Tavas Lefkaritikos Style Skillet (Lefkara Village Cumin, Onion, Tomato & Potato Lamb Bake) – Authentic Cyprus Recipe
From the lace-making mountain village of Lefkara: an earthenware bake perfumed intensely with toasted cumin.
- Country of Origin
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus (Middle East, Asia)
- Dietary Profile
- omnivore
- Prep Time
- 20 min
- Cook Time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Signature Staples
- Tender lamb or beef chunks, Quartered waxy potatoes and ripe plum tomatoes, Mountains of sweet onions, Whole and ground cumin seeds, Cinnamon pinch
Ingredients for Tavas Lefkaritikos Style Skillet (Lefkara Village Cumin, Onion, Tomato & Potato Lamb Bake) (4 Servings)
- 1.25 lbs (or 2.5 cups) tender lamb or beef chunks, prepped into bite-sized pieces
- 1.5 cups quartered waxy potatoes and ripe plum tomatoes, washed and trimmed
- 1 cup mountains of sweet onions
- 1 medium onion and 3 cloves garlic, finely minced with whole and ground cumin seeds
- 1.5 tbsp traditional Cyprus seasoning (cinnamon pinch, bay leaf, olive oil)
- 2.5 tbsp traditional cooking oil, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh citrus or herbs
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C) and lightly oil an ovenproof skillet or baking dish.
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onion, garlic, whole and ground cumin seeds, and cinnamon pinch, bay leaf, olive oil for 3 minutes until fragrant.
- Combine tender lamb or beef chunks and quartered waxy potatoes and ripe plum tomatoes with the sautéed aromatics and layer evenly into the baking dish.
- Top with mountains of sweet onions and bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until bubbling and golden brown on top.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving warm at the table.