Cyprus Meze

If you go to a Cyprus Taverna, you will be given the option of Meze. There are two kinds of Meze on offer, the Fish Meze and the Meat Meze.. Some places offer a combination of both.

Traditionally Meze was served in seven stages in the tavernas

Salads and appetisers
Appetisers and salads
Pasta and eggs
Fish
Cooked meats, dairy and game
Meat and poultry
Desert

Then, fruit and coffee to finish off.

Each of the seven stages can have any number of dishes

Stage 1. Salads and appetisers
Tsamarella	A speciality produced mainly in mountainous regions of Cyprus. It is boned dried goats meat which is salted and cured with oregano. This is a great accompaniment to the local Zivania
Tomato and cucumber	Served as a crudités
Char grilled Octopus	Barbecued and cut into small pieces served drizzled with olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pickled eggs
Dried Nuts
Salted Sardines	Cured Anchovies or Sardines
Salmon salad	Mashed salmon served with chopped parsley, onion, tomato and cucumber
Hiromeri	Cured dried pork
Pegga	Smoked dried kipper fillets, grilled or fried served with lemon juice
Feta cheese	served chilled or grilled with lemon juice, tomato and oregano
Olives Tsakkistes	Green cracked olives served with crushed coriander seeds, garlic, olive oil and lemon
Kaskavali cheese	Served in thin strips or chunks

Stage 2 - Appetisers and salads
Melitzosalata	Egg plant dip
Talatouri	Cucumber dip - yogurt mixed with finely chopped cucumber, dried mint and salt to taste (finely chopped garlic can also be added if desired). Served with a drizzle of olive oil
Hummus or Houmus	Chick pea dip

More will be added soon!

Kontoyiannis House Traditional stone built family house

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