North Cyprus Cuisine

The wide range of Northern Cyprus dishes range from delicious kebabs to mouthwatering appetizers and desserts.

Peach kebab is a local type of kebab made from lamb, while halloumi is traditionally made from sheep and goat's milk and is often served as a grill. Pilavuna, a pastry, are just a few of them.

Halloumi

Halloumi is a Cypriot cheese known around the world, made from goats, sheep and sometimes also cow’s milk. It is identified by its semi-hard and rubbery texture and is a popular choice for many different dishes as an alternative to traditional cheese due to its high melting point. .

Peach Kebab

If there is a legendary flavor among Cypriot dishes, it is the peach kebab. Peach kebab, one of the indispensable flavors of Cyprus, is made with goat or lamb meat.

Peach kebab, named after Chef Ali (in Turkish peach is sheftALI), is filled with parsley and spices. After they are turned into meatballs, they are grilled and served with garnishes.

The most important feature of the peach kebab is that the meat is wrapped in tallow called terp and cooked on coal.

Don't get me wrong, there are no peaches in it :)

Cube Kebab (Thief's Kebab)

Introducing another delicious Cypriot dish. Its name is cube kebab. Or the thief's kebab.

Let's start with the story of its name first. Once, in times of poverty in Cyprus, sheep stolen from the flocks of the rich were cooked. The skins of these stolen sheep were buried under the ground. Meat was also cooked in the pit opened to the ground. So that the meat is not noticed. That's why the name of the kebab is called thief or cube kebab.

Let's get to the preparation of our kebab ...

The cubed kebab made with lamb is very delicious. Boiled or grilled sweet potato is placed next to it.

Hellimli  or Olive Bread

Enjoyed during breakfast and with tea throughout the day, halloumi and olive bread can be found in different forms in almost every bakery. Halloumi bread contains the famous halloumi, onions, and optionally olives. When olives are added, the name is changed to olive bread. It is served with sesame or Nigella (black cumin) seeds sprinkled on top.

 Wallnut Paste

Although it is not exactly a meal, walnut paste should definitely be included in Cyprus cuisine. Walnut paste, a treat in Cyprus, best suits Turkish coffee. Walnut paste, which is not easy to make, is one of the tastes to be bought from Cyprus.

Chakıstez

Chakıstez, which is a whole with Cypriot food, is also very famous here. No matter which restaurant you go to, you will come across Chakıstez. Consumed as an appetizer, Chakıstez is made with crushed green olives and crushed walnuts. If you observe the olives in Cyprus, you will see that the color turns yellow. Because a short period of time is used to pickle green olives in Cyprus. Therefore, olives are taken out of the brine when they are in a light, semi-pickled consistency. In the meantime, let me also mention that in some places the pincers are pickled using sea water.

I list the local dishes of Cyprus for you one by one. Some of these dishes may not be found in restaurants. Generally, these meals are prepared at home. But if you come across, I suggest you definitely check out their taste.

Molehiya

This dish is made with the plant named after the molehiya plant grown in Cyprus. It is cooked with lamb or chicken. It is served with pickles and rice.

Pirohu

It is exactly Cypriot ravioli. The only difference is that while meat is added to ravioli as we know it, pirohu is put with potato or nor (curd cheese is called nor here) cheese.

Paluze

If any of you love grape pudding, let it taste the paluze in Cyprus. Paluze, made from red grapes and filled with almonds, is one of the best-known tastes of Cyprus.

Ayrelli

The name of the asparagus is different here. Ayrelli dish is also made with asparagus. Eggs are crushed and lemon is squeezed.