene?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used when seeking a cooking class recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "Mozhete li da ~?" is a polite request form meaning "could you ~?"

5. Как се приготвя това ястие?

   Kak se prigotvya tova yastie?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   The reflexive "se prigotvya" has a passive meaning: "is prepared"

6. Къде мога да купя пресни зеленчуци?

   ka-DE moga da kupya presni zelenchutsi?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   "Kade moga da ~?" means "where can I ~?" expressing ability

7. Искам да науча как да готвя местна кухня.

   Iskam da naucha kak da gotvya mestna kuhnya.

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "Iskam da ~" expresses desire; it is followed by a subjunctive verb

8. Имате ли вегетариански съставки?

   Imate li vegetarianski sastavki?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "Imate li ~?" is a polite question meaning "do you have ~?"

9. Какви подправки се използват в това ястие?

   Kakvi podpravki se izpolzvat v tova yastie?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Kakvi ~?" is the plural interrogative adjective meaning "what kind of ~?"

10. Мога ли да опитам проба?

    Moga li da opitam proba?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    "Moga li da ~?" asks permission: "may I ~?"

11. Тофу

    To-fu

    Tofu

    Usage

    A vegetarian staple; not stocked in every Bulgarian supermarket — look in health-food shops or larger stores

12. Супа

    Su-pa

    Soup

    Usage

    Point to this to order soup — an easy thing to ask for when you are unwell

13. Плод

    Plod

    Fruit

    Usage

    The word for fruit (singular); market signs and price tags use the plural, "плодове"

14. Чесън

    Che-san

    Garlic

    Usage

    Also used when asking for a dish without garlic — Bulgarian cooking uses a lot of it

15. Лук

    Luk

    Onion

    Usage

    The bulb onion; spring onion is distinguished as "зелен лук"

16. Люта чушка

    Lyu-ta chush-ka

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    A hot chilli; do not drop "люта" — "чушка" alone is a sweet bell pepper

17. Кориандър

    Ko-ri-an-dar

    Coriander / cilantro

    Usage

    Rarely used in Bulgarian cooking; the green herb on your plate is usually "магданоз" (parsley), so check that first if you dislike cilantro

18. Джинджифил

    Dzhin-dzhi-fil

    Ginger

    Usage

    Ginger; in Bulgaria you will meet it in tea ("чай с джинджифил") more often than in cooking

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