Best Greek Meat Product Types
Apáki is a Cretan delicacy that is typically prepared with cured pork loin which is smoked using a combination of wood and various herbs such as oregano, marjoram, thyme, or sage. It is believed that this way of preparation hails from Byzantine times, when people used it in order to preserve meat for longer periods.
Though it is commonly enjoyed as a meze dish when it is sliced into thin strips, apáki is easily incorporated into omelets or salads, and it can also be shortly cooked and paired with pasta or rice.
Hailing from the southern Greek region of Mani, syglino is a traditional cured meat product that is made with pork. This meat specialty is typically prepared with parts such as pork shoulder, pork leg, and pork belly, which usually go through a process of salt-curing and smoking with aromatic herbs (usually with sage) over a wood-fueled fire.
According to traditional methods of preparation, the cured and smoked meat is then chopped and cooked before it is finally preserved in glina (pork fat) or extra virgin olive oil. Some versions call for cooking the meat in fat, while others involve cooking it in water with a variety of spices such as orange peels, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns.
Noumboulo is a traditional smoked and cured pork tenderloin from the Greek island of Corfu and a remnant of the age-long Venetian rule over the island. The pork tenderloin is first marinated in red wine and local spices and herbs like garlic, coriander, fennel seeds, and thyme.
After marination, the meat is smoked using wood from fruit trees, which gives it a distinct flavor profile. The smoking process also helps to preserve the meat. The result is a flavorful, smoky, and aromatic piece of cured meat that is often sliced thin and served as part of a meze platter or as an accompaniment to local cheeses and wines.
Best Greek Meat Product Producers
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
BEST Tyrokomia Naxou Emm.V. Koufopoulos Meat Products
Best Greek Meat Products
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
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