Shopska Salata is a salad that originated in the Shopluk region of Bulgaria. It is said to have been invented in the 1960s as part of a tourist promotion by the socialist party to highlight local ingredients.Today, it is common among the Balkan countries of Serbia, Macedonia, and others and has been proclaimed as a national dish of Bulgaria.There are slight variations from family to family, but the basic ingredients for this refreshing salad, served year-round, are the same―tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onion, red wine vinaigrette, and feta cheese which is known as sirene cheese in Bulgaria.Since olive trees are not as plentiful in Bulgaria as they are elsewhere, sunflower oil is used in most cooking and salad dressings.