Kleftiko

THIS IS GREEK CUISINE AT ITS BEST. WHO CAN RESIST THE AROMAS AND FLAVOURS OF ROASTED LAMB? KLEFTIKO LITERALLY MEANS ‘STOLEN LAMB’. THE NAME ORIGINATED DURING THE 19^TH CENTURY WHEN ‘COMMONERS’ WERE BANNED FROM OWNING THEIR OWN ANIMALS, SO PEOPLE USED TO STEAL A LAMB AND COOK IT IN A HOME-MADE OVEN; REALLY JUST A HOLE IN THE GROUND, COVERED WITH A ROCK. NO SMELLS OR SMOKE COULD ESCAPE TO BETRAY THE THIEF AND THE LAMB COULD BE SAFELY LEFT TO COOK SLOWLY FOR SEVERAL HOURS.