Cyprus Grilled Minced Meat Rolls Sieftalies Recipes

ROMANIAN GRILLED MINCED MEAT ROLLS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, suet, baking soda, caraway seeds, garlic, salt, pepper and juniper berries using your hands. Mix with your hands for about 15 minutes, adding a little bit of the water at a time. This part can be made a few hours ahead of time if you like.
• Preheat a grill for high heat. With wet hands form the meat into rolls about 3 inches long and 1 inch thick. Brush lightly with oil.
• Grill the meat for 5 to 10 minutes, basting frequently with a mixture of beef broth and any remaining oil, until well done.

CYPRUS - GRILLED MINCED MEAT ROLLS - SIEFTALIES

Steps:

• Wash the net fat very well and then rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water. Mix well the minced meat, onion, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper kneed all this together until well combined. Cut the net fat into square pieces and put 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture on each piece. Close the two edges and roll, they will look like tiny cabbage rolls. Cook sieftalia over glowing coals on a bbq or under grill and turn to brown on both sides. This makes about 30 sieftalia.
• We typically serve this with pita bread, a nice salad and often tzatziki on the side also, or just plain balkan style yogurt.
• Note: Seftalia will be soft if the mince meat contains a bit of fat, preferably lam.
• They should fit nicely in the palm of your hand when you are rolling them up, they are small oval meatballs almost with a cover on them.

THE TRADITIONAL CYPRUS SANDWICH WITH HALLOUMI, ONIONS AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Put 2 teaspoons of the olive oil into a frying pan and cook the onions over a medium heat until soft and slightly coloured, set aside.
• Put the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil into the frying pan and fry the halloumi slices over a medium to high heat on both sides, until golden brown and crispy around the edges.
• Cut the roll in half, and place the halloumi slices on one half and then squeeze the lemon juice over the cooked cheese slices. Sprinkle a few oregano leaves over the cheese before adding the sliced tomatoes and cooked onions.
• Place the other half of the roll on top of the cheese and the filling. Gently press the two halves together.
• Put the filled roll into a pre-heated griddle, Panini, George Foreman or sandwich grill for about 2 minutes, or until the bread roll is crisp and golden brown.
• Serve immediately with fresh lettuce leaves and a handful of black olives -- and don't forget the ice cold Keo or Efes beer!