Lounza and Halloumi Greek Cypriot Sandwich
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One of my favourite things to eat when on holiday in Cyprus is sandwich…not just any sandwich, but a toasted in Greek bread, lounza and halloumi sandwich. Lounza is smoked pork loin, and halloumi is a Cypriot cheese.
As a child I remember holidays to Cyprus and walking along the seafront where my dad would always buy us these tasty sandwiches.–me
Unfortunately the store had sold out of the rolls that I had wanted to use, so had to buy this tear apart loaf instead. But I got around it by creating one giant sandwich and cutting into pieces.
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And here is how I made it!
I took 2 loaves of this fabulous Greek Cypriot bread that I bought from a speciality store in London. I really must learn how to make this myself, because it is the most amazing tasting bread ever! I know that when I made my Greek Cypriot Cheesecakes – Flaounes at Easter, using a couple of key ingredients – masticha, which is a pine resin gum and sesame seeds really add to the familiar (to me) flavour of Cypriot bread.
Anyway, on with the sammich!
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.JPG "Lounza and Halloumi Greek Cypriot Sandwich")
Normally, this is a tear-and-share bread, but I carefully sliced it horizontally to give me a huge sandwich surface.
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Some butter, was spread on the sides, and then layers of delicious lounza piled on.
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Next layer is sliced up halloumi cheese. This is a salty cheese from Cyprus. I love the stuff! Especially grilled on a charcoal barbecue…yummy!
When in Cyprus, you can choose from many fillings for your ‘sandwich’ (I wish you could hear my accent as I say that word in this context!), and I always got lounza and halloumi with cucumber and tomato slices. But, since I had fussy guests, I left the veggies out, and people could add them, themselves.
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Now, if I had a panini press, now was the time to place it in there – toasting the bread and warming everything through – even the veggies if used…but I don’t have one *sad face* so instead, I popped it under the grill to toast up.
I cut the sandwich up into pieces – lucky that there are natural markings to follow – and served. So tasty and reminds me of all my childhood holidays in Cyprus ❤
.JPG "Lounza and Halloumi Greek Cypriot Sandwich")
Patrick Anderson
May 12, 2022 @ 1:22 am
Back in the late 90’s I worked near the Barbican off of Old St. We had just move offices from Cowcross St. and I had gone ahead and set up all the it equipment for out new offices. We’re an architectural firm and I was Mr It as well as a designer. I seemed to be the one to find the best places for lunch since being at Cowcross St so on the first Friday after we moved in, I did a bit of a recce. There was this little cafe just around the corner so I popped in. They had a sign up for a Halloumi Lountza sando on a roll with salad and chips as a special. I took a punt as the Cypriot woman behind the counter talked me into it. I strolled back into the office and everyone else was all around me staring at it and asking where I got it from. It became the office sando from that point. I looked up that area about a month ago. The cafe is still there but it’s not run by the same people now. Shame as it was the best part of a Friday at work.
Michelle
May 25, 2022 @ 9:28 am
Thanks for your story, Patrick! You’ll know firsthand that it is a GOOD sandwich! I buy mine now from a shop in N. London called Aroma Patisserie – delicious! I have to drive to get my fix, but that’s okay as it’s worth it!