Γύρος σε πίτα με σαλάτα και τζατζίκι. Πηγή: jeffreyw, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyro_sandwich.jpg
Edible sumac, the seeds of which are used as a spice in many Mediterranean countries, is native in Cyprus.
Name - Origin
Γύρος με σουμάκι.
Mix the minced meat with the spices, oil and eggs and spread the mixture in a lightly greased oven dish (pyrex). Bake in a moderate oven for about an hour. Slice the gyro and serve on a pitta bread with tzatziki or tahini dip and tomato.
Additional information and bibliography
Florentia Kythraiotou
Σουμάκι (φυτό). Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου.
Σπόροι σουμακιού. Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου.
Σουμάκι, καρύκευμα σε σκόνη. Πηγή: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sumak_powder.JPG
Foods
Artymata
Cypriots would usually use the word "artymata" to indicate only pepper and no other spice.
Traditional Recipes
Beans with minced meat
A tasty dish that can be cooked either on the stove or in the oven. The minced meat and beans are cooked in a rich tomato sauce.
Traditional Recipes
Keftedes - fried meat balls
Delicious meat balls made with minced meat and grated potatoes.
Foods
Keïmas - minced meat
As there were no special machines in butcher shops to produce minced meat, it was done by housewives using two large knives (Oral testimony of Anthoula Aristodimou, 72 years old, Kambos Tsakkistras).
Traditional Recipes
Makaronia tou fournou - pastitsio
"In the baking dish arrange the pasta. Add the minced meat on top. Then add the béchamel sauce. Grate some dry anari on top" (Panagiota Savva, Agios Ioannis Agrou - Limassol).
Traditional Recipes
Minced meat loaf in wine.
The minced meat mixture is shaped into a loaf, wrapped in a layer of lamb caul fat and baked in wine.
Traditional Recipes
Orzo with minced meat
Usually combined with minced meat and served with grated halloumi.
Foods
Paphitiko loukaniko - Paphos sausage
Paphitiko loukaniko is prepared in Paphos district from minced pork meat that is cured in local red dry wine and dried in the sun.
Traditional Recipes
Pombári (or Poumbári)
The mixture for the pombari filling consists of rice, minced meat, parsley and onion.
Traditional Recipes
Sheftalies - Šeftalies
A typical meat mezé of the modern Cypriot cuisine. Sheftalies are often served in pitta, combined very well with souvlakia and accompanied with potatoes, salad and yoghurt.
Traditional Recipes
Souvla krasáti
Recipe from the village of Lysi. Before being barbecued on the charcoal, the meat is marinated in wine and spices.
Traditional Recipes
Souvla with vegetables
While barbecued with vegetables, the meat absorbs their flavours.
Traditional Recipes
Stuffed onions
Stuffed onions are prepared using the same minced meat and rice-based mixture as in stuffed vine leaves.
Traditional Recipes
Stuffed zucchini flowers
In this recipe, the same mixture of minced meat and rice as in the traditional koupepia is used as a stuffing of zucchini flowers. A favourite version of Cypriot stuffed vegetables.
Traditional Recipes
Titsiri(d)es Souvlakia
“We fry the titsiries and then add parsley and lemon. We put them on the skewers and eat them as souvlaki (kebab)”. (Iphigenia Eleftheriou, Kyperounda)