A Vegan Greek Easter

 Orthodox Easter is this Sunday , May 2nd and with it comes a wide variety of different dishes. The highlight is lamb, whether a whole roasted one or a leg. Yet what about Greek Orthodox vegans or vegetarians? Can they have a satisfying , holiday meal? The answer is yes.

Baby lamb on a spit is has been one of the traditions in the centuries old meal. Yet this is abhorrent to vegans , vegetarians and any animal lover.A better main dish is spinach pie or spanokopita baked in a phyllo crust. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser, especially with a flavorful crust and filling. It uses one of the staples of Greek cooking - spinach.Mint, parsley and dill enhance the leaves fresh Spring flavor. Leeks onions and nutritional yeast are also added. This pie can be baked in an oblong pan pan and cut into the traditional squares. Another idea is baked tofu marinated in lemon and olive oil,along with a good sprinkle of Greek seasoning. You can buy this last or make it yourself. It's an easy mix of oregano, garlic and dill.parsley marjoram and thyme is also blended in along with cinnamon and nutmeg. This mix works well added to another Hellenic dish gone meatless - moussaka. This is lasagna using with sliced eggplant instead of pasta., Lentils and tomatoes are another tasty and vitamin rich layer, highlighted with onion and garlic. There is a bechamel sauce added , but you can make a non dairy one using soaked and unsalted cashews.

Since it is a holiday dinner, also offer one or two sides. You could just make a simple Greek salad using vegan feta. This can be store bought like Violife that you can find at whole Foods or online at Vegan Essentials. The non-dairy kind can be homemade.It's taking a block of firm tofu and blended with a mix of apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast and miso paste. Lemon  juice, coconut oil and onion powder are also mixed in to give it that unique briny, salty taste. Rice filled dolmades or stuffed grape leaves will pair well with the spanokopita or moussaka These are grape leaves filled with rice , lemon juice , Spring onions and garlic. It's a quick steam in a pot of hot water mixed with olive oil. The last is added to prevent the rolls from breaking or the leaves from tearing. Beet salad is another great side. Dress boiled and sliced beets with just a lemon and olive oil vinaigrette. Spanokorizo is the perfect side to Greek marinated tofu. This is a simple mixture of rice and spinach with tomatoes or tomato paste. Mint and chopped dill are added for more flavor.

It is possible to have a vegan or vegetarian Greek Orthodox Easter. Make the delicious spanokopita or moussaka as the main dish. Try the Greek marinated tofu if you want more protein. Serve with tasty Hellenic inspired sides for the ultimate holiday feast.

A Winter Classic Gone Vegan

 Winter means ones thing - a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches. Yet what happens when you forgo dairy? Sub in with good vegan ingredients. You'll still get the same taste without the real thing.

I love a good grilled cheese but it's impossible  to make in a vegan household. That's when Violife aged non dairy cheese comes in handy.

It's partially hidden by the bread. (I used artesenal instead of white or whole whear). Violife is an unusual  potato starch  and  corn based cheese , coming out of Thessalonika Greece.It's more sold overseas but  it's also in stores like Stop & Shop, Shop Rite and Whole Foods. here in the New York area. The company has everything from feta to different types of cheddar and Colby.

It's important to slather mayo on the bread before grilling or frying so I used Nayonnaise for this.

 You can also use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or an oat butter like Miyoko's. Mayo helps keep the bread moist during cooking (this is a tip from the New York Times Food section)
Wafer thin tomato slices were then added and the whole sandwich was fried in I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.

  They're very thick sandwiches which made flipping impossible. It was still delicious, especially with the aged cheddar taste of Violife. You can add Morningstar Farms bacon for a different , diner influenced vibe. This can also be the perfect accompaniment to tomato soup.

Vegans can have this classic sandwich. Just use a cheese like Violife and create a warm gooey bite , perfect for these chilly days. It's a great way to eat healthy while still having  flavorful cheesy goodness.