Being a Vegetarian traveller can be tough. You find yourself in places where you can’t get the right kind of food, simply because almost all the locals are meat-lovers! And not finding the right kind of food can ruin the whole experience and dampen your spirits. Totally relatable?

Well, fear not. You don’t always have to eat out of supermarkets, stick to salads and breads or pack your vegetarian meals. Because,like these food bloggers, you’ll find that even the most ‘meat-loving’ places have great vegetarian dishes. Here are 7 that we’ve chosen from across the world. They are not only good, but heavenly. They are sure to lift your spirits:

1) Jordan : The Mezze

The first in our list comes straight from Jordan. In fact, it’s not just a single dish, but a collection of vegetarian dishes similar to Tapas, that’ll leave you delighted and spoilt for choice.

Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrails) , a leading vegetarian food blogger tells us why eating Mezze with a large group can be really fun:

“Mezze for a crowd means lots and lots of small plates, and here’s where vegetarians can really dig in. Mezze, similar to the Tapas in Spanish cuisine, comprises small plates for community sharing, dipping a piece of bread into the variety of dips, and generally having fun with food. Variety of fresh salads, dips like hummus, moutabel and labneh, stuffed vine leaves (dolma), mixed pickled vegetables are some of the popular cold mezze.”

2) Amsterdam : The Dutch Pancakes

Soft, fluffy and delicious, pancakes are famous world-over, including European countries like the Netherlands. And the best part is that in Netherlands, you’ll find veggie versions, and eat them in all forms: full meal, dessert or savoury. And whether it’s toppings of cheese, fruits, mushrooms or a wide range of syrups, you will enjoy every moment you spend eating them. And Soumya (@soumna_travelbooksfood ) experienced just that :

“…I decided to order a savoury Dutch pancake (Pannenkoken). They have lots of vegetarian options, both savoury and sweet. It is definitely a treat for the foodie since the pancakes made there are so delicious. It was perfection.”

3) Greece : The ‘Veggie’s Gyros’

While Greece does have multiple vegan and vegetarian dishes for travellers (think falafels, hummus and tabouli), we decided to feature Gyros, simply because it isn’t a vegetarian dish! Well, at least that’s what people usually think. Sophie (@thewanderfulme ) discovered to her surprise that some restaurants also serve a vegan version of the dish, that’s equally yummy and will leave you satisfied.

“This might be a little unbelievable to some but, yes! Gyros can be made vegan. While at one of the many restaurants in Monastiraki square, I ordered a vegan gyro. The waiter looked at me a little funny but just order a grilled vegetable one without the sauce and lots of spices. It’s delish!”

4) Japan : The Golden Sesame Ramen

This soupy noodle dish is unique to Japan, with a broth that is tangy, slightly sweet and thick, making it a very hearty and flavourful meal. Here’s what Nada (@onearabvegan ) , a vegan blogger had to say about it:

“I opted for the Golden Sesame Ramen, which was divine. A combination of toasted sesame seeds, a hearty peanut and miso based broth, greens, faux soy meat crumbles, sautéed vegetables and perfectly cooked noodles – this had to have been one of my favourite meals of the whole trip.”

5) Italy – The Chocolate Calzone

While heavy, flavourful meals are sure to lift your spirits, it doesn’t always have be the case. Sometimes, it’s the dessert that makes all the difference and this vegetarian blogger gives us a perfect example:

“#QuirkyItaly The sheer joy of getting lost and discovering something better while trying to find that little perfect place amid tiny streets in #Rome We landed at this #pizzeria that served amazing pizza but even more satisfying was this #dessert the #chocolate #calzone sprinkled with sugar and more chocolate. Chocolate oozed out of each bite full making it a messy but gratifying eat. At Dar Poeta in Trastevere #Rome “ ~ @foodalong

6) Taiwan – The Hot Pot

Happiness is when you get to make a dish with ONLY your favourite ingredients! And preparing the hot pot is just that, as this food blogger (@tinytaster ) describes:

“I can’t even begin to describe how satisfying a hot pot meal is. While most people don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own meal I think it’s wonderful. A basic broth is given to you with every condiment and ingredient possible. You wait for it to boil, add in the ingredients … and eat while you cook! “

7) Turkey – The Turkish Breakfast

The last in our list is again a collection of dishes that makes for a rich meal : the Turkish breakfast! It is sure to help you kickstart your day feeling alive and fully energetic, and  Revati Charles ( @differentdoors ) tells us why:

“The traditional take on Turkish breakfast is quite interesting, and we were a bit flummoxed on the first day when we went to the dining room at the Ayasofya Hotel for breakfast. A selection of cold cuts, cheeses, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, breads, dry fruits and deep fried cheese pastries … All of this washed down with a deep dark cup of Turk Kahvesi – a coffee that’s brewed with the grounds still at the bottom.”

So, no matter where you’re headed next, we’re sure that there will be delicious vegetarian dishes lying in wait, to surprise and cheer you up! Have you felt this before? To be in a strange land, and find great food in places that you least expected? Tell us about your happy food moments in the comments section.

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