My 5 Favorite Gluten-Free Dishes in Greece

Remember that one scene in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when the family finds out that Ian is a vegetarian and Aunt Voula implores, "What do you mean he don't eat no meat?"  The whole room falls into a shocked silence until she proclaims, "Oh, that's okay, I make lamb." Well, that's pretty much what I expected as a Celiac in Greece. 

Thankfully, I could not have been more mistaken. Not only is the majority of Greek food naturally gluten-free, but the country itself is much more accommodating to food allergies than I had originally expected. Although it broke my heart to say no to pita bread and spanakopita, I still managed to have a delightful time feasting upon traditional Greek dishes. 

While I loved every bite I tried, here are my five favorite dishes that made eating gluten-free in Greece a delectable dream come true:

1. Dolmades

What is it?

Stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs

Where I ordered it: 

Stelios in Chania, Crete

2. Melitzanes Fournou

What is it?
Baked eggplant with tomatoes, onions, and of course - feta!

Where I ordered it: 
Roka in Oía, Santorini

3. Gyros (without pita)

What is it? 
Meat roasted on a spit, served with tomatoes, onions and tzatziki inside a pita 

(but if you're gluten-free, ask for no pita)

Where I ordered it:
Thanasis in Athens

4. Baked Feta

What is it?
Melt in your mouth goodness, topped with oregano, fresh tomatoes and peppers

Where I ordered it: 
Stelios in Chania, Crete

5. Apaki

What is it? 
Smoked Cretan pork marinated in vinegar

Where I ordered it: 
The Well of the Turk in Chania, Crete

Naturally, I also couldn't get enough of the classic Greek salads, flavorful tzatziki sauce, fresh olive oil and savory Greek yogurt with honey!

If you have Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, be sure to print out a gluten-free restaurant card like this one to give to your waiters at restaurants. While most Greeks speak excellent English, not everyone knows what gluten is - so it's important to explicitly communicate what you can and can't have. Using this card helped me try many unfamiliar Greek dishes without getting sick.

Do you have any food allergies or intolerances?
 How do you survive them while traveling?
What are some of your favorite Greek dishes?