Are you Vegan in Greece?
Are you planning to visit Greece and you are getting discouraged by all the Authentic meaty foods known as gyros, moussaka, pastitsio, etc around Greece?? I have great news for you!! Actually, in Greece, there is a BIG variety of Traditional Vegan dishes to try. Despite that few Greeks are aware of the world of Veganism, in fact, lots of Greek foods and Greek Desserts are originally Vegan.
If you visit a Greek restaurant and ask for Vegan dishes, most probably (90%), mainly in Islands and small towns, people will stare at you without having any idea what are you talking about. To make it worse many of the serving people there are not even aware of the ingredients in the served dishes. Sorry but this is the truth.
It reminded me of one day that I visited a bakery and asked for dairy-free cookies. The lady at the store was very happy about their delicious vegan cookies and offered me a free sample. I took a bite and discovered that inside were pieces of small milky chocolates. I informed her that those cookies were not vegan as they were having milky chocolates. Her answer? “Oh, it’s ok! Little bit of pieces of milk chocolates don’t matter, our cookies are vegan“. See? So be aware.
Study the article below, print the list I have provided along with the Greek instructions and you are ready for your next dream vacation in Greece!
Be aware: When you ask for a dish please specify that you are Vegan because in some of them they sprinkle cheese on the top of the dish. Below you can find a card translated into Greek mentioning your diet restrictions to your waiter.
Main Dishes- Vegan in Greece
Ladera cooked with lots of Olive oil (Vegetables)
Gemista
My favorite summer Greek dish!! It’s stuffed vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, green long pumpkins, pumpkin flowers, potatoes, and green peppers) with rice and herbs, baked in an oven along with pieces of potatoes. Be careful! There is a version with minced meat also, so just make sure you order the meatless one.
Gemista Recipe by Akis Petretzikis –> Here
Mpriam
Baked vegetables with tomato sauce and herbs. Another version is Grilled vegetables.
Gemista Recipe by Maninio -> Here
Imam
Baked eggplants in tomato sauce.
Imam Recipe by Lazy cat kitchen -> Here
Gigantes
Big white beans baked in a tomato sauce and herbs.
Gigantes Recipe by My Greek Dish -> Here
Mpamies
Okra cooked in tomato sauce.
Mpamies Recipe by My Greek Dish -> Here
Arakas
Peas cooked in tomato sauce with potatoes and carrots.
Arakas Recipe by Olive Tomato -> Here
Fasolakia
Green beans cooked in tomato sauce and served hot.
Fasolakia Recipe by The Mediterranean Dish -> Here
Dolmadakia
Stuffed vine leaves with rice, herbs, and lemon cooked in a big pan with water. Served cold, with a drizzle of lemon and olive oil.
Dolmadakia Recipe by The Hellenic Deli -> Here
Pies
Spanakopita
Spinach pie mainly is made with eggs and cheese but some restaurants especially during lent, make it in a Vegan version.
For the recipe click Here -> Spinach pie with homemade phyllo
Kolokithopita
Pumpkin pie mainly is made with eggs and cheese but some restaurants especially during lent, make it in a Vegan version. You can also find it in a sweet version made with raisins.
Manitaropita
Mushroom pie mainly is made with eggs and cheese but some restaurants especially during lent, make it in a Vegan version.
Grains & Legumes
Fasolada
Bean tomato soup served hot.
Fasolada Recipe by The Akis Petretzikis -> Here
Fakes
Lentils soup served hot.
Fakes Recipe by My Greek Dish -> Here
Revithia
Chickpeas soup.
Spanakorizo
Creamy Rice and Spinach cooked in a big pan with olive oil and herbs. Served hot.
Laxanorizo
Creamy Rice and cabbage cooked in a big pan with olive oil and herbs. Served hot.
Prasorizo
Creamy Rice and leeks cooked in a big pan with olive oil and herbs. Served hot.
Risotto
Ask for the vegetable version without dairy.
For the recipe click Here -> Risotto with beetroots & dill/
Ten secrets for the best risotto/
Pasta with tomato sauce or vegetables
Ask for the version without the cheese.
Fava
Yellow beans with olive oil and lemon. Can be served as a side dish and you can mainly fond it in Islands mainly in Santorini.
Tomatokeftedes
Meatless fried balls made of tomato and herbs. Make sure there is no egg or milk inside, as sometimes they cook it with them. They are very famous on Santorini Island.
Tomatokeftedes Recipe by Akis Petretzikis-> Here
Pita Oikologiki
You can have the Traditional Greek pita with vegetables, potatoes, and tomato sauce.
As you can see you have lots of choices for Main Dishes. The majority of them you can find them in Tavernas and Restaurants. In most of the Souvlakeri (Gyros shops) they can serve you Vegan gyros. Be careful with the sauces which normally is tzatziki and contains yogurt.
Are you traveling to Greece?
Please find below a few related posts:
- 15 tips before your trip to Greece
- 6 Vegan Pizza Delivery | Eats in Thessaloniki, Greece
- Omalia Village | Kryoneria, Oreini Nafpaktia | Greece
- Kavourotrypes (Orange) Beach – Halkidiki, Greece
Are you a traveler? I have written other vegan guides about various places around the world. Here are a few:
Europe
- Vegan in Greece | A complete guide
- Vegan in Santorini, Greece | The best Vegan restaurants
- Vegan in Thessaloniki | Greece
- Vegan Delivery in Thessaloniki | The best delivery in Greece
- Vegan Pizza Delivery | The best 6 eats in Thessaloniki, Greece
- Vegan in Italy | The Ultimate Guide
- Vegan in Glasgow, Scotland | The best restaurants
- Vegan in Romania | Restaurants
- Vegan in Bournemouth, England | Top 5 awesome restaurants
- Vegan Traveler | Everything you need to know
- 15 things to know before your trip to Greece
America
- Vegan Bakeries in New York
- Vegan in Chile | Learn how to survive as a Vegan
This is such a fantastic post Penelopi. I am not a vegan but I am a vegetarian and having such a list on hand is great when I visit Greece next time because I will get to try so many authentic Greek dishes. I must say I did not face a big problem when I was in Santorini and I ate souvlaki with courgette fritters, peppers stuffed with rice, etc.
Hey there thanks for your message! 🙂 Since you are Vegetarian there is even a bigger variety of Greek foods. I will post about appetisers, sweets and salads also pretty soon. 🙂 Yeah I agree wherever there is Souvlaki is easy to mix and match.
Hey, I am travelling to greece santorini and a vegetarian and Indian, Could you suggest some good places and dishes to eat ?
Hi Apoorva, I don’t have restaurant recommendations as such because we ate in the area that we were visiting at the time (Fira, Imerovigli, Firostefani, etc.) Generally speaking, you cannot go wrong with souvlakis with veg options like courgette or tomato fritters, baked peppers stuffed with rice, etc. Also, I would ask in the restaurant if they could make some Greek homestyle vegetarian dish even if it’s not on the menu.
I would have imagined it to be quite difficult to eat vegan or vegetarian in Greece where lamb and meat is so dominate on menus. But you’ve just proven me wrong (and given me an idea for dinner tonight!) 🙂
Yes lamb and meat is everywhere but yeah there is a big selection of Vegan Greek foods. 🙂 Thanks for your message.
These all look great! I’m not a vegan, but that won’t stop me from trying these! Great share!
Yes these dishes are very popular to non vegans also. Thanks!!
Looks so yummy! I will share with my friends this list as well. They love vegan food <3
Good morning Ha, thanks for the share! i really appreciate it. 🙂 kisses from Greece!
Uuuuff!!! I’m not vegan but vegetarian and this post makes me want to visit Greece so badly :D!!!! I’ve always been curious about Thessaloniki, yet now there’s a far better reason to go. I always thought much of Greek food is minced meat 😀
Hahahah I feel your pain!! Except these dishes where you can find in the majority of the restaurants, Thessaloniki has Vegan places one is “Roots” and the other “Elephant in the room”
Enjoy your time when you visit Greece. 🙂
Wow, there are so many vegan options in Greece! I knew there were plenty of vegetarian selections but I’m impressed! What yummy food…
Thank you Maegan!! 🙂
This was so interesting and useful! There are so many veggie options which is awesome! I would think cheese would be the hardest part to be vegan in Greece.
Hey Lena 🙂 I agree cheese is the difficult one but nowadays all the big supermarkets have a vegan option cheese and a few restaurants serve vegan cheese pizzas also. Personally, I really hate the vegan cheese. 🙂
I’m not vegan, but I’m heading to Greece in a week and some of these dishes look delicious!
Great!! Have a nice time in Greece! if you need anything let me know. I am based in Athens. 🙂 Since you are not Vegan do not miss to try the following foods.
and of course the wines, ouzo and tsipouro. 🙂
Trying new food is one of my favorite parts of traveling. All of these dishes look SO good. I’ve never been vegan, but I was vegetarian for years and was always happily surprised by how many new things I was still able to try, even while staying away from meat!
Thank you Sarah!!
Wow this isn’t a great resource for vegan travelers! I am not vegan but getting closer and closer every day…. my sister is and although she doesn’t travel often I’ve seen how it can be such a challenge. Greek food is the best by the way!
Hey Dani!! Thank you very much! Yes being Vegan is really a struggle! In some parts of Greece its really really hard but not impossible. 🙂
This was SUCH a helpful post! Thank you so much for sharing this, when I go to Greece, I will make sure to order some of these dishes. The Gemista looks incredibly delicious
Hey Gypsy, thanks!! Gemista is really delicious. I can eat a whole pan with no stop! haha 🙂
Thanks for this info! It’s such a struggle finding vegan restaurants anywhere!
Hello Michelle, thank you for your message. I agree being Vegan sometimes its really a struggle.
love how your vegan guide is short and straight to the point! well-organized and loving the yummy photos! thanks for sharing!
Thank you Jin!! 🙂
Yum! All these dishes look so good and great captures too!
Than you Andrea!! 🙂
This is such a great article for Vegan eaters – those dishes look amazing (Vegan or not)! When can I go to Greece? 😉
Hey Katherinemook, thanks for your message. 🙂 Come, come to Greece! 🙂
I’m always amazed that people think Greek food is all about meat, it’s got some of the best vegetarian dishes I’ve every tasted 🙂 Great to meet someone else who loves Greece and the food.
Hello Amanda, thanks for your message. As a Greek I am happy that you really like the Greek Vegetarian food. 🙂
I had no idea that there were so many vegan dishes in Greece!! (As well as many that don’t appear to have gluten either!) I’ve had a similar experience before where I’ve accidentally had gluten because the person serving the food didn’t realize that barley also contains gluten, so I completely understand your frustration that not everyone understands what vegan means. Your printable card at the very bottom will definitely be very helpful to circumvent this problem! Thanks for this incredible round-up post!!
Hello!! Thank you soo much for your message! Yeah a lot of them they do not contain gluten too. ? I think you gave me some ideas about gluten free also! I will soon update the post.
WOW! That is amazing and looks so amazing <3 Thanks a lot for your reseach and sharing with us! Can’t wait to go back to Greece 🙂
Hey Debora!! You are most welcome! 🙂 Thanks a lot!!