Vegan, vegetarian & pescatarians dishes in Harringay

Undoubtedly, the first thing that comes to mind when Harringay is mentioned is Turkish restaurants, which have increased over the last few years. These restaurants, can attract thousands of customers with their seating capacity each day.

The food establishments in the area, which even get flooded by people from outside London - especially at the weekend - whet the appetite with meat dishes such as kebabs. On busy days, the barbeque aroma rises from the street and fills its surroundings.

Since the most famous Turkish cuisines available in the UK such as kebabs and doner sandwiches are meat-based, there is a big misconception that vegetarian and vegan options are limited on Turkish tables. This assumption couldn’t be further from the truth as Turkey is home to many dishes that don’t include meat or any animal-based products in their recipes. While the inventors of such recipes didn’t precisely have vegans in mind as they prepared them, these dishes are extremely vegan-friendly.

Also, it is a mistake to think that these delicacies are any less exciting because they do not contain meat or dairy. If prepared right, beans and other vegetables can get as sweet or spicy as any other Turkish meatbased cuisine, so veggie, vegan and lactose intolerant diners can visit Harringay and tuck into delicious Turkish dishes like any other customer.

Kunefe also known as kunafa or knafeh is one of the heavenly Turkish desserts made with syrup.

FISH DISHES Seabass and prawns are very common in restaurant menus.

PATISSERIES There are many local bakeries and groceries on Green Lanes serve a range of good pastries like different types of bread, sandwiches, sesame sticks, simits, baklava, cakes and much more. Especially baklava is a traditional Turkish, Greek, and Middle Eastern dessert made of phyllo dough, also known as filo pastry.

MEZES Mezes are an assortment of small dishes eaten as appetizers or a light meal. Their contents vary by region, but the concept of grazing on a board filled with savoury goodies remains the same. Dips and spreads, such as yogurt, haydari, and babaganoush are commonplace. Lots of vegan foods like kisir, hummus and ezme are also available. There are also many types of salads.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 24/7 grocers serve fresh fruit and vegetables from all around the world.

“Top must try vegan & vegetarian foods ”

SOUPS Soups are one of the main foods in Turkish cuisine. Lentil soups are especially common.

SARMA AND DOLMA These are usually vine leaves stuffed with rice, currants, onions, and pine nuts. The stuffing is completely vegan and is prepared using olive oil. Spices can also be added to give it that extra flavour. It is a relatively common meal in Turkish households as well as in Greek cuisine, and many children grow up learning the delicate art of rolling stuffed vine leaves.

Gozleme

GOZLEME You can find this dish at some grocers and eateries in Harringay, often being freshly made by women next to the shopfront. Gozleme is basically a Turkish milk-less pancake, made with thin flatbread cooked over a griddle. They sometimes like to stuff them with mincemeat or cheese, but you can usually get potato and spinach instead. Some places will serve gozleme with onions, mushrooms, and parsley too.

PIDE A kind of Turkish pizza made from thin crispy bread, baked in an oven. Again, there is a huge variety of toppings, many of which are meat free, in most places, you can usually get them cheese-less and covered with finely cut vegetables.

CIG KOFTE Its name literally translates to “raw meatballs,” despite not having a single gram of meat. This dish is made from bulgur wheat, spiced up and complemented with sweet pomegranate sauce. It is sold by street food vendors, mainly in the south-eastern and central regions of Turkey.

SIMIT Another widespread street food in Turkish cuisine is Simit. This traditional Turkish snack is a bagellike bread ring (prepared without dairy or eggs) covered with sesame seeds. There are many simit vendors in Harringay, and it makes for an excellent snack, especially when you’re on the move.

KISIR Kisir is a bulgur-based salad. The dish’s main ingredients include finely ground bulgur wheat, tomato paste and parsley. Kisir can also often include olive oil, lemon juice, onion, garlic, sour pomegranate, cucumber, pickles and spices