Cyprus has many historic and cultural links to Greece. The majority of Cypriots are ethnically Greek, speak Greek, and worship at Greek Orthodox churches. It is therefore no surprise to find that Cypriot cuisine also shares many features and even entire dishes with Greek cuisine.
However, Cypriot cuisine does also have its own unique identity too. The island of Cyprus is also home to a large Turkish Cypriot community, and was part of the Ottoman Empire for longer than mainland Greece, and hence many Turkish can be seen in Cypriot cuisine. Additionally, Cyprus is close to the Middle East, and has links with Africa, as well as with Greece and Europe, and all of these have influenced the development of Cypriot cuisine.
The most famous of Cyprus' food products is surely halloumi. Halloumi is type of cheese. It has a salty taste and texture similar to mozarella. In some dishes, it may also be garnished with mint. Traditionally, halloumi is made using a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk, but the recipe may be varied when producing the cheese on an industrial scale - for example, cow's milk is sometimes used in large scale production.
Halloumi is suitable for cooking and is often grilled. A particularly popular way of serving is with lounza, which is slice of smoked pork or lamb sausage, the this being grilled together with the halloumi. You will find this dish on the menu at many Cypriot eateries, and it is also a common sandwich filling.
As already mentioned, other Cypriot dishes often share much with Greek cuisine. There are many dishes that you can try, either in a restaurant, or to cook at home, so why not give Cypriot cuisine a try?
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