Authentic Lamb Kleftiko
Homemade Cyprus Recipes

Authentic Lamb Kleftiko Recipe

Kleftiko is traditionally slow cooked in a sealed clay oven.

It was THE first Cyprus Lamb dish my family had everytime we came on holiday to Cyprus

And...

It's the first Cyprus food recipe I made when we moved to Cyprus.

As you're about to find out... it's so easy to make Kleftiko at home.

It's one of MANY delicious Cypriot recipes we make regularly.

Unfortunately, we are not lucky enough to have an outside clay oven. Maybe someday!

When the Cyprus climate gets a bit chilly to cook outside, we still cook Kleftiko in our kitchen oven.

If you would like to make authentic lamb kleftiko outside, you can, on a gas bbq with a drop down lid.

Okay...

Let me show you how to make authentic lamb kleftiko now!

Have Fun!

Authentic Lamb Kleftiko Recipe

Serves 4

Cooking in Your Oven

Preheat your kitchen oven to 175c

Ingredients

• 1 leg of lamb or shoulder cut into 3-4 inch chunks or 1 lamb shank per person
• 4 medium potatoes peeled and sliced in half width ways
• 1 lamb or beef stock cube
• 1 tbsp of Cyprus Oregano – it’s very mild! or 1 tsp of strong oregano
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 3/4 pint of fresh water

Preparation

Place the lamb pieces in a large casserole dish which has a tight fitting lid.

Add about an inch of water to the casserole dish. Don’t submerge the lamb completely.

Sprinkle oregano and stock cube into the dish.

Add the bay leaves.

Cover with the lid. If the lid doesn’t fit tightly, cover the dish with foil before popping on the lid. This will keep all the lovely flavours sealed in while the lamb is cooking.

When the lamb has been cooking for about 1 hour, lay the potatoes on top of the lamb. They will soak up the wonderful flavours.

What you don't want is the potatoes to boil in the water and break up.

If you need to add more water at any stage, only add hot water. Cold water will stop the cooking process.

Cook until the meat can be easily pulled away from the bone and most of the water will have been soaked up by the meat. That's when you know the Kleftiko is ready.

Serve with your favourite vegetables.

Enjoy this delicous recipe for greek food!

Alternative Cooking - Outside on a gas bbq

You will need a gas bbq with a deep drop down lid which will close over your casserole dish.

Preheat the bbq to a low to medium heat.

I use a super enamel casserole dish to cook many meals outside.

I've been using the same dish since we moved to Cyprus years ago. It's so easy to clean and still looks like new!

The recipe is just the same as above. But you know your barbeque. Adjust the heat until the lamb is simmering nice and slowly.

Gentle bubbling is the order of the day!

I hope you really enjoy this wonderful greek lamb recipe as much as we do.

Why not try a famous and authentic refreshing Brandy Sour Cocktail as an after dinner treat.

More popular traditional Greek recipes you may like...

Greek Pizza Recipe

Greek Salad

Top of Kleftiko Recipe

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