Rice Bulgaria Krina 1kg

Grown in Bulgaria — in the same Maritsa valley lowlands where Bulgarian rice cultivation began in the fourteenth century — Krina’s Bulgarian Rice is the universal, all-purpose variety that belongs in every pantry that cooks from the Bulgarian tradition.

Rice has a longer history in Bulgaria than most people realize. Cultivation along the Maritsa and Tundzha rivers dates to the 1300s, and by the mid-twentieth century the Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, and Stara Zagora irrigation fields had turned Bulgaria into a serious rice-producing country — at the peak in the 1980s, 250,000 decares were sown annually. The sector contracted in the 1990s and has been rebuilding since 2000. Krina’s Bulgarian Rice is part of that revival: selected from the best domestic varieties, grown on Bulgarian soil, and packaged with no additives or artificial treatment.

The grain is uniform, medium, and whole. After cooking it is separate and lightly fluffy rather than sticky — which means it holds its shape inside a stuffed pepper, absorbs broth cleanly in a pilaf, stays distinct in a soup, and still rolls into a sarma without falling apart. It is the rice that does everything the Bulgarian kitchen asks of it.

How to Cook It

Use a 1:2 ratio — one part rice to two parts water or broth. Begin timing the 15–18 minutes from the moment the liquid reaches a full boil, not from when you add the rice. For richer flavor, sauté the dry rice briefly in a little sunflower oil or butter with finely diced onion before adding the boiling liquid — this toasting step deepens the aroma and keeps the grains even more separate during cooking. Cover tightly, keep on the lowest heat, and do not lift the lid until the time is up.

What Makes It Special

Most rice on US supermarket shelves is sourced from Asia or the Americas. Krina Bulgarian Rice comes from the same domestic growing belt that supplied Bulgarian tables for generations, selected under the Natural Choice premium standard and packaged without artificial processing. The result is a grain that cooks predictably, holds its character, and tastes like the ingredient — not the packaging. 1kg, with a 5% discount when buying a case of six, it is among the best-value authentic Bulgarian pantry staples available in the USA.

Quick Facts

✓  Type: Bulgarian white rice — universal medium grain, Natural Choice series
✓  Grown in: Bulgaria — Maritsa valley / Pazardzhik region
✓  Cook time: 15–18 minutes (from boil)
✓  Water ratio: 1 part rice : 2 parts water or broth
✓  Grain character: Uniform, whole grains — separate and fluffy when cooked
✓  Additives / preservatives: None
✓  Energy (per 100g): 339 kcal | Protein: 8.5g | Carbohydrates: 75g | Fat: 0.6g
✓  Brand: Krina
✓  Country of Manufacture: Bulgaria
✓  UPC: 3800106400080
✓  SKU: SpKr11

Bulgarian Serving Tip

Palneni chushki — stuffed peppers — may be the most beloved rice dish in all of Bulgarian cooking. The classic preparation mixes raw Krina Bulgarian Rice with ground pork, grated onion, chopped tomato, and a generous pinch of savory (chubritsa) and black pepper, packs it into whole red peppers, stands them upright in a pot, covers with diluted tomato juice, and simmers until the peppers soften and the rice has absorbed all the liquid from the inside out. The result depends entirely on the rice holding its structure through the steam — a job this grain does reliably. For sarmi (stuffed vine or cabbage leaves), use the same filling ratio but roll tighter and cook longer. For mlyako s oriz — milk rice, the Bulgarian comfort dessert — cook the rice in whole milk with sugar and a vanilla pod until creamy and thick, then dust with cinnamon to serve.

Pairs perfectly with: Lutenitsa (SKU: LHDER), Krina Table Beans (SKU: SpKr23), Tandem Frankfurters Pork & Beef (SKU: TM35).

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of rice is this — short, medium, or long grain?
Krina Bulgarian Rice is a medium-grain white rice, described by Krina as a universal variety selected from the best Bulgarian varieties. It is suited to the full range of Bulgarian rice cooking — stuffed vegetables, pilaf-style rice, rice soups, and desserts like mlyako s oriz — because its medium grain cooks to a separate, fluffy result that is neither too sticky nor too dry.

Why does the exact timing matter — why start counting from the boil?
Krina specifies that the 15–18 minute cook time begins from the moment the water or broth reaches a full boil — not from when the rice is added to the pot. Adding rice to cold or warm water and then heating it causes uneven cooking and a starchy, sticky result. Bring the liquid to a rolling boil first, add the rice, reduce to the lowest simmer, cover tightly, and start your timer. Do not lift the lid mid-cook.

Does the rice need to be rinsed before cooking?
Rinsing is optional with this rice. Rinsing removes surface starch and produces an even more separate, dry-fluffy result — preferred for pilaf and side dishes. Skipping the rinse leaves slightly more starch on the grain, producing a marginally creamier texture — better for rice porridge (mlyako s oriz) or thicker soups. For stuffed peppers and sarmi, rinse lightly to prevent the filling from becoming a gummy paste during the long steam.

What are the classic Bulgarian dishes I can make with this rice?
The four pillars of Bulgarian rice cooking are: palneni chushki (stuffed peppers with a pork-and-rice filling), sarmi (stuffed vine or cabbage leaves), pilaf-style side dishes sautéed with onion and cooked in broth, and mlyako s oriz (milk rice dessert). This rice performs reliably in all four. It also works well in gyuvech (mixed vegetable casserole with rice) and as the base for chicken-and-rice dishes.

Is this rice gluten-free?
White rice is naturally gluten-free. Krina Bulgarian Rice contains no additives or preservatives. As with any grain product, trace cross-contact during storage or processing is possible — check the physical pack label if a certified gluten-free claim is required.

Is a case discount available?
Yes — the best discount in the Krina range: buying a case of 6 units saves 5% automatically. For wholesale or restaurant orders, contact Malincho at 1-866-203-3525 or [email protected].