Cypriot Recipes

Ladies’ Fingers (daktyla)

Sweets and desserts have always been an important and distinctive part of the Cypriots’ menu. A favorite and a traditional sweet in Cyprus is Daktyla, Ladies´Fingers filled with ground almonds and cinnamon sugar.

Ingredients

Dough

8 cups flour

1 cup oil

salt

2 1/2 cups water (approximately)

Filling

400g finely chopped almonds

1 tsp cinnamon

1-2 tbs sugar

3-4 tbs citrus blossom water

Syrup

4 cups sugar

3 cups water

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1 cinnamon stick

3-4 cloves

1-2 tsps citrus blossom water

oil for deep frying

Preparation

daktyla

–      Sift the flour and rub in the oil.

–      Add the salt and water and knead to a firm dough.

–      Cover and stand for 1/2 – 1 hour.

–      Roll out the dough into a thin sheet and cut into 8X12 cm rectangles.

–      Mix well all the ingredients for the filling.

–      Put a teaspoon of filling at the edge of the rectangle and roll into a sausage shape.

–     Press the two ends with a fork to seal.

–      Fry in hot oil until golden brown and then drain on absorbent paper.

–      Dip in cold syrup for a few seconds, drain and transfer to a plate.

Syrup

–      Combine all the ingredients, except the citrus blossom water, in a saucepan.

–       Stir until sugar is dissolved and boil for 5 minutes.

–      Add the citrus blossom water just before removing from heat. Allow to boil.