- Starters
- Dakos, fava, horta, kalitsounia
- Mains
- Gemista, briam, boureki, fasolakia
- Vegan
- 'Nistisima' dishes
- Ask
- Stock, cheese and meat in sauces
Build a meal
Start with dakos (rusk with tomato and cheese), fava (yellow split-pea purée), boiled wild greens (horta) and fried courgettes. Add a main of gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice), briam (oven-roasted vegetables), green beans in tomato (fasolakia), or boureki, Chania's bake of courgette, potato and myzithra.
Vegans
Many vegetable dishes cooked in oil (ladera) are vegan by nature. During Lent and other fasting periods, menus often mark 'nistisima' dishes without meat, dairy or eggs. Ask that cheese be left off dakos and salads.
What to ask
Ask whether rice dishes or soups use meat stock, and whether pies contain cheese or eggs. Most cooks are happy to adapt.
Dedicated places
Third Eye in Paleochora has served vegetarian food since 1990.
Questions before you go
Is it easy to be vegetarian in Crete?
Yes, many traditional dishes are vegetable-based.
What are ladera dishes?
Vegetables slow-cooked in olive oil and tomato, often vegan.
What is boureki?
A Chania bake of courgette, potato and myzithra cheese.
