BITE with ZEST

BITE with ZEST Plant-based 🌱 portal with recipes ideas, immunity boosting and a healthy lifestyle tips. Don't let it slip away. Bite it! Bite it with ZEST!

zest /zest/ noun
* a feeling of pleasure and enthusiasm
* quality in an activity or situation which you find
* hearty enjoyment; gusto
* liveliness or energy; animating spirit

Life is amazing!

Sarma is so much more than just a meal – it is a symbol of winter tradition across the entire Balkans. 🥰🔺While we consid...
16/01/2026

Sarma is so much more than just a meal – it is a symbol of winter tradition across the entire Balkans. 🥰

🔺While we consider it "ours," Sarma actually traces its roots back to the Ottoman Empire. The name itself comes from the Turkish word sarmak, meaning "to wrap" or "to roll."

🔺While grape leaves were more common in warmer regions, once it reached our lands, Sarma took on its iconic winter form: wrapped in sour cabbage (sauerkraut). 😎

Although classic Sarma is made with a meat and rice filling, our plant-based version proves it can be just as rich, satisfying, and aromatic in a vegan variety! 🤩

It is bound to delight even the biggest fans of the classic version. 😉

This isn’t just a "substitute" – it is a complete gastronomic experience. 🤩

What makes our Sarma so special? 😁

🔺The secret to the perfect texture and that authentic home-cooked taste lies in a unique blend of:

✔️ Lentils, smoked tofu, and crushed walnuts: Providing that characteristic "heartiness" and smoky aroma.

✔️ Authentic spices and sour cabbage: Preserving the traditional flavor we all know and love.

📌 Find the full recipe in our "Balkan Vegan" cookbook! Beyond this Sarma, you’ll find 55 more plant-based recipes – ranging from naturally vegan traditional dishes to our creative plant-based reinterpretations of Balkan classics. 😁

📌 Available in 4 languages: English, German, Slovenian, and Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian.

📌 Order now on our website: Bite With Zest (link in bio)

16/12/2025

📌 Through fermentation, cabbage becomes a true treasure trove of vitamins (C, K2), minerals (iron, potassium), and beneficial bacteria that support overall health. 💪🥬

Below are five reasons why sauerkraut deserves to appear on your plate more often. 😃

1️⃣ Supports healthy digestion

🔹Sauerkraut is one of the most natural sources of probiotics. Beneficial bacteria help balance the gut microbiome, while enzymes formed during fermentation break down nutrients into more digestible forms. This can reduce bloating, gas, and constipation, while improving nutrient absorption.

2️⃣Boosts immunity

🔹Since 80-90% of the immune system is located in the gut, the probiotics in sauerkraut directly contribute to stronger defense against viruses and bacteria.

🔹Vitamin C increases resistance to infections, while iron supports the production of red blood cells — a perfect combination for the winter season, when immunity is often weakened.

3️⃣ Supports heart health

🔹Sauerkraut benefits cardiovascular health in several ways: fiber and probiotics may help reduce LDL cholesterol, while potassium contributes to regulating blood pressure.

🔹Vitamin K2 prevents calcium buildup in blood vessels and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis.

4️⃣ Strengthens bones

🔹The vitamin K2 found in sauerkraut is essential for directing calcium to the right places in the body — instead of accumulating in blood vessels, it binds where it's needed most: in the bones. This helps maintain bone density. Research shows that regular intake of K2 reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially in older adults.

5️⃣ Helps maintain a healthy body weight

🔹With only 25–27 calories per 100 g, sauerkraut is an ideal choice for those looking to reduce their calorie intake.

🔹Sauerkraut is a good source of dietary fiber, which increases meal volume and can contribute to a feeling of fullness. The fiber also supports healthy digestion, while the natural acidity of the cabbage can help facilitate the breakdown of food.

These are just some of sauerkraut benefits — and there are many more.😃

We hope that from now on, sauerkraut will find its place on your plate more often. 😁

Autumn in the Balkans has a very special scent 🍂✨It doesn’t begin only with falling leaves, but also with colorful jars ...
18/10/2025

Autumn in the Balkans has a very special scent 🍂✨

It doesn’t begin only with falling leaves, but also with colorful jars of home-canned fruits and vegetables filling basements and kitchens. 😍

🔸Home canning is much more than just preparing food – it’s part of our culture, family traditions, and memories passed down from generation to generation. 🏡💛

Since ancient times, people have preserved fruits and vegetables to save them for the cold months, when nature rests and the table longs for the flavors of summer and autumn. 😊

🔸In the Balkans, this time of year means that kitchens come alive with the smell of roasted peppers, simmering tomatoes, and sweet fruit bubbling in large pots. 😃

🔸Shelves slowly fill up with ajvar, pindjur, roasted peppers, pickled vegetables (beets/peppers/cucumbers/cauliflower…), sauerkraut, mixed vegetable salads (turšija), carrot and garlic salad, tomato sauces, jams, compotes, preserves, and even homemade juices and syrups.

Each jar carries a story – of family recipes carefully guarded, of long afternoons spent peeling, chopping, and stirring, and of laughter shared over steaming pots. 😄

In many households, autumn is unimaginable without this special “ritual”. ❤️

It’s a moment when families work together, talk, and laugh, and each jar becomes a little treasure of love and togetherness.👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

Although home canning was once a necessity, a way to feed families during times of scarcity, today it carries emotional value as well – reminding us of our roots, of grandma’s basement full of jars, and of the sense of security that comes from knowing something homemade and lovingly prepared awaits us at home. 💛

For us, home canning is a story about the connection, about family, community, and love for what nature gives us. 🌿

Follow us on this autumn journey! 🍁🚶‍♀️

In the coming weeks, we will share stories, tips, and little secrets from the world of home canning! ✨

🇧🇬 Sweet vegan moments through Bulgaria 🍰☕Every trip leaves us with little moments that stay in our memory – warm drinks...
11/10/2025

🇧🇬 Sweet vegan moments through Bulgaria 🍰☕

Every trip leaves us with little moments that stay in our memory – warm drinks, cozy cafés, and perfectly sweet bites. 🌸

Between long walks, new cities, and spontaneous detours, we always found time for a dessert break – a quiet moment to slow down and enjoy the taste of the journey itself. ✨

🍮 Our favorites:
📍 Vita Rama Vegan Restaurant, Sofia – a lovely vegan cake and warm matcha tea 🍰🍵
📍 Bistro BONELA, Burgas – refreshing chia pudding with mango 🥭🍮
📍 Shtastliveca, Veliko Tarnovo – a slice of vegan cake and strong coffee ☕🍰

✨ From warm drinks to sweet pastries, every stop had its own little charm – and Bulgaria turned out to be sweeter and more vegan-friendly than we expected. 💚

🇧🇬 Vegan in Bulgaria – sometimes we cook, sometimes we explore 🌱🍽️During our trip through Bulgaria, we mixed a bit of pl...
11/10/2025

🇧🇬 Vegan in Bulgaria – sometimes we cook, sometimes we explore 🌱🍽️

During our trip through Bulgaria, we mixed a bit of planning with spontaneity – sometimes we cooked our own meals, and other times we explored local vegan restaurants. ✨

🍲 What and where we ate:
📍 Ashurbanipal Iraqi Restaurant, Sofia - Fresh salad, fluffy rice, and tender green beans. 🥗🍚
📍 4 Directions Family Restaurant, Bansko - Bean soup, fresh salad, baked veggies with cheese, and crispy potatoes. 🥣🥔🧀
📍 Veggic 식당, Plovdiv – Day 1: wraps, a salad with vegan cheese, and potato salad. Day 2: wraps and a pizza. 🌯🍕
📍 Mekitsa & Coffee, Plovdiv - Crispy mekitsi with vegan cheese🥐🧀
📍 Street food, Sozopol - Hot corn on the cob by the sea. 🌽🌊
📍 Bistro BONELA, Burgas – Rice with chickpeas, falafel, and salad. 🥙
📍 La Pala Pizza, Varna - Vegan cheese pizza 🍕
📍 Shtastliveca, Veliko Tarnovo – Three grains, spinach, quinoa, and roasted potatoes. 🥬🍠
📍 Macchiato, Troyan - Mekitsi and freshly squeezed juice. 🥐

✨ Traveling vegan in Bulgaria turned out to be a delicious adventure. 🌍

10/10/2025

🇧🇬 Vegan roadtrip through Bulgaria – how we make it work on the road 🌱🚗

Traveling by car gives us freedom – and that includes food! 🥦🍉

On this trip, we realized that being vegan on the road can actually be super easy – if you’re a little prepared and stay curious.

🥗 First stop? Local markets!
And when there’s no market around, locals often sell fresh goodies right by the roadside – tomatoes, watermelons, raspberries, blueberries… Pure treasures of flavor, fresh and local! 🍅🍉

🛒 Bigger supermarkets and organic stores are great too – you can always find:
→ plant-based cheese
→ canned legumes (like lentils, beans, chickpeas – all packed with protein)
→ tofu
→ delicious olives
→ basically everything you need for a quick meal or snack on the go.

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