Greece Travel Blog

Mainland Greece and its surrounding islands are a sunny destination for thousands of visitors every year. They go for the sandy beaches, historical sights and some intriguing but sometimes amusing cultural influences. Of course, part of any holiday is the cuisine and Greece has a typical Mediterranean diet that is healthy and full of beneficial ingredients such as fresh cheese and green olives. Although meat is a staple part of the diet, vegetarians need not worry because there are plenty of menu choices to select. Visitors have been previously been to Turkey will find a lot of similarities in the dishes.

Five Greek Starter Dishes for Vegetarians

Appetizers are big business in Greece. They are either served as the beginning to a three course meal or as a light snack. Suggestions for vegetarians to try include… • Tiganta is deep fried vegetables, normally peppers or mushrooms • A side dish of Greek salad appears on most starter menus. This is simple tomato, cucumber, onion, and feta cheese sprinkled with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. • Horta is steamed green beans covered with a light sprinkling of olive oil • Lackanosalata is very finely shredded cabbage and carrot sprinkled with vinegar. • Fakes is a simple lentil soup, delicious with fresh baked bread.

Five Main Greek Dishes for Vegetarians

• Fasolakia is a mixture of stewed green beans, potatoes, and zucchini mixed with a homemade tomato sauce filled with herbs. This dish is ideal when accompanied by a glass of dry white wine. • You can never go wrong with Gemista, stuffed tomatoes or peppers filled with rice. Be sure to check with the waiter that no meat is included. • Strapatsada is food to order if you are in a rush or not particularly hungry. It is scrambled eggs, feta cheese and tomato puree. • Arakas me anginares is peas and artichokes baked in the oven. They can also be accompanied with a side serving of potatoes if requested. This is one of the more popular Greek vegetarian dishes. • Briam is a delicious meat free ratatouille of vegetables currently in season. They are then layered over sliced potatoes and covered with herbs and spices, before being baked in the oven

Further Reading

You can taste all of these delicious foods and more while on one of our tours of Greece. Along with food, we also introduce you to the wine culture, traditions, and history of this magnificent country, steeped in tales of the gods and mythology.