Ofto Kleftiko
July 2, 1976, Kofinou. My mother married my father in 1968 in Agios Amvrosios, Kyrenia. Shortly after the wedding, she learned how to fire up the wood-fired oven. The displacement found her in Kofinou in 1975, facing a harsh daily life. She would wake up at dawn to feed the animals we kept in the backyard, and then go to the slaughterhouse to get fresh meat for our butcher shop. Next to the butcher shop was our family restaurant, where she would start her work long before sunrise. Meanwhile, my father would travel all over Cyprus at the same time to find and buy the best animals. Pistou's (my mother's) Ofto Kleftiko was therefore made with great soul and 'meraki' (passion), and that's why it remains one of her best recipes. When I was born on July 2, 1976, I had already smelled the aroma of Ofto many times. That's why I have a special connection with this recipe. It moves me, because within its ingredients, the human hope that is so evident in my Pistou's face is diffused.
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INGREDIENTS
- 2 kg kid goat or milk-fed lamb (shoulder, neck, etc.) cut into portions
- 1.5 kg potatoes
- ¼ cup (60ml) olive oil
- 7 - 8 bay leaves
- 1.5 tsp (12g) salt
- ½ tsp (1g) freshly ground black pepper
METHOD
- Take non-stick parchment paper and cut it into 6 - 8 square pieces, 40x40 cm each. Cut 6 - 8 square pieces of aluminum foil, 30x30 cm each. Cut 6 pieces of kitchen twine, 30 cm long. Peel the potatoes, rinse them, and cut them in half. If they are large, cut them into quarters. Place them in a bowl and add the meat. Pour in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Take one piece of non-stick parchment paper and place 1 piece of meat inside, or 2 if they are small. Place one bay leaf on top (if small, use 2) and 2 - 3 pieces of potatoes. Close the parchment paper to create a pouch. Tie it securely with the twine. Wrap it with the aluminum foil. With a sharp knife, make 3 slits at the base of the pouch. This will help moisture escape and allow the meat and potatoes to brown. Place the pouches in a large baking pan. Cover the pan with its lid or with 2 large pieces of aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (fan-assisted) for 2 hours.
- Remove the lid or aluminum foil from the pan and continue baking for another 1 hour until the meat and potatoes are golden brown.
