If there is an island that combines everything, in order to give you unforgettable summer holidays, then this surely can be Syros Island. Beautiful and clean beaches, a stately Chora (main town and capital), hospitable residents and special gastronomy. If you go on holiday to Syros, you will have the opportunity to make a gastronomic trip in Mediterranean flavours with a touch of local scents. The culinary identity of Syros is the result of the puzzle pieces that are part of the rich history of the island and the people who have lived on it.
This is because, in essence, the various peoples who arrived on the island over the centuries, brought with them many important elements of their gastronomic culture. Flavours from their homeland that managed to tie them harmoniously with those that already existed on the island.
Syros, the lady of the Cyclades
It is of no coincidence that she is called the lady of the Cyclades with its centre in Ermoupolis. It is the island that will enchant you from the first moment you arrive, both in terms of its capital town and its villages. It offers you both, its natural beauty and its history, generously.
You’re going to swim in Galissa, Foinikas, Agkathotes and Kini. You will walk in the picturesque Ano Syros and enjoy the vast Aegean Sea at your feet. You will meet the Apollo Theatre, the theatre that is considered a miniature of Milan’s Scala. Do not miss the opportunity to watch a play performed there. You will walk in the stately square of Ermoupolis and finally, you will end up enjoying traditional Syrian flavours by the sea.
It’s of no coincidence that the one who goes to Syros once always comes back and more than once…
Gastronomic trip to Syros with a recipe for Turkish delights
The gastronomy of Syros is essentially excluded from the combination of oriental and western flavours both to the salty and the sweet tastes. And you can’t go to Syros and not try the famous Turkish delights (loukoumia) and then leave with a few boxes of them in your baggage.
But until you go, you may try making your own. The recipe of Akis Petretzikis is a tried and tested one and will surely excite you…
Materials needed
- 400 g of granulated sugar
- 40 g of gelatin powder
- 20 g of Water
- 180 g of icing sugar
- 110 g cornflour
- 1/2 teaspoon of sour (citric acid)
- 1/2 teaspoon of flower water
- 1/4 teaspoon red pastry colour in paste
- 40 g of gelatin powder
- seed oil, for the baking tray
For serving you will need
- icing sugar
Implementation
You’re going to need a big bowl where you will put the water, the sugar, the gelatin and mix with a hand whisk. Transfer to the microwave at 1000 watts for 7 minutes.
After you take it off, you’ll stir and transfer it to the microwave for an additional 7 minutes at 1000 watts. In another bowl, add the cornflour, icing sugar, sour sugar and stir.
Then put the solid ingredients in the bowl with the water and mix gently. Put it back in the microwave for 6 minutes at 1000 watts. Then in a bowl, add the flower water, the pastry colour and mix. Put it in the hot mixture and mix.
Finally spread the seed oil on a baking tray and spread the mixture with a spatula. Refrigerate for 1 hour to cool and stabilize. Cut into small pieces of 2 centimetres each and pass them through icing sugar. They’re ready!
Photo Source: syrosisland.gr
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Gastronomic trip to Santorini with tomato meatballs and boussés
Frequently Asked Questions
Syros Island is known for its unique gastronomic identity that combines Oriental and Western flavors, resulting from centuries of different cultures settling on the island. The island is particularly famous for its traditional Turkish delights (loukoumia), which are a must-try delicacy when visiting. The culinary traditions of Syros blend Mediterranean flavors with local scents, creating a distinctive food culture influenced by the island's rich history.
To make traditional loukoumia, you will need 400g granulated sugar, 40g gelatin powder, 20g water, 180g icing sugar, 110g cornflour, 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid, 1/2 teaspoon of flower water, 1/4 teaspoon red pastry colour in paste, and seed oil for the baking tray. These ingredients are combined through a microwave cooking method to create the authentic sweet treat.
The preparation of homemade loukoumia involves multiple microwave cooking stages totaling 20 minutes of heating time (7 minutes + 7 minutes + 6 minutes), followed by a 1-hour refrigeration period to cool and stabilize the mixture. After cooling, the loukoumia is cut into small 2-centimeter pieces and coated with icing sugar before serving.
Syros Island offers beautiful beaches including Galissa, Foinikas, Agkathotes, and Kini. The main capital town Ermoupolis features a stately square and is considered the heart of the island. Other notable attractions include the picturesque village of Ano Syros and the Apollo Theatre, a miniature replica of Milan's Scala, which hosts theatrical performances throughout the year.
Syros is called the lady of the Cyclades because it combines natural beauty, rich history, stately architecture centered in Ermoupolis, picturesque villages, beautiful beaches, and exceptional gastronomy. The island generously offers both its natural landscape and cultural heritage, enchanting visitors from the moment they arrive and making it a destination that visitors typically wish to return to again and again.
