The Turkish Cypriot community, which included many shepherds, had a long tradition in preparations using dairy products. Hence, the well known Cypriot mahallepi was prepared in a different way by the Turkish Cypriots.
Name - Origin
It is a type of a type of refreshing dish made with niseste (corn starch) (Yangoullis 2009, entry μαχαλλεπίν - χαμαλλεπίν,το, 278)./ a type of cream with milk (Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Μαχαλλεπί, 86).
ETYM. < turk. muhallebici (Yangoullis 2009, entry μαχαλλεπίν - χαμαλλεπίν,το, 278)
For the preparation of the cream: for each portion, use a glass of milk, a spoonful of rice flour and a spoonful of sugar. Add the ingredients to the cold milk and boil, stirring constantly. Serve chilled with ground almonds or walnuts (oral testimony: Kadir Kaba). Rice flour can be substituted with corn starch and it can be served with citrus water or rosewater
Additional information and bibliography
Yangoullis K. G. (2009), Θησαυρός Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου. Ερμηνευτικό, Ετυμολογικό, Φρασεολογικό και Ονοματολογικό Λεξικό της Μεσαιωνικής και Νεότερης Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου, Βιβλιοθήκη Κυπρίων Λαϊκών Ποιητών, Theopress Publications, Nicosia.
Petrou-Poeitou E. (2013), Από πού κρατάει η σκούφια τους. Λέξεις και ιστορίες από τον κόσμο της γεύσης, Epiphaniou Publications, Nicosia.
Rizopoulou-Igoumenidou E. (2008), «Τα γαλακτοκομικά προϊόντα στον ετήσιο κύκλο της παραδοσιακής ζωής στην Κύπρο», Η ιστορία του ελληνικού γάλακτος και των προϊόντων του (1st Workshop, Xanthi, 7-9 October 2005), Kalantzopoulos G. (ed.), Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, Athens, 401-423.
Eleni Christou, Efrosyni Igoumenidou, Argyro Xenophontos, Tonia Ioakim.
Foods
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Dessert of ancient Cyprus, the name of which is preserved in written sources of the Hellenistic and Roman period. It is interpreted as a milk pie.
Traditional Recipes
Anari cream with carob syrup
A modern dessert based on a classic recipe using anari (similar to myzithra/ricotta) and incorporating a local ingredient - carob syrup.
Traditional Recipes
Mahallepi - Muhallebi
A delicious Middle Eastern milk pudding that only requires a few simple ingredients."In the old days we used to grind the rice using a hand mill. Now the flour is ready." (Pepa Frixou, Pachna…
Traditional Recipes
Pastry cream with goat’s milk
Crème pâtissière adapted to Cypriot cuisine with the use of goat's milk.
Traditional Recipes
Rice pudding - Rizógalo
A sweet treat which was widely popular in Cyprus among families who had sheep, as it was traditionally made using sheep's milk and flour. Today, rice pudding is prepared using different ingredients.
Traditional Recipes
Trin-Galotrin
Trin-square, small sheets of pasta. Galotrin is twin cooked in milk. Sugar, cinnamon and rosewater may be added.
Foods
Ανθόνερο ή ροδόσταγμα - Citrus water or Rose water
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