Κοκκινομανίταρα φυτρωμένα ανάμεσα σε πευκοβελόνες
A variety of wild mushrooms.
Name - Origin
Κοκκινομανίταρο ή κόκκινο μανιτάρι του πεύκου.
Kokkinomanitaro = kókkino - red + manitári - mushroom. The name is due to its orange-red colour.
Kokkinomanitara were fried with onion, parsley and spearmint to form the filling for pourekia (Kypri THD, Protopapa KA, 2003).
Functional and symbolic role
Collecting and consuming wild mushrooms is important in the traditional Cypriot diet. Cypriots have, until the last century, been basing part of their diet on foraging. They still continue to collect wild foods.
In the villages of Davlos and Akanthou people used to collect red mushrooms from the mountain and sauté them with onion, parsley and spearmint. Women would use this mixture as a filling for pourekia. They would prepare pourekia with mushrooms during periods of fasting (Kypri TD, Protopapa KA, 2003).
Additional information and bibliography
Kythraiotou Florentia, Τροφή αφορμή σχέσης, University of Nicosia Publications, Nicosia 2010.
Kypri I. - Protopapa K. A. (2003), Παραδοσιακά ζυμώματα της Κύπρου. Η χρήση και η σημασία τους στην εθιμική ζωή, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XVIII, Nicosia, Nicosia.
Florentia Kythraiotou, Demetra Dimitriou
Traditional Recipes
Afelia with mushrooms and pourkouri
In this recipe the tasty red mushrooms that grow in Melini, in the mountainous province of Larnaca are added to the afelia and cooked in wine.
Traditional Recipes
Anathreka mushrooms with fennel
A recipe with rich aromas. Anathreka mushrooms with fennel and lemon.
Traditional Recipes
Mountain red mushrooms
A recipe with earthy tones, red mushrooms with onion and dry coriander or cinnamon.
Traditional Recipes
Mushrooms in wine
The mushrooms are sautéed and then left to simmer in wine and coriander, absorbing their rich aromas.
Traditional Recipes
Mushrooms Korniotika
Fried mushrooms dipped in batter. A recipe from Kornos village.
Traditional Recipes
Mushrooms oftá
Oftá mushrooms are grilled or baked in the oven and served with olive oil and oregano.
Traditional Recipes
Mushrooms with onion
"Heat the olive oil and add the onion. When softened, add the mushrooms and cook until the water evaporates”. (Koulla Karamani, Kornos)
Traditional Recipes
Pickled mushrooms
Mushrooms, like various other greens and vegetables, are preserved in vinegar and served as an appetiser or as an accompaniment to other dishes.
