Cyprus Food and Drink Information

FOOD AND DRINK - CYPRUS

Cyprus food is essentially that found in Greece and Turkey and throughout the eastern mediterranean.  There are, however, some Cyprus specialities worth trying, including ewe's-milk chees, halloumi, usually served toasted, and smoked port, lounza. Other typically Greek/Cyprus dishes include:

Souvlakia: Cubes of meat, either lamb or more commonly pork, grilled on a skewer over a charcoal fire.
Sheftalia: Meatballs seasoned with herbs and cooked over charcoal.
Keftedhes: Spicy meatballs fried in oil.
Mezes: A meal composed of numerous small dishes, usually starting with bread and a selection of dips, followed by fish and meat dishes ending with a selection of charcoal-grilled meats.
Dolmades: Vine leaves stuffed with a mince-rice mixture and cooked in the oven.
Kleftiko: Lamb sealed in a container and slowly cooked in an oven until the meat falls off the bone.
Afelia: Pork cooked in wine and coriander.
Stifado: A beef and onion stew.
Barbounia: Red mullet, usually grilled over charcoal.
Lithrini: Grey mullet, usually grilled over charcoal.
Synagrida: Akin to sea bass, this much prized fish is expensive but delicious when charcoal-grilled.
Soupia:  Cuttlefish either deep fried or grilled whole over charcoal.
Tavas: Pieces of lamb, potato and tomato cooked slowly in the oven.
Kalamari: Squid cut into rings, battered and deep-fried.
Talatouri: A dip containing cucumber, garlic and yoghurt, known in Greece as tzatziki.
Taramosalat: A dip of fish roe, cream, olive oil and spices.
Tashi: A dip made from sesame seed paste, lemon juice and garlic, known in Greece as Tahini.
Spinakopita: Spinach in a pastry casing - a common Cyprus snack.
Tiropita: Another Cyprus snack, this time with cheese in pastry case.