Chubritza

Have you ever heard of chubritza? No, not the folk band from California (pictured at left). The herb? Chubritza is the Bulgarian name for “summer savory” and it grows abundantly there. I gather it’s similar to oregano, but way better, they claim.

There’s also a “winter savory,” but chubritza is milder and more widely used in Bulgarian cooking. In fact, according to Wikipedia, the dinner table in a typical Bulgarian home won’t have salt and pepper shakers on it. Instead, you’ll find salt, paprika, and chubritza. When these three are mixed together, it’s called sharena sol (colorful salt).

I can easily find fresh savory in the local supermarket, but it’s not entirely clear whether it’s the same species of the herb. I've never used it before, but it's an ingredient in tomorrow night’s dish. Stay tuned!