The Cypriot word "ofton" means baked meat. The second word in the name – “kleftiko” – comes from the word “kleftis”, that is, “thief”. Why did this name appear and how to prepare such a dish?
In Greece, during the Turkish rule, the word “kleftes” was used to describe poor residents who did not have the means to pay taxes. Therefore, they went to the mountains, where they hid from the Turkish commanders. Obviously, with such a lifestyle, they did not always earn their living by honest labor. Quite the contrary, they often engaged in robbery and theft (including livestock), formed gangs and terrorized local residents.
Gradually, this way of life was greatly romanticized, and the "kleftes" from simple robbers hiding from the authorities turned into people's fighters against the Turkish conquerors and into noble partisans.
The recipe for a traditional Cypriot dish is associated with these people. Here's how to make it at home.
You will need:– 2 kg of lamb, chopped into large pieces – 1.5 kg of potatoes – salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, cinnamon stick – water – cognac (optional)
Preparation:– Peel the potatoes, wash and cut each one in the middle or into four parts. – Mix salt, pepper, oregano in a bowl. – Wash the meat, rub each piece with a mixture of salt, pepper and oregano. Place the meat in a deep heat-resistant bowl. – Rub the potatoes with the remaining spice mixture. Place the potato pieces next to the meat. Add bay leaf, cinnamon and pour a glass of water. – Cover the dish with foil and bake for three hours at 200 degrees. After two hours of baking, you may need to add more water. – Take out the cooked meat and serve with potatoes. – You can make purguri with the remaining broth from the meat. – Some housewives sprinkled the meat with cognac before baking to remove the unpleasant smell.
The text was prepared based on materials from “Chryses Syndages”
Other recipes
Greek-Cypriot cuisine has a special passion for goat meat. It is believed that a kid is less fatty than a lamb, since goats, in principle, lead a more active lifestyle. The popular Cypriot dish kleftiko can be prepared with this type of meat instead of or together with lamb. Recipe at the link.
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