Name - Origin
Κολοκύθια.
There are many kinds of zucchini in Cyprus and most of them are edible; s̆ahoúrka are white zucchini, kots̆inokóloka when ripe are red or deep orange in colour, while kreatokóloka or makriokóloka are white, long and narrow, suitable for a gemista dish (they are called kreatokoloka' as the gemista filling contains minced meat) (Kyprianou, 1997).
Zucchini are consumed boiled, fried or combined with other foods.
Functional and symbolic role
S̆ahourka are boiled, fried with eggs and made yahni (with tomato sauce (Kyprianou, 1997). The best tasting zuchini for Cypriots are the kots̆inokóloka. Fresh zucchini are cooked with fresh louvi (black eyed beans), while the ripe ones are used to make kolokotes and kolokopittes (Kyprianou, 1997; Kypri T, Protopapa, 2003). In the village of Tsakkistra in the Paphos district, women used butternut squash to make a kind of jam with epsima, called rets̆elia which were stored in a jar and eaten with bread (Kyprianou, 1970). Kreatokoloka or makriokoloka were suitable for genista (Kyprianou, 1997).
Additional information and bibliography
Kyprianou PH (1997) Τα κολοκυθάκια κι η χρήση τους. Λαογραφική Κύπρος, 27 (47), 128.
Kypri T. - 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.
Kyprianou H. ST (1970) Μερικές κυπριακές τροφές του χωριού Τσακκίστρα. Lapithos High School publications, Lapithos.
Demetra Demetriou
Traditional Recipes
Green beans with glykokoloko (sweet marrow)
This dish is considered quite light, and is usually cooked in the summer. At this time of the year, marrows are also ready for consumption.
Traditional Recipes
Kolokotes Maratheftikes- Butternut squash pies
A special variation of a well-known and beloved Cypriot pies with butternut squash. In Marathasa, kolokotes were usually savoury.
Traditional Recipes
Snails yahni
Snails with potatoes or zucchini in tomato sauce. Searching for and gathering snails was particularly common after rain, while their consumption was more closely linked to periods of fasting.
Traditional Recipes
Tourlou tourlou
A summer dish that combines a variety of vegetables with a very tasty outcome. The ingredients are sautéed and then cooked in water. A recipe from Karavas.