Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Cyprus

Cyprus’s food is built around halloumi, charcoal souvla and meze culture blending Greek, Levantine and island traditions. Look for Halloumi (squeaky brined cheese, grilled or fried, often with watermelon), Souvla (large chunks of pork or lamb turned slowly over charcoal) and Brandy Sour (cypriot brandy with lemon squash, bitters and soda, long and pale). Semi-hard sheep-and-goat cheese folded with mint that squeaks and grills without melting; it gained Cypriot PDO protection in 2021. This atlas has 37 Cyprus dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

37 dishes.

AfeliaAfeliapork braised in red wine with crushed coriander seedAnariAnarisoft whey cheese eaten fresh with honey or dried and gratedBourekia tis anarisBourekia tis anarisFried pastry parcels of sweet anari cheese, dusted with sugar and cinnamon.Brandy SourBrandy SourCypriot brandy with lemon squash, bitters and soda, long and pale.CommandariaCommandariaancient amber sweet wine from sun-dried grapesDaktylaDaktylaFinger-shaped pastries filled with almond and cinnamon, fried and syruped.Elies tsakistesElies tsakistescracked green olives cured in brine with coriander, lemon and garlicEliopitaEliopitaSavoury bread studded with chopped olives, onion and mint.FilfarFilfarOrange liqueur from Cypriot citrus peel, drunk chilled or over ice.FlaounaFlaounaEaster cheese-filled pastry with raisins and mintGlyko tou koutaliouGlyko tou koutaliouwhole fruits preserved in syrup, served by the spoon to guestsHalloumiHalloumisqueaky brined cheese, grilled or fried, often with watermelonHiromeriHiromeripressed, wine-cured and smoked ham sliced very thinKappariKappariCaper shoots and buds pickled in brine and vinegar, eaten as meze.KleftikoKleftikolamb sealed and slow-baked in a clay ovenKolokasiKolokasitaro root braised with pork, celery, tomatoKolokotesKolokotesFolded pasties of pumpkin, cracked wheat and raisins, baked crisp.KoupepiaKoupepiavine leaves stuffed with minced pork and riceKoupesKoupestorpedo-shaped bulgur shells filled with spiced minced meat, deep-friedLoukoumiLoukoumirosewater Cyprus delight from GeroskipouLountzaLountzapork loin brined in wine, coriander-rubbed and smoked, fried with halloumiLouvanaLouvanaThick yellow split pea soup with lemon and olive oil, a Lenten dish.LouviaLouviablack-eyed peas with chard, lemon, olive oilMakaronia tou fournouMakaronia tou fournouCypriot baked pasta with mince and halloumi béchamelMaratheftikoMaratheftikorare native red grape giving deep, spicy winesPalouzesPalouzesGrape must thickened with flour into a set pudding, eaten with almonds.Pourgouri pilafiPourgouri pilafiBulgur pilaf toasted with vermicelli and tomato, served with yoghurt.ShamishiShamishiFried pastry pockets of semolina custard, sugared and eaten hot.SheftaliaSheftaliacaul-wrapped minced pork sausages grilled, stuffed in pitaSoutzoukosSoutzoukosalmond strings repeatedly dipped in set grape mustSouvlaSouvlalarge chunks of pork or lamb turned slowly over charcoalTahinopitaTahinopitaCoiled bread rolled with sesame paste, sugar and cinnamon.TrahanasTrahanasfermented cracked wheat and yoghurt soup with halloumiTsamarellaTsamarellagoat meat heavily salted, sun-dried and rubbed with oreganoTtavasTtavaslamb, rice, tomato and cumin baked slowly in a clay potXynisteriXynisteriindigenous white grape making light, citrus-fresh Cypriot wines

  • Halloumi

    Squeaky brined cheese, grilled or fried, often with watermelon. Ready in 45 min prep and 3 hr cooking. About 700…

  • Afelia

    Pork braised in red wine with crushed coriander seed. Ready in 15 min prep and 1 hr 15 min cooking.…

  • Anari

    Soft whey cheese eaten fresh with honey or dried and grated. Ready in 15 min prep and 40 min cooking.…

  • Bourekia tis anaris

    Fried pastry parcels of sweet anari cheese, dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Ready in 40 minutes prep and 25 minutes…

  • Commandaria

    Ancient amber sweet wine from sun-dried grapes. A wine & spirit recipe from Cyprus.

  • Daktyla

    Finger-shaped pastries filled with almond and cinnamon, fried and syruped. Ready in 40 min prep and 30 min cooking. 24…

  • Elies tsakistes

    Cracked green olives cured in brine with coriander, lemon and garlic. 40 min to prepare. Fills a 2-litre jar. A…

  • Eliopita

    Savoury bread studded with chopped olives, onion and mint. Ready in 25 minutes prep and 45 minutes cooking. One loaf,…

  • Filfar

    Orange liqueur from Cypriot citrus peel, drunk chilled or over ice. A wine & spirit recipe from Cyprus.

  • Flaouna

    Easter cheese-filled pastry with raisins and mint. Ready in 45 min prep and 30 min cooking. 12 pastries. A bread…