«Τταβάς» Πηγή: Υπουργείο Γεωργίας
Ttavas is one of the most typical Cypriot dishes with several local variations, cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven.
Name - Origin
Ttavas is a dish with pieces of meat, chopped onions and cumin (butter is sometimes added). Ttavas is slow cooked in a clay pot called ttavas, hence the name of the dish (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry τταβάς,ο, 233).
ETYM. < turk. tava (Yangoullis 2009, entry τταβάς,ο, 496; Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Ταβάς, 144)
"Ttavas is cooked in a clay pot. Use one oka of a bit aged meat and one oka of onions. Cut the meat in small pieces and slice the onions. Place them all together in the clay pot, add oil, salt, tomato paste and a bit of water and put the pot in the woodfired oven" (Mavrokordatos 2003, 306). There are several local variations of ttavas: Search in the Traditional recipes section for: (a) ttavas, (b) ttavas korniotikos, (c) ttavas lefkaritikos, (d) ttavas with kounelli, (e) ttavas from Vassa.
Additional information and bibliography
Skaliótikos ttavás (ttavas made in Larnaca) is a wonderful variation of the dish, with influences from the European cuisine. It is cooked in a clay pot from Kornos and includes various greens along with plenty of onions and cumin (Michaelidi 1983, 146).
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.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1983 [2003²]), Υλικά διά την σύνταξιν ιστορικού λεξικού της κυπριακής διαλέκτου, Μέρος Β΄, Γλωσσάριον Ξενοφώντος Π. Φαρμακίδου, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, IX, Nicosia.
Mavrokordatos G. I. (2003), Δίκωμο: Το χθες και το σήμερα, Nicosia.
Michaelidi A. M. (1983) Λάρνακα, η παλιά Σκάλα, Nicosia.
Petrou-Poeitou E. (2013), Από πού κρατάει η σκούφια τους. Λέξεις και ιστορίες από τον κόσμο της γεύσης, Epiphaniou Publications, Nicosia
Stalo Lazarou, Eleni Christou, Savvas Polyviou, Argyro Xenophontos, Tonia Ioakim
Λευκαρίτικος τταβάς με ψιλοκομμένα κομμάτια ριφιού, ντομάτα, κρεμμύδι, αρτυσιά (κύμινο) και ρύζι.Πηγή: Βαρβάρα Γιάγκου
Traditional Recipes
Roast chicken with potatoes
Psito - roast meat or chicken with potatoes is the most popular Cypriot dish cooked in the oven. It is particularly associated with the family Sunday lunch.
Traditional Recipes
Roasted goat
Preferably, roasted in a traditional wood-fired oven which gives a special aroma to the food.
Traditional Recipes
Ttavas
Ttavas is one of the most typical Cypriot oven dishes with several local variations.
Traditional Recipes
Ttavas korniotikos
Ttavas is one of the most typical Cypriot oven dishes with several local variations. Korniotikos ttavas is baked in a clay pot, which is made in the village of Kornos.
Traditional Recipes
Ttavas Lefkaritikos
Ttavas is one of the most typical Cypriot oven dishes with several local variations. Lefkaritikos ttavas is made with lamb or goat meat and contains rice.
Traditional Recipes
Ttavas with paprika from Vassa Koilaniou.
Ttavas is one of the most typical Cypriot oven dishes with several local variations. In Vassa Kilaniou village, ttavas is made with lamb, cumin and paprika.
Traditional Recipes
Ttavas with rabbit
A unique variation of ttavas with rabbit in a pot, from Kyperounda village.
Traditional Recipes
Vegetarian ttavas
Delicious and nutritious fasting dish. The vegetables are cut into pieces and baked in the oven in tomato sauce.