Cypriot Recipes

Cypriot cooking draws on Greek, Turkish and Levantine traditions and a Mediterranean pantry, and Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot kitchens share many dishes under different names. Olive oil, lemon, wild greens, mint, parsley, coriander and cracked wheat appear everywhere. The island's best-known product is halloumi (hellim), a firm cheese that grills without melting and turns up at breakfast, in sandwiches and in pastries. Pork, lamb and chicken are cooked over charcoal, in clay pots or in village ovens. A meze meal brings dozens of small plates: dips, grilled meats, salads and pulses. Vegetables are stuffed, stewed with tomato or cooked in lemony sauces, and winter brings pulses and root vegetables such as taro. Festivals shape the baking, with flaounes at Easter and honey puffs or syrup sweets at other celebrations. Carobs, almonds, citrus and grape must give the desserts their character, and thick coffee ends most meals.

Staple ingredients

• halloumi (hellim)
• olive oil
• lemon
• pork and lamb
• cracked wheat (pourgouri)
• mint, parsley and coriander
• taro (kolokasi)
• vine leaves

• Appetizers 1
• Main Dishes 8
• Breads 1
• Desserts 1
• Sauces, Dips and Condiments 1

Appetizers

• Halloumi Psito (Cypriot Grilled Halloumi)CY11 minEasy

Main Dishes

• Kleftiko (Cypriot Slow-Roasted Lamb with Potatoes)CY4 h 10 minEasy
• Souvlakia (Cypriot Pork Skewers)CY35 minEasy
• Afelia (Cypriot Pork Braised in Red Wine and Coriander)CY1 h 35 minEasy
• Koupepia (Cypriot Stuffed Vine Leaves)CY1 h 55 minMedium
• Sheftalia (Cypriot Grilled Pork Parcels)CY45 minMedium
• Kolokasi (Cypriot Taro and Pork Stew)CY1 h 55 minMedium
• Molohiya (Cypriot Jute Mallow and Chicken Stew)CY1 h 20 minMedium
• Ravioles (Cypriot Halloumi and Mint Ravioli)CY1 h 15 minMedium

Breads

• Flaounes (Cypriot Easter Cheese Pastries)CY1 h 25 minMedium

Desserts

• Loukoumades (Cypriot Honey Dough Puffs)CY40 minMedium

Sauces, Dips and Condiments

• Talattouri (Cypriot Cucumber, Garlic and Mint Yogurt Dip)CY15 minEasy