Tava is a traditional oven-baked lamb dish that's popular in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. In Turkish, tava means 'pan', which reflects how it is prepared. Chunky cuts of lamb neck are slow-cooked in a richly flavoured tomato sauce until soft and tender. It's hearty and comforting, making it perfect for a cosy weekend shared with family and friends. The sauce is deeply fragrant from the use of oregano, cumin, cinnamon and bay leaves. A generous amount of sliced onions also adds

Patates köftesi are a family favourite. Each fried kofta is packed full of spice and flavour, with a crispy outer shell and a soft, comforting centre. Pronounced 'pah-tah-tess keuf-teh-see', they're perfect served with freshly prepared fasulye salatası (white bean salad) or chips (made with Cyprus potatoes) and salad. The dried oregano in the patates köftesi combines with cumin and black pepper to create a warm, earthy depth. A touch of ground cinnamon adds a subtle sweetnes

Şeftali kebab (pronounced 'shef-ta-lee') is a beautifully seasoned Cypriot beef and lamb sausage wrapped generously in lamb caul fat. The sausages are called sheftalia in Greek and made in a similar way, but pork may be substituted in the place of beef. The caul fat keeps the sausage meat juicy and tender, while forming a crispy, lightly charred outer shell that absorbs all the smoky charcoal aromas. Sweet cinnamon and earthy herbs like cumin and oregano mingle with onion and

Ispanak yemeği is a hearty and nutritious Turkish stew . The generous addition of garlic and onions provides a wonderful aroma to the rich tomato sauce, balancing the mild, earthy flavours of the spinach (ıspanak - 'uh-spah-nak'). The köfte (beef meatballs) are seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, including fresh parsley, dried oregano, ground cinnamon, ground cumin and ground black pepper. This combination lends sweet and earthy flavours, as well as a gentle warmth tha

In Greek, kleftiko literally means ‘thief’. This peculiar name originates from stories of thieves that would steal lambs or goats from farmers’ flocks in the mountains. They would slow-cook their meat for hours in sealed underground pits to avoid getting caught. In Turkish, the dish is called hırsız kebabı (which similarly means 'kebab of thieves’) or fırın kebabı (meaning 'oven kebab'). In Cyprus, there are popular restaurants peppered around the island that make the dish in

Kolokas yemeği is a traditional and much-loved Cypriot stew . It’s made by slowly simmering thick slices of taro root with a rich beef and tomato sauce that contains a mix of herbs and spices, including freshly chopped parsley, ground cinnamon and cumin. The earthy-sweet aromas blend with warming pul biber and ground black pepper to create a comforting stew that’s perfect for autumn and winter when the vegetable is in season. Taro root has a starchy yet silky texture that abs

Kıymalı garavolli makarna is a hearty and comforting Cypriot pasta dish . Pronounced 'kiy-mah-luh gah-rah-voh-lee mah-kar-nah', the conchiglie pasta shells become filled with the rich and fragrant beef and tomato sauce, ensuring every bite is packed full of flavour. Dried oregano and ground cumin provide earthy flavours that are perfectly balanced by the fresh chopped parsley. The ground cinnamon and chopped onions add sweetness which works well with the minced beef and nutty

Etli fiyonk makarna is a quick alternative to mantı (meat-filled Turkish dumplings) as it borrows the same filling ingredients. Pronounced 'et-lee fee-yonk mah-kahr-nah', the minced meat is deeply fragrant from the addition of earthy dried oregano and ground cumin, while the chopped parsley and ground cinnamon balance these flavours with a hint of sweetness. Farfalle pasta is used in this recipe for its similarity in texture to mantı, thanks to its flat shape and slightly che