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Cypriot · Mediterranean

Afelia

Non-vegetarian

Αφέλια · aphélia

Pork shoulder marinated in dry red wine and crushed coriander seeds, then braised until tender and glossy. A distinctive Cypriot dish with a warm, citrusy spice note.

Afelia is a Cypriot main course from Cyprus, ready in about 13 hours 45 minutes and made with pork shoulder, dry red wine and ground coriander. It serves 4 and is rated easy to cook.

Start cooking
Bowl of afelia, pork cubes braised in red wine and coriander seeds
Photo: Cyprus Tourism CH / Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-2.5
Prep
15 min
Cook
1 h 30 min
Total
13 h 45 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy
Calories
695

Includes overnight marinating (about 12 hours).

Ingredients

4 servings

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Combine the pork, wine, half the coriander, the bay leaves (opens in a new tab) and cinnamon (opens in a new tab). Cover and refrigerate overnight.

  2. Step 2

    Lift the pork from the marinade and pat dry, keeping the liquid. Brown it well in the oil in batches.

    Meat coated in a spiced marinade in a bowl
    How it looks · Photo: Ip Photographer on Pexels

  3. Step 3

    Return all the pork, add the marinade, water, remaining coriander, salt and pepper (opens in a new tab). Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently until the meat is tender.

    • 60 min
    • low heat

    Food safety: Bring the marinade to a full boil since it held raw meat.

  4. Step 4

    Uncover and cook until the sauce reduces to a thick glaze around the meat.

    • 15 min
    • medium heat
    A sauce simmering in a pan
    How it looks · Photo: Nanda Mends on Pexels

About this dish

Origin
Cyprus · Well documentedMore food from Cyprus
Dish
Lunch · Dinner · Main courses · Stews & braises
Cooking method
Braised, Marinated / cured
Taste
aromatic / warmly spiced, rich, savoury
Diet
No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · Keto-style · Low-carb · High-protein
All labelsNon-vegetarian · Whole-food focused · Paleo-style · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Beef-free · Keto-style · Low-carb · High-protein
Worked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Make-ahead · Freezer-friendly
Cook more with
Pork shoulder · Dry red wine · Ground coriander · Bay leaves · Cinnamon
Techniques
Boiling · Simmering · Braising · Marinating · Reduction

Allergens

  • Contains: Sulphitesfrom dry red wine

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

695 kcal per serving

Calculated

1 serving ≈ 353 g · recipe makes 4

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 25%
  • Carbohydrate 3%
  • Fat 72%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy695 kcal197 kcal
Protein39.2 g11.1 g
Carbohydrate4.5 g1.3 g
Net carbohydrate2.8 g0.8 g
Sugars0.5 g0.1 g
Added sugars0 g0 g
Fibre1.8 g0.5 g
Fat51.1 g14.5 g
Saturated fat15.5 g4.4 g
Trans fat——
Cholesterol160 mg45 mg
Sodium1025 mg290 mg
Salt equivalent2.6 g0.7 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
821 mg
Calcium
75 mg
Iron
3.4 mg
Magnesium
61 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
5 µg
Vitamin C
2 mg
Vitamin D
3.8 µg
Vitamin B12
1.7 µg
Folate (DFE)
12 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

  • Crush the coriander seeds coarsely in a mortar — ground coriander gives a dusty, flat flavour.

Common mistakes

  • Not drying the pork before browning: wet meat stews instead of colouring.

Serve with

  • Serve with pourgouri (bulgur pilaf), roast potatoes and yogurt.

Storage

  • Keeps 3 days in the fridge; freezes for 2 months.

Reheating

  • Reheat gently with a splash of water.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

Used in steps 1, 2

Reviews & corrections

Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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