Although Cypriot cuisine most closely resembles Greek food, it has been influenced by a range of cultures throughout the ages. Turkey, Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Italy, France and more recently Britain have all contributed to give the island its own traditional cuisine. Fresh ingredients are a key component of Cypriot cooking, and this, combined with the fact that Cypriots generally use less oil when cooking than their Mediterranean neighbours, means that their diet is quite a healthy one.
This Cyprus restaurant guide gives an indication on some specialities you may wish to try. Our Cyprus shopping guide will give you an indication of some food or beverages you may wish to purchase to give you the taste of Cyprus when you get home. We have also provided more local information and suggestions on where to enoy a meal in Limassol and Paphos.
Food & Cuisine in Cyprus
The fact that Cyprus is an island nation, along with its turbulent past, have meant that it has become very self-sufficient. Most families in the countryside still make almost everything they need, from cured meats to cracked wheat, from cheeses to baked bread.
One thing you will definitely get to enjoy in Cyprus is meze, which consists of a number of little dishes of food (which can number up to 30!), encompassing everything from simple vegetables and dips to fish and meat plates.
Some popular items to be found as meat meze dishes are:
- Afelia - pork marinated in coriander and wine
- Koupepia - minced meat and rice stuffed in grape leaves
- Loukanika - sausages seasoned with coriander
- Lountza - smoked pork
- Ofto Kleftiko - lamb chunks cooked in a clay oven and seasoned with bay leaves
- Sheftalia - grilled pork sausage
- Stiphado - rabbit or beef casserole with wine vinegar
Seafood meze dishes include:
- Calamari
- Octopus in red wine
- Barbouni (red mullet)
- Sea bass
Finally are those which are common with almost every meal, including:
- Taramosalata - fish roe, blended with pureed potatoes, parsley, lemon juice and onion
- Talatouri - similar to tzatziki, it is a cool mint and cucumber flavoured yogurt with a hint of garlic
- Greek salad - tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, feta cheese, green olives and local herbs
- Moussaka - minced meat and eggplant covered in bechamel sauce
- Souvlakia - pork, lamb or chicken kebabs
Cypriot desserts will often consist of fresh fruit, served alone or perhaps with an assortment of sweet pastries or fruit preserved in syrup. Speciality desserts include:
- Loukoumades - Cypriot doughnuts with honey syrup
- Daktyla - ladyfingers with almonds, walnuts and cinnamon
- Shiamali - orange semolina cakes cut into squares
- Kolokoti - a pastry triangle stuffed with red pumpkin, cracked wheat and raisins
- Pastellaki - a sesame, peanut and honey syrup bar
- Galatopoureko - a cream-stuffed phyllo pastry
- Loukoumia - cubes of gelatin flavoured with rose water and dusted with powdered sugar.
