Apohtin

«Απόχτιν» <br/> Πηγή: Υπουργείο Γεωργίας

«Απόχτιν» Πηγή: Υπουργείο Γεωργίας

«Απόχτιν» <br/> Πηγή: Υπουργείο Γεωργίας

A type of cured meat. It is consumed as a snack or cooked with green beans and other vegetables.

Name - Recipe
Cypriot name of dish
Απόχτιν. Apóhtin.
Greek name - description

Traditional cured goat meat from an animal of 2-3 years of age.

Ingredients

Goat meat from an animal of 2-3 years of age.

Method

Remove the head and use the whole animal. Cut the animal in the middle and remove the entrails and fats. Wash well and season with plenty of salt. Place it in pouches with thick mesh wire or cover it with tulle to prevent flies from getting near it. Let it dry for 3-4 weeks. When dry, cut it into small pieces and wash it with lukewarm water. Drain it, fry it well and sprinkle it with dry spearmint (Ministry of Agriculture 2009, The traditional charcuterie of Cyprus).

Cooking method

Boiling.
Frying.

Comments

It can be consumed as a snack or cooked with green beans or other vegetables.

Time period
Byzantine times 7th - 12th century. 19th - 20th century.
Supplementary information

Apohtin was a delicacy of Byzantine times. The preparation method, using meat from goat, sheep, pork or beef and salt, is described in texts of that period. According to the «Γεωπονικά», ΙΘ΄ 9, 3-5 (Koukoules 1952, vol. E, 64), after the bones have been removed, the meat is sprinkled with salt and dried in the sun.

Βibliography

Koukoules F. (1952), Byzantine life and culture, vol. Α΄-Στ΄, Papazisis Publications, Athens.

Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Agriculture (2009), The traditional charcuterie of Cyprus, Press and Information Office, Nicosia.

Researcher / Recorder

Varvara Giangou, Athanasios Vionis, Argyro Xenophontos