Cyprus is a cultural and culinary melting pot. The influence of Turkish and Greek gastronomy is plain nevertheless it has its personal distinct repertoire of recipes influenced by Japanese cuisines. The elements utilized in many Cypriot dishes may be traced again to Arabic and Asian cooking the place spices reminiscent of candy cinnamon, aniseed and cumin, and contemporary produce reminiscent of jute mallow, okra and taro root present the spine to a few of its distinctive dishes.
Cyprus enjoys a sizzling local weather for many of the yr, with a shoreline that delivers an abundance of fish and seafood, reminiscent of sea bass, bream and octopus. Dwelling-grown produce consists of wild asparagus, white courgettes and black-eyed beans. Bitter oranges and bergamots are preserved entire in jams, and citrus fruits are made into cordials (limonata), with the thickly sliced zests, together with walnuts and watermelon rinds made into spoon sweets (macun).
Ripe purple watermelons are hardly ever eaten with out raw slices of halloumi (sheep/goat’s milk cheese), with the whey made right into a Cypriot ricotta referred to as nor or anari. Raw halloumi may also be finely grated, combined with dried mint and sprinkled over dishes reminiscent of magarına bulli (pasta and hen). Mint (dried and contemporary) is utilized in salad dressings and meze reminiscent of cacık, and it’s additionally used to flavour savoury bakes reminiscent of hellimli zeytinli (halloumi and black olive bread).
Cypriot recipes
Türlü (roasted vegetable stew)
This vegan dish comes from Cyprus and may be eaten sizzling, heat or chilly – it includes roasting veg with a vibrant mixture of herbs and candy, heat spices.
Halloumi and black olive cake
This savoury cake is full of Cypriot flavours, together with oregano, mint, black olives and salty halloumi – it makes a formidable centrepiece to serve to pals.
Grilled kofte (izgara köfte)
This Cypriot meat patty dish is made with lamb and beef mince – an awesome various to burgers at a barbecue. You’ll be able to prepare dinner it within the oven, too.
