Written on: May 2024 / Updated on: April 2025
Orthodox Easter is almost here, and I'm excited to share some of my favourite vegetarian and vegan recipes perfect for your festive table! Whether you follow a plant-based diet or are simply looking to reduce meat consumption, these flavourful dishes are sure to impress.
Experience the Full Flavour of Vegetables
Transitioning to a plant-based diet opened my eyes (and taste buds!) to the incredible flavours of vegetables. It's like the meat was masking their potential all along. Trust me, you won't miss the meat in these vibrant dishes!
Now, Let's Get Cooking!
Greek Delights:
Dolmadakia (Greek Stuffed Vine Leaves): These savoury parcels are bursting with rice, herbs, and aromatics. Traditionally made with meat in Cyprus, this Greek version relies on the delicious combination of rice, dill, onions, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Paputsakia (Greek Stuffed Eggplant): Don't be intimidated by the name! This recipe may have several components, but your oven will do most of the work. Follow the steps, and you'll be rewarded with melt-in-your-mouth stuffed eggplants.
Mussaka: A classic for a reason! Layers of creamy béchamel sauce, savoury vegetables, and hearty vegan mince make this dish a crowd-pleaser.
Creative Vegan Options:
Vegan Mince and Mushroom Roll: This recipe, originally created for Christmas, is a versatile crowd-pleaser perfect for Easter as well.
Stuffed Onions: A beautiful centrepiece dish that's sure to impress! Filled with flavourful ingredients and served with accompaniments like hummus or yogurt, this recipe is a recent favourite among my readers.
Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes: A sophisticated vegan dish for your celebration. The tender tomatoes are filled with a flavourful quinoa mixture, creating a light and elegant dish that's both delicious and visually stunning.
Veggie Mushroom Rice: This veggie rice, is one that we have been eating in my family for ages. My mum makes it for every special occasion, birthdays, Christmas, Easter - it's my sister's favourite, so it's a must! So, today, I present to you my vegan version, since hers it's with prawns and I hope you like it as much as I do!
Simple Yet Flavourful Sides:
Roasted Cauliflower with Sumac: This dish is deceptively simple. Sumac adds a touch of tanginess, creating a perfect balance with the tahini sauce.
No Easter table is complete without a refreshing salad! Choose between my Festive Salad, the Spinach and Dried Fig Salad or my Green Apple Salad for a delightful addition to your meal.
Don't Forget the Starches!
Looking for a potato side? Try my tangy Lemon Potatoes or my crunchy Smashed Potatoes.
Soup
My Easter table wouldn't be complete without a soup, as traditionally, here in Cyprus and Greece, after attending church on Holy Saturday, we eat soup. And even though I haven't participated in this tradition for ages, this year I wanted to include a soup in my Easter feast for you. Now, this mushroom and white bean soup is by no means the traditional magiritsa that is prepared for the occasion – apart from the lemon and dill – but it's quick to make and really delicious, so I hope you give it a try!
Dessert
Last but not least, the dessert of the season tsureki, but maybe you want to make something simpler like my banoffee pie!
Happy Easter!
Nat x
