This guide on traditional Greek vegan food will introduce you to some of the most popular vegan dishes to try in Greece.
The best Greek vegan dishes
Traditional Greek vegan dishes feature on most restaurant menus throughout Greece and its islands. These plant-based dishes showcase the abundance of fresh, local ingredients, as well as the country’s rich culinary heritage.
Some of the staple ingredients in Greek vegan food include vegetables, legumes, grains, herbs, spices and olive oil. Visitors can enjoy a variety of vegan options that reflect the simplicity and flavor of the Greek cuisine, while highlighting the health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet.
I’m Vanessa from Athens. Although I’m not vegetarian or vegan myself, vegan dishes are in fact my favourite ones. From horta and fava, to gigantes and imam bayildi, there is lots of tasty traditional Greek vegan food to try.
The concept of veganism in Greece
The concept of a plant-based diet is not new to Greece. Given the abundance of fresh ingredients, it’s deeply rooted in Greece’s culture. It’s also closely tied to the country’s religious practices, particularly the fasting traditions observed in Greek Orthodoxy.
The practice of fasting in Greece involves abstaining from most animal products. This includes dairy, meat, poultry, and fish, although seafood and honey are permitted.
Dishes that are suitable for fasting are called “nistisima” in Greek. They are also known as “ladera“, which literally means “(cooked) with oil”.
By the way, when Greeks mention “oil” in any recipe, they mean olive oil. Whenever any other type of oil is used, it’s mentioned explicitly. Other types of oil, like sunflower oil or maize oil, are mostly used when deep frying.
Fasting dishes usually contain olive oil, onion, garlic, tomato and dried herbs like oregano and thyme. Most fasting dishes are naturally vegan, and are commonly found on restaurant menus, offering a glimpse into the country’s rich culinary heritage.
Tip: Non-vegans will love accompanying their tomato-based ladera dishes with plenty of good feta cheese and fresh bread to mop up the yummy sauces. It’s an unbeatable combination!
And now, let’s have a look at some of the best-known classic Greek vegan dishes, salads, starters and snacks.
Stuffed tomatoes and peppers: Gemista
Gemista is one of the most popular vegan dishes in Greece. It’s a staple in summer, when vegetables are fresh.
The dish usually consists of tomatoes and bell peppers that have been stuffed with a mixture of rice, onions, tomato sauce, olive oil and herbs. They are cooked in the oven along with thick potato wedges.
Sometimes, you can find stuffed courgettes (zucchini) and aubergines (eggplants) as well. In some areas of Greece, the rice mixture also contains raisins and pine nuts.
In some occasions, you might find a version of gemista which also contains mince meat. If you are vegan, make sure that you ask before ordering.
Yellow split peas: Fava
This traditional Greek vegan dish is made out of yellow fava beans, which look almost identical to yellow split peas. The beans are boiled and then puréed and left to sit for a while, until they form a thick paste, similar in consistency to hummus.
Fava is usually served with olive oil, lemon juice, raw onion and capers. Sometimes, caramelized onions or octopus are added on top. I’ve also had it with truffle-infused olive oil and it was fab!
The most famous fava in Greece is grown in Santorini. You will find local varieties in more islands, including Schinoussa, Iraklia and Amorgos.
This popular traditional vegan dish features in most taverna menus. You can have it as a starter or main course, along with a salad, some bread and olives.
Giant beans: Gigantes
Gigantes is a rich, tasty dish of giant beans, onions, tomato sauce, olive oil, bay leaves and spices, slow-cooked in a clay pot. You can eat them warm, at room temperature, or even cold, and use some bread to mop up the rich tomato sauce.
Fun fact: The word “gigantes” literally translates to “giants” – and indeed those beans are huge! They mostly grow in Northern Greece and have a very special texture.
Boiled greens: Horta
Horta is a salad dish consisting of boiled greens, and looks similar to boiled spinach. It’s served with plenty of lemon juice and olive oil.
The best known variety of horta in Greece are “vleeta“, that have a slightly bitter taste – but there are many more edible types, like chicory or stamnagathi.
Here is some more information about the different types of horta.
Olives: Elies
You may have heard of Kalamata olives, which are one of the most popular products of Greece. Apart from those, Greece has dozens of different types of olives, of various sizes, colors and flavors.
The green olives from Chalkidiki or Agrinio aren’t as famous as the Kalamata olives, but they are equally delicious. They are a fantastic addition to many salads, and can also be eaten as a snack.
Fun fact: Olives in their natural state are extremely bitter and are not edible. After being picked, they need to be cured in water for a few weeks to lose their bitterness. Lemon, vinegar, garlic or other flavorings are often added in the process.
Mixed vegetables in tomato sauce: Briam
Briam is a simple oven dish which is usually cooked in summer. It consists of a mix of vegetables, such as potatoes, courgettes, aubergines, bell peppers, carrots, onions, garlic, olive oil and tomato sauce, cooked together in the oven.
Overall, it’s a really simple dish to make, and you can add any vegetable pretty much. Yummy and healthy!
Stuffed vine leaves: Dolmadakia
Dolmadakia, or stuffed vine leaves, hail from the Middle East. They contain a mix of rice, herbs and lemon that is wrapped in vine leaves. They are quite time-consuming to make, but so incredibly delicious!
There are also versions of dolmadakia that contain mince meat. In fact, this is the most common version in some of the Dodecanese islands, like Kalymnos, Karpathos or Kasos. If you are vegan, make sure that you ask before ordering.
Aubergines with onions and tomato sauce: Melitzanes imam / Imam bayildi
In my opinion, this is one of the tastiest vegan dishes you can find in Greece. It hails from Turkey, and consists of aubergines, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, herbs, spices, and olive oil.
If you can find it at a restaurant, try it for sure. With that said, anyone with a sensitive digestive system might prefer to avoid eating a whole portion, as the recipe calls for an insane amount of onion.
Fun fact: The original name of this dish is “Imam Bayildi“. The Imam is a spiritual leader in Islam, and “Imam Bayildi” literally translates to “the Imam passed out”. Allegedly, this happened because he ate so much of this food that he fell into a food coma!
Spinach and rice dish with lemon sauce: Spanakorizo
Spanakorizo is a vegan casserole dish containing spinach, rice, pine nuts, onions, olive oil, lemon juice and dill.
It’s a wholesome and light dish, which is very far from gourmet. You might find it in basic tavernas where locals eat, but it’s rarely available in restaurants.
Fun fact: Most children in Greece hate spanakorizo. Some of them grow up to love it – I’m one of them 🙂
Peas in tomato sauce: Arakas
Arakas is a hearty, filling dish consisting of peas, a few pieces of carrots and potatoes, onions, tomato sauce and olive oil, all cooked together in a pot.
There’s also a recipe that calls for lemon sauce instead of tomato sauce.
As frozen peas are always available, this is a very easy dish to make at any time of year. It’s sometimes cooked along with chicken or meat, so if you are vegan, check before you order.
Okra / Lady’s fingers in tomato sauce: Mpamies
Okra may not be a common dish around the world, but it’s fairly popular in Greece. The okra is cooked with onion, olive oil, tomato sauce and a little bit of vinegar. It is served as a main course, or as a side dish, usually with chicken.
String beans in tomato sauce: Fasolakia
Another common vegan dish in Greece is fasolakia, or string beans. They are cooked in a thick tomato sauce with onion, olive oil and herbs. Usually, the dish contains a few potatoes and carrots.
Aubergine salad: Melitzanosalata
Melitzanosalata is a tasty, creamy dip made of grilled aubergines, olive oil, vinegar, spices, garlic, and maybe onion and sweet red pepper.
I’ve (rarely) come across recipes that contain yoghurt or mayonnaise, so if you are vegan it’s best to ask about the ingredients. Eat with bread, or pita bread.
Fried courgettes: Kolokithakia tiganita
Fried courgettes (zucchini) are a favorite summer staple in Greece. The batter is often made with beer, and the outside of the courgette is fluffy and crispy. Vegans might want to check that the batter doesn’t contain any milk or egg.
Fried aubergines: Melitzanes tiganites
Similarly to fried courgettes, fried aubergines are another tasty starter.
Black-eyed beans: Mavromatika
Black-eyed beans, or mavromatika, are another legume that is popular in Greece. They are boiled, and served with a simple dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, green onions, salt and pepper.
Stuffed courgette flowers: Kolokythoanthoi gemistoi
Gemista and dolmadakia are fairly common. But if you are looking for a more unique Greek vegan dish, ask around for kolokythoanthoi, zucchini flowers. They are stuffed with a mix of rice, onion, tomato sauce and olive oil.
It’s another time-consuming dish to make, and incredibly delicious! This is a fantastic example of how ingredients that might otherwise be wasted have their very special place in Greek cuisine.
Chick-peas in the oven: Revithia sto fourno
Revithia sto fourno, chick-peas in the oven, are a staple food in Greece, including many of the islands.
If you are here in summer, you should be able to find revithia sto fourno. These are chickpeas that have been slow-cooked in a claypot, and they are very common in many of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese islands. They are filling, hearty, and very yummy!
A common winter dish is a hearty chick-pea soup which also contains onions and a thick lemon-and-flour sauce. It goes very well with olives and fresh bread.
Lentil soup: Fakes
Fakes soupa is a warming soup with lentils, onions, garlic, vinegar, bay leaves, tomato paste and olive oil. It’s a popular dish in winter, when the weather is cold. If you find it, it will most likely be in basic tavernas where the locals eat.
Ask for extra vinegar, and enjoy with some bread and black olives.
This is a lentil salad I made one day – you can find something similar in various restaurants.
Bean soup: Fasolada
An all-time staple for winter, the Greek fasolada is a warming, hearty soup and is considered the true national dish of Greece. It contains beans, carrots, celery, onion, tomato sauce, olive oil and spices.
You are unlikely to find fasolada served in summer. It is clearly a warming dish, best for a cold winter day, and goes well with a few slices of fresh bread.
Bonus 1: Fries / Chips: Patates tiganites
Fries (also called chips, french fries and so on) are easily available in many countries.
However, the fries you will get in Greece are often hand-cut and home-made. They have nothing to do with the usual fries that you’d get in a fast-food chain or commercial restaurant in your homecountry.
We call them patates tiganites, which means “fried potatoes”.
Here are some of the best fries I’ve had in my life, at a small taverna called Galanis in Chalki, Naxos. The food there was overall great, but the fries were out of this world.
Potatoes from Naxos are incredibly flavorful, so even if you avoid fried foods you could make an exception – you are on vacation after all!
Bonus 2: The best Greek vegan snack: Koulouri
Koulouri is a type of semi-sweet bread, which consists of wheat, yeast and sugar. It is round-shaped with a large hole in the middle, and is covered with sesame seeds.
A koulouri can have varying textures – some people prefer the chewy version, while others go for the dry and crispy type.
You can find koulouri in many bakeries, and also at street stalls in the bigger cities like Athens or Thessaloniki. It’s a popular, inexpensive and light snack for any time of the day.
More guides about Greek food
And that’s it! These are 20 traditional Greek vegan dishes that you can find in many tavernas and restaurants. They are all worth trying when you visit Greece, even if you are not vegan. Here are some more guides on Greek food:
- How to order food in Greece – includes a section on food allergies and intolerances
- Vegan restaurants in Athens
- Greek food culture
- Athens food market
- Popular Greek drinks
- Delicious Greek desserts
Hi! I’m Vanessa from Athens and I love offering tips about Greece and the Greek culture. Follow me on my social media:
- Facebook page and very active Facebook group
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