Vegetarian & Vegan on Skyros

Skyros is famous for its lobster and lemony goat, but you can eat wonderfully here without any meat at all. Greek island cooking is built on vegetables, pulses and good oil, and Skyros is no exception.

In short: Eating vegetarian on Skyros is easy: the island’s cooking is rich in vegetable dishes, pulses and pies. Order fava, stuffed vegetables (gemista), horta (wild greens), salads and vegetable pies, plus local cheese and honey. Vegans should ask for dishes cooked nistisima (fasting-style), which are made without any animal products, a normal part of the Greek kitchen.

What to order

Skyrian and Greek menus are full of naturally meat-free choices:

• Fava, the island’s yellow split-pea purée, silky with olive oil and lemon.
• Gemista, tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herbed rice (ask if cooked without mince).
• Horta, boiled wild greens dressed with oil and lemon.
• Vegetable and cheese pies, part of the island’s rich pie tradition.
• Salads with tomato, cucumber and the local sour cheese, xynotyri.
• Grilled or baked vegetables, and dishes like briam (mixed roast vegetables).

Finish with fruit, spoon sweets, or thick yoghurt with Skyrian honey.

Eating vegan

Greek cooking has a built-in helper for vegans: the tradition of nistisima, “fasting” foods eaten during Orthodox fasts, which contain no meat, dairy or eggs. Ask a taverna for nistisimo dishes and you’ll often be pointed to fava, gemista, briam, bean stews, dolmades and vegetable pies made without cheese. Many are cooked in olive oil rather than butter as standard.

A few phrases

• Íme hortofágos, “I’m vegetarian.”
• Den tróo kréas psári í galaktokomiká, “I don’t eat meat, fish or dairy.”
• Éhete nistísima piáta?, “Do you have fasting (vegan) dishes?”

Most island kitchens are warm and accommodating; a friendly question usually opens up more choices than the menu shows.

FAQ

Is it easy to eat vegetarian on Skyros? Yes. Greek island cooking is full of vegetable dishes, pulses, pies and salads, so vegetarians eat very well.

Can vegans eat well on Skyros? Yes, especially by asking for nistisima (fasting) dishes, which are made without meat, dairy or eggs, and are a normal part of the Greek kitchen.

What vegetarian dishes should I try? Fava, gemista (stuffed vegetables), horta (wild greens), vegetable pies and Greek salads with local cheese.

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