The 2 biggest life-saving items to have with you in Cyprus

Activated Charcoal tablets – to save your stomach from a multitude of sins. Such as heavy eating and drinking (you will likely do both), upset stomach, mild food poisoning, IBS flare-ups, diarrhea, nausea and more

A sun allergy sun lotion and after sun lotion. Everybody wants to tan beautifully. But the sun in Cyprus is incredibly low and intense, which can burn your skin in no time, and bring out all sorts of allergic sun reactions that can seriously ruin your holidays! This is the best sun allergy brand I have found – I have been using it for over 3 years now and no more sunburns and sunspots! The after-sun lotion doubles up as a tan intensifier too, winner! You cannot find the allergy range in Cyprus, so I buy mine off Amazon.

As I mentioned in my Cyprus Travel Blog article, you could spend dozens of days on the island and not run out of dishes, desserts, and local delicacies to try! The food here is colorful, extremely plentiful, and oh so indulgent! Perfectly seasoned meats, fresh seafood, vibrant vegetables, and crunchy salads are what you should expect to encounter. To top it all off, incredible deserts, fresh local fruit, and a great local wine scene put the cherry on an already stunning cake.

The secret to food in Cyprus? Simple! Rely on simple recipes to make the fresh ingredients shine through!

Medezes – Meze

Meat Meze

Let me start with the best Cyprus dish, shall I? Mezedes, otherwise known as Meze! Mezedes in Cyprus is an experience not to be missed. In fact, its utterly criminal to visit Cyprus and not indulge in meze – the greatest food in Cyprus of all time. The ”dish” is, in fact, a feast of 30+ ‘’small’’ and mouthwatering Cyprus dishes. These dishes come in batches, so pace yourselves, It doesn’t get much better than that! Due to the huge amounts of food, it is best to enjoy Mezedes at a slow and leisurely pace and I would take an activated charcoal tablet after my meal too to save my stomach! These tablets are a God-sent, as they eliminate indigestion, bloating, cramps, and gas from excess food! Best thing ever!

A meat meze tavern will continue with grilled meats such as pork chops and barbequed chicken and pork, spicy Loukanika sausages, kleftiko and delicious stewed dishes such as Stifado and Tavas. In the more traditional establishments, you may be offered watermelon, sweet pastries like pourekia, and fresh fruits to finish off the meal.

Tip for Vegans: Vegans, in particular, will probably enjoy the meat meze more as there are plenty of other side dishes and dips not containing animal produce! I have many friends who are perfectly content with the large salads, dips, side dishes and homemade bread and still leave the restaurant completely stuffed!

Fish meze

Fish meze is just as equally yummy as the meat meze although, the latter makes you appreciate the Cypriot cuisine that much more! This dish opts for the same philosophy of small dishes to share, much like Tapas in Spain. In a fish meze tavern, you’ll eat various fishes, seafood like mussels, oysters and prawns,  sea bream with olive oil and lemon dressing, cuttlefish as well as delicious calamari and octopus.

Prices are pretty much set at 20-25 euros per person and you do not even need to look at the menu. The menu is set and included everything so just say the magic word ‘’mezedes’’ and sit back and relax!

LOCALS TIP: taverns you give the option of a mixed fish and meat meze are touristic attractions and will not offer an authentic experience. An authentic restaurant will specialize in either one, or the other, not both! Luckily, in my Cyprus Itinerary Guide, I have my top choices for meat and fish taverns in every city in Cyprus, so make sure you check it out!

Cyprus Dishes – Meats

Kleftiko 

Kleftiko originates from Greece and its rich in history recipe will blow your mind. We marinate the lamb in olive garlic and lemon then wrapped in foil with potatoes and bay leaves and very slowly cooked in a traditional clay oven. The result is a phenomenal dish – with meat that falls off the bone and potatoes that melt in your mouth. Traditionally paired with Pourgouri (couscous in tomato sauce), Greek Yogurt, and Cypriot salad.

The history of the dish is that in times of war, soldiers from the mountains would be forced to steal lambs, bury the meat underground and cook it in makeshift fires to get rid of the smoke and smell and avoid detection. Served with bulgar wheat and traditional Cyprus salad – kleftiko is a local favorite and there are taverns dedicated to solely cooking that.

Souvla (chicken pork or lamb)

Behold souvla, Cypriots national, and most favorite dish by far! Souvla is large pieces of meat – traditionally pork or lamb – passed through large metal skewers and cooked on a traditional foukou (a charcoal grill).

We cook Souvla on every occasion possible – any National Holiday, birthdays, weddings and even on a plain old Sunday! This Cyprus dish is cooked outdoors by men (for a change haha!)

Sheftalies

 Sheftalia is a Cyprus dish you will only find in Cyprus! The dish is an oblong ball of spiced minced pork, shaped and wrapped in caul fat – the transparent membrane that surrounds a pig’s stomach. After that, it’s grilled to utter perfection. One bite and you will be in heaven, I guarantee you! If you are after trying traditional food in Cyprus, start with sheftalies!

Souvlaki 

Possibly the most popular quick and fast Cypriot dish in the country, souvlaki originated from Greece and in Cyprus, we love it just as much! Souvlaki is a mini version of souvla – so basically little square cubes of high-quality pork or chicken cooked in skewers. We serve souvlaki in a warm delicious Cyprus pitta bread stuffed with cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon, and pickled vegetables. You can choose the dip of your choice, tzatziki, tahini, or plain yogurt! Meat wise, you can choose pork, chicken, or order a ”mix’; pitta of souvlaki with sheftalies! Its sooooo good I’m obsessed!

 Kefalaki (Lamb’s Head)

Ok, this might freak you out. But seasoned travelers and adventurous eaters, should dig right in! Kefalaki is a lambs head – cooked whole – either boiled with salt and lemon or cooked in the oven. You will only find it in very traditional restaurants and taverns!

Giros (Donner Kebab)

We all know that you can eat Kebab, in every corner of the earth. This shouldn’t stop you from eating in it Cyprus though! The bread is better, the meat is better, everything is so tasty and authentic that your future kebabs at home will lack in comparison. Giros is inexpensive and fast, which makes it a popular Cyprus dish! Choose from chicken, pork or beef and choose your dip and veggies for the pitta bread :).

Keftedes

Keftedes, or as my Italian friends like to call them, little balls of heaven! Cypriot keftedes are different than the ones found in Greece. Juicy pork mince long meatballs with egg are seasoned with spices, potato and bread and fried to the utmost perfection! Paired beautifully with plenty of lemon, bulgur wheat, salad, and a big ol’ dollop of yogurt! Yum!

Stifado – Rabbit Stew 

I’m sure UK folks right now, are gagging at the thought of us eating their pets! But it is true, in Cyprus, as well as Greece, we eat Stifado. a delicious rabbit stew, with an abundance of caramelized pearl onions and tomatoes. We add plenty of spices too; like wine, rosemary, cinnamon, and other spices. Pick up the thick sauce with fresh Cypriot bread, and enjoy!

Cyprus Dishes – Meat Dishes that can be altered for vegetarians and vegans

Koupepia (vine leaves) and Gemista

Gemista, translated to ”stuffed”. And that’s exactly what you get! Gemista is a dish of vegetables like green peppers, beef tomatoes, courgettes, and onions stuffed with mincemeat, rice, and herbs. In the dish, we add vine leaves- fresh green vine leaves stuffed with the same mixture and rolled in little packages. One stuffed, we cook them in a rich tomato sauce in the oven or in a crockpot.

This main dish is both delicious, and healthy! In Greece, gemista are served without the mincemeat, and in certain places in Cyprus, you can request the dish sans meat.

Mousakka

A traditional Greek and Cypriot dish similar to lasagna – but 10 times better. Just like lasagne, moussaka is a layered oven dish. The layers are zucchini, eggplant, potato, and pork mincemeat cooked in a tomato sauce like a bolognese sauce would. We then top with Bechamel sauce and bake it in the oven. A lengthy process, moussaka is a fussy dish, with extraordinary taste payout!

Cyprus Dishes – Dips

Tzatziki – vegetarian approved

Tzatziki is paired with practically EVERYTHING on this article! The ingredients are yogurt, grated cucumber, minced garlic, dry mint, salt and olive oil.

Tahini – suitable for vegans and vegetarians

One of my utter favorites, tahini (or tashi in Cypriot dialect) is a dip made out of sesame paste, olive oil, garlic, and parsley. Tahini has a rich and slightly bitter taste that works beautifully with homemade bread and many of the grilled meats that Cyprus cuisine has to offer.

 Taramasalata – suitable for vegetarians

Taramosalata is an absolutely beautiful dip to pair with fish, bread, or during lent! Taramasalata is made from fish roe, olive oil, lemons, onions, and bread. Lastly, the dip can be found in a beige or pink form, although the paler the color, the better quality the dip!

Cyprus Dishes – Side Dishes

 Halloumi Cheese – Suitable for vegetarians

Everyone goes crazy about Halloumi cheese, an authentic Cyprus dish! Halloumi is a, brined, springy white cheese, with a texture similar to mozzarella or thick feta. Halloumi cheese has a strong, salty flavor, but its beauty shines through when the cheese is grilled, as that elevates its creamy texture!

Pastourma Sausage

Pastourmas is a Cyprus dish you will find in a meat meze! It is a spicy, cured beef village sausage, with red wine, whole peppercorns, garlic, and a variety of other spices. Buy them fresh from a village, or pop to any supermarket! You will find them conveniently vacuum packed ready to withstand the flight home!

Bulgar wheat (Pourgouri)

My IBS cries as I haven’t been allowed to touch this delicious Cyprus dish in over 5 years! We cook this starch, which is much like couscous, in a delicious fresh onion and tomato sauce. Pairs beautifully with village Cyprus yogurt. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Karaoli – Snails

Ok, I am fully aware that some of you are gagging at the thought. However, you only live once right? We cook the fresh snails in a rich onion and tomato sauce. We love to share this Cyprus dish in traditional taverns as part of a meze or in households all over Cyprus.

Avgolemono soup (Egg lemon rice soup)

In my household, Augolemono is a weekly staple, particularly in the colder months! This simple and gorgeous soup is made with rice and finished off in a creamy broth of egg and lemon. A local winter favorite! Suitable for vegetarians

Cypriot Salad 

Our salad is a Cypriot dish like the almighty Greek Salad with the addition of a few ingredients. Cypriot salad consists of lettuce, cabbage, caper leaves, onions, black olives, tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce. We Cypriot have this salad, with practically every meal, daily!

Potatoes 

I would advise you to eat as many potatoes as you can in Cyprus! We locals are blessed with some of the most delicious potatoes in the world and export them all around the world.

Tip: Avoid tourist traps restaurants, and eat local, or you WILL end up with second-rate food and frozen gross potatoes!

Cyprus Dishes – Fruits

Delicious sweet and fragrant local watermelon paired with halloumi cheese is a must-have Cyprus dish. The combination of sweet and savory is a local favorite! watermelons in Cyprus are huuuuge in size and utterly delicious! Secondly, I advise you to try the equally sweet melons and figs, cherries and apricots, pears, and nectarines, as well as the grapes, peaches, and kiwis!

Cyprus Dishes – Traditional Desserts

Bye Bye diet! There are so many traditional desserts in Cyprus, that as a result, it will be impossible to stick to a diet! Many of these desserts, share similarities with Eastern European desserts such as baklava, Pourekia, Machallepi, and many more.

Galaktompoureko 

A dessert that screams of Greece and Cyprus dishes! Galaktopoureko, is a creamy custard pie in a crispy filo pastry shell that’s baked in the oven.

Daktila (ladies Fingers)

Daktila means fingers, of crispy phyllo pastry with orange blossom water, almonds, cinnamon, and sugar. One stuffed, we fry them and drench them in syrup! Sounds like heaven right? That’s because it is babe.

Halvas 

A delicious dessert suitable for the fasting periods of the year, halva’s main ingredient is almonds – alongside honey, blossom water, cinnamon, vanilla, cloves and mastic ground and often, raisins. Delicious and refreshing!

Loukoumades

Loukoumades are small balls of fried dough, dipped in a hot orange blossom syrup, and deep-fried! Crispy on the outside, syrupy and gooey on the inside, loukoumades are nothing short of divine. Hello heaven, and goodbye abs!

Pourekia 

Pourekia are divine little pastries with a sweet filling of Anari Cheese (a soft grainy cheese, cinnamon, and icing sugar. Are they healthy? No, pourekkia are fried! Are you sensing a pattern yet?

Cyprus Dishes for Vegetarians and vegans

Best Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant in Nicosia: Ingas Veggie Heaven. It remains closed on Sunday & Monday.

Best Vegan Bakery/Dessert House: Constantinides Bakery in Nicosia, specializes in flourless, sugarless desserts from cakes to traditional sweets to pancakes and mousses. Constantinides Bakery makes INCREDIBLE vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free desserts.

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Thank you for reading through this yummy Cyprus Dishes article, showcasing all the incredible food in Cyprus! Have you visited Cyprus? What is your favorite food? Let me know in the comments!

Love, Tia x

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