Monday's Greek Recipe - Cyprus Mixed Souvlaki

 
In Cyprus, souvlaki refers to the small chunks of meat on a skewer, as well as the whole package of it being wrapped up in bread and salad. A large piece of pita bread is used, and it has a pocket in the middle so it is not wrapped around the meat and salad as the traditional Greek souvlaki. This contains , pork or more recently (but not trditional) chicken souvlaki and/or sheftalies, with tomatoes and cucumbers and white cabbage mixed within. Lettuce may be added instead of cabbage for people like me who don't eat cabbage. Raw onion and parsley are very popular with souvlakia in Cyprus, as are pickled green chili peppers. Like all grilled meat dishes in Cyprus, souvlakia and sheftalies (the correct plural) are always accompanied by fresh lemon halves or quarters, and plain thick yoghurt or tzatziki are very popular accompaniments too. It may be noted that the meat is cut into slightly larger chunks in Cyprus, and plenty is stuffed into the pitta- one pitta is a whole meal in itself. The portion sizes are normal and "reinforced"- ενισχυμένη. The Pita in which souvlakia and sheftalies are served is a little thicker than the flat pita available in other countries. You can see that in the photo above.

Cyprus Souvlakia

(serves 4)

Ingredients

1 kg / 1 lb 2 oz pork fillet (psaronefri)

2 tomatoes chopped in small pieces

2 cucumbers chopped in small pieces

2 onions finely chopped

1 cup fresh parsley very finely chopped

4 quarters of fresh lemons

1 cup finely grated cabbage or 1 cup finely chopped lettuce

4 pieces of large pita bread

salt and pepper

Directions

1. Chop the pork in small pieces.

2. Salt and pepper to taste.

3. Put the chopped meat on small skewers and grill for about 30 minutes-preferably on charcoal fire.

4. Put the meat in hot pita bread, add the tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, onions , cabbage and/or lettuce.

5. Squeeze the juice of a quarter of fresh lemon. Eat it like you eat a sandwich!

In the same piece of pita bread , you can also add sheftalies. In Cyprus, you can find them in all supermarkets but as my grandmother used to say ...better make them yourself!

SHEFTALIES

 

Ingredients:
(Serves 4)

800 gr minced pork
Salt
Pepper
Cinnamon
1 onion finely chopped
Half bunch parsley, finely chopped
2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs
1 panna (caul fat)
Vinegar

Directions:

Wash the caul well with water and vinegar.
In a bowl, mix thoroughly the mince meat, salt, pepper, bread crumbs, onions and parsley and mould into small egg-size shapes.
Place the mixture over the caul fat and wrap each separately into tight packages.
Cook over charcoal barbecue or on the grill until cooked evenly on all sides.

BLOG PHOTO : Cyprus Time Out magazine

Comments

[Stefania]

I haven't had lunch yet and that looks sooooo yummy! Being from Larnaca, it is unthinkable for me not to make homemade souvlaakia and sheftalies. Larnaca is famous for the best after all! It is a tradition in my family to have homemade souvlakia and sheftalies with some grilled halloumifor starters almost every Sunday. I love these cool October evenings- now that all the humid weather is gone - when we can sit outside and enjoy a re-inforced souvlaki pita!

[Walid]

Habebti.
Here we are for a grilled(BBQ) in the sack,what a Yummy thing to eat specially when the bread is hot and fresh.By the way that is what we call Lebanise bread,but it is a bit thinner than the pita bread.
Please try add to it a sprinkle of theme or basile.I do eat it with salad or some time eat yogurt aside.
With much Love Walid.

[Anastasia]

As a child in Nicosia, I always looked forward to Sunday lunch : my mother was then an expert in making homemade souvlakia and sheftalies. My brother and I helped prepare the charcoal fire in the garden while dad would supervise the cooking. I must admit, I don't have the time or the patience now to prepare this meal myself - not when in Larnaca you can find the best Souvlakia House including home delivery!

[Anastasia]

Walid, I also love having some yoghurt with my souvlakia pitta bread. I know the lebanese pita bread is thinner than ours. I love your suggestions. Thyme and basil...I'll try them as I happen to love both of them!

[Tina]

This entry with the recipes is making me VERY hungry...(have just gotten home from work and am eating toast with butter...how sad, huh?)