Çakıstes (cracked green olives) are a common sight at a Cypriot dinner table, as they go perfectly with any yahni (stew) , along with fresh spring onions and bread. They’re also perfect as part of a meze or breakfast spread. Cypriot green olives are harvested in the autumn months and are traditionally prepared with the cracking method, where a stone is used to split the skin of each olive without removing the pit. The cracked olives are then soaked in fresh water for several

Zeytinli hellimli kek is a Cypriot bread muffin that’s filled with savoury black olives (zeytin) and creamy halloumi (hellim) cheese cubes . The key ingredient is fresh coriander which provides a sweet fragrance that complements the earthy aromas of the chopped onions. The addition of dried mint, dried dill and ground cinnamon enhance the flavours further with refreshing herbal notes and subtle sweetness. The muffins are made with yeast, providing a bread-like texture and cr