Lent and Easter Cypriot style

Most religions have designated times of the year for fasting or feasting – Orthodox Christianity as practised in Cyprus is no exception. One of the earliest Christian countries, St Paul and St Barnabas journeyed to Cyprus in 45 AD to spread the word.

Greek Cypriots take Lent very seriously, Many people fast, avoiding meat, and Easter is bigger than Christmas here. Churches are full, eggs are dyed red, tables are laid, bulging with special foods, especially lamb souvlaki.

There are strong links between Cyprus and Britain; conveniently the same 3-pin plugs are used, and they drive on the left. I’m old enough to remember, post-1974, the sudden influx of Greek and Turkish Cypriot children to North London schools. Suddenly my school mates had names like Costas! North London, particularly Haringey, still has many Cypriot shops and restaurants. Sadly the island is still riven in two parts since the Turkish invasion.

Fertile Cyprus grows wheat, barley, olives, olive oil, vegetables. It has citrus, a different type for every month, for 10 months of the year and nut trees are pink with clouds of blossom during Lent.

Here are two recipes: a lenten soup and an Easter pastry using the classic Cypriot cheese, halloumi.

Lenten split pea soup Louvana with bitter orange

Serves 4

250g split yellow peas or chana dhal, soaked
1l vegetable stock
100g orzo or rice
1 large onion finely sliced.
1tsp Bitter orange peel (optional)
4tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
Sea salt
Freshly ground white pepper
2 large oranges, squeezed

Cook the pulses in boiling water until soft, skimming off any foam. Then add the vegetable stock and orzo.
Gently fry the onion (and bitter orange peel if chosen) with the garlic cloves, salt and pepper in olive oil until light golden.
To serve, squeeze the orange juice into the soup, check seasoning and add a dollop of fried onions to each bowl.

Easter Flaounes

Makes 6 or 7

These cheesy pastries are usually triangular, representing the trinity. It uses a couple of unusual ingredients: mastic or mastiha, a tree resin from the Greek island of Chios; and Mahleb, a bitter cherry stone ground into a powder. For authenticity, you can also add a little of these ingredients to the filling but it’s not absolutely necessary.

For the filling
250g pecorino
150g halloumi cheese
3tbp plain flour
4tbsp fine semolina
1tsp instant yeast
1tsp dried mint
50g sultanas
3 large eggs
2tbsp milk
1tsp baking powder

For the pastry
350g/strong flour
1tsp mastic powder
1tsp ground mahleb
1tsp caster sugar
1tsp salt
1tsp instant yeast
3tbsp unsalted butter, softened
225ml whole milk

For the glaze
100g sesame seeds
dash of white wine vinegar
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

Method

Grate both cheeses into a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix the plain flour, semolina, yeast, dried mint and sultanas together.
Beat the eggs and milk together in another bowl.
Mix all 3 bowls together with your hands.
This can be left overnight.
Add the baking soda to the filling and put aside.
To make the pastry: mix together the flour, mastic powder and mahleb.
Add the sugar, salt and yeast.
Add the butter and milk, making a well in the centre of the flour.
Combine the ingredients to form a soft dough.
Knead until smooth by hand or with a stand mixer.
Return to the bowl, cover and leave to rest for an hour.

For the glaze:
In a small pan, cover the sesame seeds with water and a dash of vinegar.
Bring to the boil.
Remove from the heat, strain and spread the seeds over a clean tea towel to dry.
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Line a baking tray with a silpat or baking parchment.
Divide the pastry into 6 or 7 large pieces and roll out on a lightly floured work surface into 12 cm circles.
Press the unclouded side of the round into the sesame seeds.
Divide the filling into 6 or 7 balls and place one in the centre of the round pastry.
Fold in 3 sides to make a triangle shape, leaving a gap in centre with the filling exposed.
Place the flaounes on the baking trays, brush the tops with the beaten egg yolk and bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot or cold.