Page 66 - Erasmus Let's be Eco-sustainAble, towards 2030 Dissemination Activity book

Meats grilled over charcoal are known as souvla or şiş, named after the skewers on which they are prepared. Most commonly these are
souvlaki of pork, beef, lamb or chicken and sheftalia, but grilled halloumi or hellim cheese, mushrooms, and uniquely to the Greek Cypriots
loukaniko (pork sausages) are also served. They are typically stuffed into a pitta or pide or wrapped in a thin flatbread, along with a salad of

cabbage, parsley, thinly sliced onions, tomatoes and sliced cucumber. Although less popular than souvlaki and sheftalia, gyros or döner is
also commonly eaten. Gyros is grilled meat slices instead of chunks, and the taste is made different by the salad or dressings added. It is

made from various cuts of lamb, pork, or chicken, and sometimes but rarely beef.

Pourgouri or bulgur, is the traditional carbohydrate other than bread. It is often

steamed with tomato and onion; a few strands of vermicelli pasta are often added to
provide a texture, fragrance, colour and flavour contrast. Along with pourgouri,
natural yogurt is a staple. Wheat and yogurt come together in the traditional peasant

meal of tarhana/trahanas, a way of preserving milk in which the cracked wheat is
steamed, mixed with sour milk, dried, and stored. Small amounts reheated in water or

broth provide a nourishing and tasty meal, especially with added cubes of aged
halloumi. Pourgouri is also used to make koupes or içli/bulgur köfte, the Cypriot form
of kibbeh, where the pourgouri is mixed with flour and water to form a dough, which

is formed into a cigar shape. A hollow is made through the cigar and a mixture of
minced meat, onions, parsley and cinnamon is packed. After sealing the meat mixture

inside the cigar they are deep-fried before serving with lemon juice.

For Greek Cypriots, there are many fasting days defined by the Orthodox Church, and

though not everyone adheres, many do. On these days, effectively all animal products
must not be consumed. Pulses are eaten instead, sometimes cooked in tomato sauce

(Greek: yiahni or Turkish: yahni) but more usually simply prepared and dressed with
olive oil and lemon. On some days, even olive oil is not allowed. These meals often
consist of raw onion, raw garlic, and dried red chili which is munched along with these

austere dishes to add a variety of taste, though this practice is dying out. 66