Sheftalia

What it really is

Sheftalia Seasoned minced meat with onion and parsley is shaped into small sausages, wrapped in caul fat and grilled over charcoal. Sheftalia is a Cypriot meat mezze, usually served with lemon and bread.

The caul fat melts as the small sausages grill, helping keep the seasoned mince moist while the outside browns. The traditional form is shaped by hand rather than stuffed into a casing. Pork and lamb are common choices, alone or in a mixture, but the meat balance and seasoning vary. Lemon, bread and salad are frequent accompaniments and are served alongside. Bread and salad are accompaniments, not part of the meat parcel. A kitchen should specify its meat and cooking surface, especially if grilling other foods nearby.

The mince is shaped by hand and wrapped in caul fat rather than stuffed into a casing. Pork, lamb or a mixture may be used, and the fat renders as the outside browns on the grill.

How it's served

Serve the grilled sausages hot, often with lemon, bread and salad alongside. These accompaniments are separate from the meat parcel.

How to write it on the menu

State whether the filling is pork, lamb or a mixture and mention the caul-fat wrap. Check the grill for contact with other foods.