This Kleftiko Recipe uses a slow cooker to capture the tenderness. Its short hands-on preparation time makes it ideal for a hot meal at the end of a busy day.
Recipes
Cyprus Recipes – Moussaka
Arguably, the best known Greek dish, moussaka is a vegetable (traditionally eggplant) casserole covered and held together by a bechamel sauce. Other vegetables that can be used include potatoes and zucchini. The vegetables may be used instead of or alongside the eggplant. There are versions of moussaka in Turkey and the Balkans, those versions include […]
Cyprus Recipes – Easter Flaounes
Flaounes are sweet pastries (sometimes referred to by foreigners as pies) filled with cheese. The word flaounes comes from a Greek word for sorrow. They are prepared both by members of the Greek Orthodox Church and by Turkish Muslim Cypriots. For Orthodox Greeks, they are served to break Lent on Easter Sunday; for Muslim Cypriots, […]
Cyprus Recipes – Yogurt with Honey
The ultra-simple combination of yogurt that has been sweetened with honey (called giaourti me meli) is beloved all over Greece, but Cypriots are particularly fond of it. If you have ever visited Cyprus, you have probably had this dessert. Yogurt with honey is likely to be one of the things that visitors are served at […]
Cyprus Recipes – Baklava
Baklava is found throughout the Mediterranean region. Like every country that makes baklava, Cypriot bakers claim that it originated with them. There is not a lot of documentation on the history of baklava, but historians believe that it probably originated in Assyria. Baklava is associated mainly with Greek and Turkish cuisine; as Cypriot cuisine is […]
Cyprus Recipes – Stifado
Stifado is a traditional Greek and Cypriot stew that is usually made with beef or rabbit but can be made with octopus, tripe or even chestnuts. The name stifado is thought to have originated from the Italian word stufa, which translates to the word oven. Historians believe the dish to have been brought to Greece […]
Cyprus Recipes – Keftedes
Keftedes are a popular dish all throughout Greece, with multiple variations from region to region. For example, the mainland Greek version is usually made with beef, milk, and bread. It is seasoned with garlic and oregano. Cypriot keftedes are usually made with pork, though some cooks may combine pork with beef. Another key difference is […]
Cyprus Recipes – Koupepia
In Greece, koupepia are known as dolmades or dolmadakia; they can be found in Turkey and the Middle East as well. In both Greece and Cyprus, they are made with a filling of ground beef and pork along with rice. The wrapping consists of blanched grape leaves. The Cypriot version is different in that along […]
Cyprus Recipes – Fasolada
Fasolada is a white bean or fava bean soup that dates back to the Ancient Greeks and which is popular in both Greece and Cyprus. In fact, fasolada is often referred to as the national dish of Greece. There are variants all throughout the region, including an Italian one called pasta e fagioli. The Portuguese […]
Cyprus Recipes – Pork Souvla
Pork Souvla may the be most famous Cypriot dish and is arguably the most popular. Consisting of skewered pieces of meat that are grilled, it is traditionally made by men and dates back to the iron age. Pork souvla is traditionally cooked on a foukou, which is a Greek charcoal grill with a rotisserie so […]
Cyprus Recipes – Feta Cheese Slices
Feta cheese is the best known Greek cheese and dates back to the time of Homer’s Odyssey. In the Odyssey, the cyclops Polyphemus is described as being a cheesemaker. Its long history in Greece shows its cultural importance. It is traditionally made with milk from sheep or goats; sometimes, it is made with a mixture […]
Cyprus Recipes – Fried Halloumi
Halloumi or challoumi is the Cypriot national cheese. It originated there and has been made on the island since the Byzantine period. It is a brined semi-hard cheese made from a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk. Halloumi has been an important and unique element in the Cypriot diet. It was a particularly valuable food […]
Cyprus Recipes – Tahini Dip
The tahini paste used to make tahini dip is called tashi in Cyprus. It is made with hulled, toasted sesame seeds and most likely arrived in Cyprus from the Middle East, where it continues to be a staple in both Arab and Israeli cooking. It was mentioned as an ingredient in Arab cookery all the […]
Cyprus Recipes – Tzatziki Dip
Tzatziki dip is a popular condiment with variations found in Greece and neighboring countries. The flavors in tzatziki come from herbs, yogurt, garlic, and cucumber. Coming from a Turkish word often defined as “an herb salad with yogurt” tzatziki is served with meat, pita bread, and vegetables. The sauce originated in the cuisine of the […]
Cyprus Recipes – Village Salad
The village salad is yet another crucial component of mezes in Cyprus. It may also be served as an accompaniment for a beef stifado. The Cypriot village salad is a variant of the Greek salad and is a light, refreshing salad that is suitable for almost any occasion. Other names for it include the country […]
Traditional Cyprus Recipes
Relive your holiday in Cyprus with a homemade traditional Cypriot meal. Most of these recipes are fairly easy, so they are great to experiment with.
