Paphos in Cyprus
Thanks to its close proximity to Greece, the national cuisine of Cyprus closely resembles that of its neighbour, though of course it has its own distinct personality. Get a cheap flight to Cyprus with Jet2 and head to a local restaurant, you’ll have any number of exciting Cypriot dishes to choose from, but as we think there are some you should make sure to sample at least once!
Sheftalia
Best described as a sausage without the skin, sheftalia is made from pork and lamb shoulder, mixed with onion and parsley. To keep this tasty sausage together it’s wrapped in caul fat, which is the membrane that covers the stomach of a lamb or pig, before being skewered and grilled over charcoal. You might find sheftalia as an ingredient in pittas, or as a meze dish, but be sure to give it a try.
Halloumi
Cheese lovers may already have eaten plenty of halloumi, a firm and chewy cheese traditionally made from sheep’s milk, but as it’s the national cheese of Cyprus you won’t want to miss the chance to try it at its best. As it has such a high melting point it’s possible to grill or fry halloumi, making it a popular ingredient in salads and sandwiches in Cyprus, as well as on delicious vegetable skewers.
Makaronia Tou Fournou
Makaronia Tou Fournou
The name of this dish translates as ‘pasta baked in the oven’, which makes it sound less tempting than it actually is. Makaronia tou fournou is a layered pasta dish with lots of béchamel cream, ground beef or veal, fresh tomatoes, cinnamon and plenty of our good friend, halloumi. It’s almost like a Cypriot version of lasagne and really quite delicious!
Kleftiko
A truly traditional dish to eat in Cyprus is kleftiko, made from a recipe of seasoned mature lamb or goat’s meat that must be cooked inside a clay pot, wrapped in tin foil. This particular cooking method is very important and most Cypriots are insistent that it must be done this way for an authentic kleftiko.
Kleftiko
Souzouko
You won’t have to worry about your sweet tooth being satisfied on holidays to Cyprus, as the locals love their desserts and treats! One to look out for is souzouko, which are long strings of almonds that are dipped in grape juice, and then hung up to go hard. It might sound strange but beware, as souzouko are very, very moreish.
