10 Greek Recipes To Give A Vegan All The Protein And Energy He/She Needs (2024)

FAQs

10 Greek Recipes To Give A Vegan All The Protein And Energy He/She Needs? ›

Little known fact: Greek cuisine is very "plant forward" by nature and many traditional dishes have been vegan for centuries. Indeed, the original Mediterranean diet studied in Crete was made up of these classic Greek meals that put the focus on fresh vegetables, legumes, and lots of olive oil.

Little known fact: Greek cuisine is very "plant forward" by nature and many traditional dishes have been vegan for centuries. Indeed, the original Mediterranean diet studied in Crete was made up of these classic Greek meals that put the focus on fresh vegetables, legumes, and lots of olive oil.

“Nistisimo” (νηστίσιμο) = fasting

It is a vegetarian diet that excludes meat, dairy and eggs but NOT Honey, Fish Eggs, Clams and Cephalopods. Typically, Greek people will fast 40 days before Easter so almost everyone in Greece will understand what you're asking them if you look for something “nistisimo”.

For example, if you want to make sure a meal doesn't have meat, you should ask Έχει κρέας αυτό; (Éhi kréas aftó?)

I highly recommend having a mixture of grains, protein, and vegetables — it provides a great balance not only with flavor/bulk but also texture. Grains and legumes help keep the meal filling while the vegetables bring everything together.

Vegan Food In Greece

Aside from the classic olive oil, legumes and grains accompany fresh salads and vegetables. Aside from a few non-vegan ingredients typically found in traditional Greek dishes, you can find many accidentally vegan options on your travels.

Greek yogurt is an animal-derived food. While it's perfectly acceptable on a vegetarian diet, dairy is definitely not part of a vegan diet. Luckily, there are dairy-free alternatives to Greek yogurt, including store-bought and homemade varieties like almond milk yogurt, cashew yogurt, and coconut yogurt.

Crete is a vegetarian's paradise. There are a number of healthy and very nutritious traditional dishes to choose from, including Cretan wild greens, gemista (peppers or tomatoes stuffed with a rice mixture and baked) and dolmadakia gialatzi (boiled vine leaves stuffed with rice, parsley and spices).

Vegan Main Dishes in Greek Cuisine

Briám: an oven-baked dish similar to ratatouille in Southern France. The vegetables used can vary but always include potatoes and zucchini. Gemista: tomatoes or red bell peppers stuffed with a rice and herb mixture. Occasionally contains minced meat but is usually vegan.

Vegetarianism and animal rights have a long history in Western civilization stretching to antiquity that is unknown or forgotten by many people today. What this hidden history teaches is that many Greeks and Romans survived without eating animal flesh or using animal products.

What do Greeks say before eating? ›

Kali orexi (καλή όρεξη): this means “good appetite” and is said before a meal. Stin igia mas / Yiamas (στην υγειά μας / γειά μας): this means “to our health,” and is used when raising glasses in a toast.

"However, if you follow a vegetarian diet, you'd want to avoid gelatin-containing yogurts. Instead, opt for yogurts that typically don't contain gelatin, like Greek yogurt," she says. Or, look for regular yogurts that use pectin, a plant-based gelling agent that improves texture, she recommends.

Protein from beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh and seitan, along with healthy fats from avocado, nuts, seeds, and coconut and olive oils, can also keep your blood sugar stable. High-protein vegan diet: Protein is one of the nutrients often lacking in a vegan diet.

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

ολικά χορτοφάγος {m} vegan.

In all Greek restaurants it is almost mandatory to find vegetarian options. So, for lunch, you should be able to find at least one vegetarian dish, say, green beans or stuffed tomatoes (with rice). There are also plenty of vegan appetizers, like fried zucchini, eggplant, green peppers, etc.

The answer here is a pretty straightforward no. As feta cheese is made from the milk of sheep and sometimes goats it isn't suitable for anyone on a fully plant-based diet. Vegans will not only abstain from eating meat, but also all animal products or other foods that are made with the use of byproducts too.