Zest for variety is a key characteristic of Greek cuisine, which often surprises people with its rich selection of meat-free options. From hearty stews to refreshing salads, the following 28 mouth-watering vegetarian dishes are staple recipes that Greeks enjoy making and devouring throughout the year.
Eggplant Boats with Tasty Filling Options
Every year around Easter time in Greece, a traditional dish called Papoutsakia is enjoyed by many. Originally made with minced pork or beef, this eggplant boat dish has been modified to accommodate the dietary needs of vegetarians and Orthodox Christians who fast before Easter Sunday. While its name translates to ‘little shoes’, these boats are filled with an assortment of vegetables such as mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, olives, onions, and peppers.
To add extra flavor and creaminess, feta and mozzarella cheese are placed on top, which melt in the oven to create a golden-brown crust. The result is a delicious vegetarian take on this classic Greek dish that’s perfect for springtime.
Fava Pea Mash with Lemon and Herbs
Varying the traditional method of cooking yellow split peas allows for the creation of a delicious fava dish. When mashed or pureed and combined with lemon juice, olive oil, chopped onions, and garlic, this humble ingredient is transformed into a flavorful and nutritious fava. Typically served as a side dish or appetizer, fava can be enjoyed at any time of day – whether it’s for lunch or dinner – paired with crumbled feta cheese or used as a spread in a simple sandwich filled with leafy greens.
Cretan Biscuit Salad with Feta & Tomatoes
Dakos, a quintessential Cretan traditional salad, offers a delightful twist on the classic Greek salad for those looking to mix things up. Its simplicity and unique ingredients set it apart from its more well-known counterpart. The salad consists of crispy paksimadia, which are essentially Greek biscotti or rusks, topped with a rich mixture of mashed tomatoes, a generous drizzle of olive oil, and crumbled feta cheese.
Easy Greek Dip Recipe
Keen foodies know that tzatziki is one of those versatile condiments that can elevate any meal. We’ve previously crowned Greek salad as the quintessential Greek culinary trademark, but we may have to revise our opinion after introducing this refreshing dip to our readers.
Tzatziki’s simplicity lies in its straightforward ingredients – Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper (with an optional sprinkle of fresh dill) – making it a breeze to prepare even for those who are new to cooking!
Greek Leek Pie with Feta Delight
Venturing further into the world of Greek pies, we find ourselves face-to-face with the prasopita, an exquisite dish that puts leeks and feta cheese centre stage. This delightful pastry is elevated by the use of homemade phyllo dough, which adds a tender and flaky texture to the dish. Meanwhile, the rich herby filling provides a depth of flavour that makes it perfect for any time of day.
Greek Feta & Tomato Cheese Bake
Packed with flavors from Greece, Bougiourdi is a vegetarian delight that can easily be transformed into a satisfying light lunch or dinner meal by serving it with some pitta bread or bread slices on the side.
This baked dish is made in a single oven-to-table vessel and consists of a simple yet harmonious combination of either pure feta cheese or a blend of cheeses, featuring feta as the primary component, juicy tomatoes, aromatic garlic, fragrant oregano, rich olive oil, and spicy chili pepper slices or flakes. To avoid discomfort when serving, be cautious not to touch the piping hot dish with your bare hands once it’s taken out of the oven.
Greek-Turkish Fusion: Turlu’s Ladera Delight
Making comparisons between Greek and Turkish cuisine can be tricky due to the shared history and cultural influences between the two nations. However, when it comes to turlu, a popular dish that falls under the ‘ladera’ category, it’s clear that its origins are still disputed. Despite the ambiguity surrounding its heritage, one thing is certain – this hearty vegetable-based stew is a beloved staple in both Greek and Turkish cuisines.
Turlu typically consists of a medley of sautéed vegetables such as leeks, carrots, eggplants, zucchinis, red peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes. The ingredients are then simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce infused with an assortment of herbs and spices, resulting in a mouthwatering aroma that’s impossible to resist. One of the best ways to enjoy turlu is while it’s still piping hot, served alongside a crusty loaf of bread, a sprinkle of oregano, and a crumbly wedge of feta cheese.
The combination may sound simple, but trust us – it’s a match made in culinary heaven! Go To Recipe
Classic Spinach Pie from Greece
Evidently, the culinary world of Greece is not short on delicious pies. If you’ve had the pleasure of trying them, then you know just how incredible they are – a true delight for the taste buds. However, if you’re one of the unlucky ones who haven’t tried Greek pies yet, describing their unique flavors and textures won’t do them justice. Nonetheless, to give you a brief introduction to these delectable treats, let’s start with a classic example: spanakopita.
This iconic Greek pie is made with homemade phyllo dough that’s carefully layered and then topped with a generous helping of spinach and crumbled feta filling – which in turn is beautifully wrapped in even more layers of flaky phyllo.
Tahini Cinnamon Swirls of Greece
Relying on traditional Greek flavors, a delicious vegetarian treat can be created with the making of a tahinopita. This sweet pie is characterized by a blend of sugar, tahini sauce, and cinnamon that are carefully placed inside a dough that is both chewy and soft to the touch. The uniqueness of this dessert lies in its use of tahini sauce instead of butter, giving it a distinct flavor profile.
Similar to a Greek cinnamon roll, the tahinopita’s taste and texture make it an ideal choice for those who appreciate the rich flavor of tahini.
Vine Leaf Wraps with Lemon Zest
Enjoying traditional Turkish cuisine often means discovering the simple yet flavorful delights of dolmades. Typically made by wrapping rice in vine leaves, these tasty morsels can be served with a variety of sauces to elevate their flavor. Options include a zesty lemon sauce, a splash of fresh lemon juice, or a cooling tzatziki sauce. Alternatively, some people prefer them plain, accompanied only by a dollop of creamy Greek yogurt.
Regardless of how you serve them, whether warm, cold, or at room temperature, dolmades are sure to impress with their rich, satisfying flavor that melts in the mouth.
Okra in Greek Ladera Style
Interestingly, okra deviates from being an ordinary vegetable in Greek cuisine, used to create yet another plant-based dish classified as ‘ladera’. Similar to fasolakia, its preparation method remains the same, which often results in a love-it-or-hate-it reaction due to the unique texture of okra. Regardless of individual preferences, it is definitely worth trying to form a personal opinion on this distinctive dish.
Gigantic White Beans: A Wholesome Greek Dish
Understandably, Gigantes are often referred to as giant white beans, given their size. In Greek, the term ‘Gigantes’ literally translates to ‘giants’, which aptly describes these legumes. Unlike cannellini beans, which are smaller in comparison, Gigantes are significantly larger and are typically prepared by baking them in a rich tomato sauce infused with plenty of oregano and other spices. This unique blend of flavors results in a wholesome and satisfying taste experience.
Traditionally, feta cheese and crusty bread are served alongside this dish to create a well-rounded meal.
Meatless Gemista Recipes with Hearty Tomato Sauce
Considering Yemista’s versatility, this traditional Greek dish can be enjoyed both with and without meat. While many people opt for the version with minced pork or beef, the meatless gemista is often considered the original recipe. In fact, the vegetarian version of this dish is affectionately known as ‘orphana’ in Greek, which roughly translates to ‘orphaned’ tomatoes stuffed with tomato sauce and rice, rather than any meat-based filling.
The beauty of Yemista lies in its flexibility, allowing individuals to experiment with various combinations of herbs, spices, and vegetables when preparing the sauce. To give you a starting point, here’s a simple recipe to get you cooking.
Easy Spinach Rice Greek Delight
Fresh from the Mediterranean, Spanakorizo is a classic Greek vegetarian dish that combines the simplicity of sautéed onions and garlic with the vibrant flavors of spinach and rice. This hearty and nutritious meal is incredibly easy to prepare, as all you need to do is cook some onions and garlic in olive oil before adding the rice and letting it simmer.
Once the rice is cooked, simply add a handful of fresh spinach leaves on top, which will wilt into the dish in just 2-3 minutes, even without any additional cooking time. The end result is a deliciously aromatic Spanakorizo that captures the essence of Greek cuisine, with its rich and savory flavors perfectly balanced by the freshness of the olive oil used throughout preparation.
Greek White Bean Soup Classic Recipes
Zestfully prepared by Greeks since generations ago, Fasolada is a classic vegetable-based soup that makes use of white beans, carrots, onions, and tomato paste. This traditional dish is enjoyed regularly by the locals who look forward to it as an essential part of their culinary routine. Served either hot or warm, it perfectly complements feta cheese and bread, making them indispensable accompaniments.
To expedite the preparation process, it’s advisable to soak the beans overnight or for at least 8-12 hours in advance before cooking. Typically, this soup requires approximately 1 ½ hour of cooking time, so it might be wise to prepare it early in the day if you want a quick and satisfying lunch after work.
Cypriot-Style Cheese Pastries with a Twist
Merging traditional Cypriot ingredients with sweet indulgence, flaounes are distinctive pastries consisting of baked dough pockets filled with a blend of cheese and raisins. A key element that sets these treats apart is the incorporation of mahlab and mastic into both their dough and filling, which significantly enhances their overall flavor profiles.
The addition of mastic to the dough contributes to its chewy texture, while the fresh mint added to the filling leaves a refreshing aftertaste with each bite, providing an invigorating experience for the palate.
Roasted Veggie Medley: The Classic Briam
Recognizable by its colorful medley of roasted vegetables, a traditional Briam dish is a staple of Greek cuisine. The ingredients are straightforward: simply chop the vegetables and bake them in a pan or tray. Initially, the pan is covered with aluminum foil to prevent overcooking, but as the cooking time progresses, the foil is removed, allowing the vegetables to develop their characteristic crispy brown crust on top.
While variations of Briam may feature a wider variety of vegetables, the classic recipe centers around four key ingredients: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and zucchinis, complemented by sautéed onions and garlic.
Greek Chickpea Fritters with Fresh Flair
Every meal that involves traditional Greek cuisine often features fritters as a popular choice. One type of Greek fritter that stands out from the rest is the revithokeftedes, which are surprisingly made with chickpeas rather than meat or other ingredients typically found in this style of food. Unlike falafels, these Greek fritters have a distinct flavor profile due to their generous helping of thyme, oregano, and parsley, not to mention the addition of olive oil for extra taste.
As an added bonus, revithokeftedes are incredibly easy to prepare at home and can be fried in either olive or sunflower oil for a crispy exterior and fluffy interior, making them an excellent option for vegetarians looking to enjoy a Greek-style dinner without compromising their dietary preferences.
Green Beans Greek-Style with Oily Flair
Zeroing in on traditional Greek cuisine, it’s no surprise that they have a special affinity for dishes smothered in olive oil. This fondness for all things ‘ladera’ – oily, in English – is evident in their love for hearty, flavorful meals like Briam and fasolakia. Fasolakia, in particular, stands out as a classic green bean dish that Greeks often prepare from scratch using fresh ingredients rather than relying on frozen alternatives.
With its rich tomato sauce, crunchy carrot slices, fragrant oregano, and generous helping of olive oil, this vegetarian delight is cooked to perfection and served hot or warm, typically accompanied by a side of crumbly feta cheese and crusty bread.
Cheesy Phyllo Pie: A Greek Tiropita Twist
You might be familiar with spanakopita, a Greek pastry dish made with layers of phyllo that enclose a spinach and feta filling. Similarly, tiropita is another traditional Greek cheese pie, but instead of spinach, it’s filled with a mix of cheeses including Graviera, Gouda, anthotiro, and feta. To hold these different types of cheese together, the recipe incorporates heavy cream, although you can choose to use less or omit it altogether if you’re looking to reduce the calorie count of your pie.
Beetroot Salad with Greek Flair
Just like the classic Greek salads, this beetroot salad offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. It’s made with beetroots, chopped walnuts, and two distinct dressings – one is a tangy vinaigrette, while the other is a creamy concoction of Greek yogurt, garlic, and mint. When all these ingredients come together in perfect harmony, they create a refreshing, healthy, appetizing, and surprisingly filling salad that’s sure to satisfy your cravings!
Greek Tomato Potato Stew Delight
A staple of Greek cuisine, Patates Yahni is a delicious and satisfying vegetarian potato stew that’s remarkably easy to prepare. The humble potato plays a starring role in this recipe, not only providing sustenance but also an incredible ability to fill even the heartiest of appetites.
As you simmer the potatoes in a rich red tomatoey and herb-infused sauce, the aroma will waft through the air and tantalize your taste buds, making it nearly impossible to resist devouring the stew while still steaming hot!
Greek Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki Twist
Entering the world of Greek cuisine, we find ourselves delighted by the presence of succulent fritters, specifically those made with zucchini. These delectable treats are crafted using a medley of ingredients including grated zucchini, onion, fresh mint, eggs, crumbled feta cheese, breadcrumbs, olive oil, parsley, salt, and pepper. The combination of these elements gives the fritters an undeniable depth of flavor.
A sizzling hot finish is achieved by deep-frying them in sunflower oil before serving with a refreshing tzatziki sauce or a cooling yogurt accompaniment. While it’s true that feta cheese is a key component, there’s no rule against adding extra elements to complement the dish.
Greek Lentil Soup Classic, Easy to Make
Hailing from Greek cuisine, fakes is a popular soup that’s often made in households across the country. Its simplicity makes it a staple in many Greek kitchens, requiring just a few ingredients like onion, lentils, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper to prepare. Cooking time is brief, taking approximately 30 minutes from start to finish, after which it can be served with a sprinkle of parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Having some crusty bread on the side is the perfect accompaniment, allowing you to soak up any remaining soup or scrape out every last drop from your bowl once you’re almost finished eating.
Greek Boiled Greens with a Twist
Voilà for a simple yet delicious salad that defies the conventional notion of needing multiple ingredients to taste good. Horta vrasta is often translated as boiled grass, but this interpretation stems from ‘horta’, the Greek term used to describe local leafy greens like endives, which are the foundation of this recipe.
The preparation involves boiling the greens until they’re tender and then serving them with a blend of vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper, showcasing that these humble greens can be just as satisfying as more common lettuce leaves.
Greek Semolina Delight: A Fasting Favorite
Lovely Halva is a traditional Greek dessert that transcends seasonal preferences, enjoyed by Greeks throughout the year. While many people associate its preparation primarily with the fasting days preceding Easter, it’s actually a treat that can be savored at any time. Its unique soil-like texture might seem unappealing to some initially, but its rich flavors are sure to captivate even the most discerning palate.
Made from a combination of semolina, almond silvers, sunflower oil, and sugar, along with aromatic notes from orange zests, cloves, and cinnamon, Halva is best served chilled.
Classic Greek Salad Essentials Revealed
A staple of Greek cuisine, the Greek salad is undoubtedly one of Greece’s most iconic culinary exports, instantly recognizable to people from all around the world as a quintessential representation of the country. This widespread recognition can be attributed to several factors, including its simplicity, the freshness of its ingredients, and its undeniable deliciousness. Additionally, it’s also a vegetarian-friendly option, which makes it accessible to a broader audience.
The classic recipe consists of a medley of chopped vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, olives, and an abundance of crumbled feta cheese, all of which come together to create a harmonious balance of flavors, aromas, and textures, with the unmistakable presence of oregano, olive oil, and a hint of freshness that defines this beloved salad.
