Ivy Liacopoulou

Ivy Liacopoulou grew up in Limassol, Cyprus, a beautiful island in the eastern Mediterranean, where her passion for cooking began as a child, helping her mother in the kitchen. Ivy belongs to a new generation of home cooks who loves to experiment and create new recipes of her own. She is the author of two cookbooks and she owns and manages Cooking Classes, in Nafplio, Peloponnese.

Shiamishi, are one of the best panigyria treats in Cyprus. These are made with homemade phyllo filled with an aromatic sweet semolina cream, which is flavoured with anthonero (orange blossom water) and mastic and then deep fried.

Bourekia is a pastry made with a thin flaky phyllo, and are filled with anari which is the Cypriot name of the cheese, which is similar to anthotyros or ricotta. Anari is a white soft whey cheese which is produced when making halloumi or kefalotyri. It has a delicate, creamy flavour, slightly sweet, …

Kattimerka, is a traditional pastry dessert, similar to pischies but instead of being fried, these are cooked in a traditional frying pan called sadji. Sadji resembles like the Arab Saj, however, unlike the Arab saj, which is dome shaped, the Cypriot sadji resembles more like a wok. You can use a wok or any non-stick sautéing pan.

Horiatiki Salata, which means village or peasant style salad, is widely known as “Greek Salad” and is a common component of a Greek meal.

Feta is the most famous Greek cheese and well known around the world. It is a white semi-soft to Soft cheese, ripened and kept in brine for at least two months. Feta is manufactured from pure ewe’s milk or a mixture with goat milk. It is consumed as table cheese, perfect for pies, in casseroles, …

Katiki is a soft cream cheese made from goat and/or goat and ewe milk and salt (1%), with a low fat content (10 -14%). It is named Katiki Domokou, from the region where it is manufactured. Domokos, is a Department of Fthiotida, Central Greece. This type of soft cheese is eaten as a starter, in salads, in …

Halloumi is a Cheese, indigenous to Cyprus, well known for its unique taste. It is manufactured from a mixture of goat’s and sheep milk. It has a high melting point, and so can easily be fried or grilled. The cheese is white, with a distinctive layered texture and has a creamy, salty flavour. It has …

Kreatopita is a Greek meat pie that can be eaten as a main course with a salad or as a snack or taken at a potluck.

Xynomyzithra is a cheese indigenous to Chania, Crete. It is a low fat cheese, similar to soft myzithra and anthotyro in texture. It is made from sheep’s and/or goat milk but I do not know if anything else is added to it. I only know that it is left 24 hours at room temperature and …

Kolokotes (singular kolokoti, pr. Koh-loh-ko-TES), are traditional Cypriot pastries, similar to turnovers, calzone, empanadas, boureki or pies, made with squash or pumpkin.