Now that Mardi Gras has come to a close and Ash Wednesday is past us, Lent — aka the countdown to Easter — is in full swing, and so are meatless meal Fridays. Lent is a Christian practice that is observed for 40 days before Easter to prepare for the religious holiday, with a focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. When it comes to fasting, it’s typical for participating Christians to “give up” something they enjoy in everyday life, such as sweets, caffeine, or even hitting the snooze button on a morning alarm. Another aspect of fasting is the tradition of abstaining from meats, including beef, chicken, lamb, and pork, on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in Lent. (Some people choose to give up meat for the whole 40 days, which is not obligatory.) Going quasi-meatless for six weeks can be pretty tough if you’re not used to a pescatarian diet, so here is a round-up of delicious and easy meatless meals for Lent that you won’t be tired of come Easter.
1. Eggplant Parm
If you haven’t tried eggplant, this is the best recipe to introduce the hearty vegetable. Just like chicken parmesan, @lifewithmarq’s eggplant parm recipe features mozzarella, tomato sauce, and bread crumbs, but subbing out the meat for a vegetable. Add some pasta on the side, and you’ll feel like you’re eating at an Italian bistro.
2. Egg Salad
One of the best parts of egg salad is how flexible and customizable the recipe is; I like to add a lot of curry powder and cilantro to mine. While there are plenty of variations, @jumascreations’ easy recipe gives you a good starting base: peeled hard-boiled eggs, mayo, dijon mustard, chopped celery, green onion, salt and pepper, and lemon juice. Mash your eggs, mix everything, and pile it on some toast or atop a salad for a complete meal.
3. Sweet Potato Soup
Soup is a great vehicle for a meatless meal, plus it’s easy to make and meal-prep-friendly. This recipe from @Nicoandlouise on TikTok calls for sweet potatoes alongside carrots and onions, olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic, ginger, cumin, coconut milk, vegetable broth, and dukkah as a topping (if you’re feeling fancy). You can use almost any vegetable; I recommend zucchini, asparagus, leek, and, of course, tomato soup.
4. Marry Me Chickpeas
A twist on the classic Tuscan “Marry Me Chicken,” but make it vegetarian-friendly. This dish by TikTok user @liveeatlearn starts by sautéeing chickpeas in butter and sundried tomatoes before adding cream and parmesan cheese. Top it with fresh basil and serve over mashed potatoes, bread, or pasta as your side.
5. Vegetable Sheet Pans
A sheet pan is a great way to use up those wilting vegetables, and @liveatlearn’s easy sheet pan meal combines garlic parmesan cauliflower with chickpeas for some extra protein. First, chop up the cauliflower and place it on a baking sheet with chickpeas and a bulb of garlic. Then, drizzle the combo with some olive oil and paprika. Pop the combo in the oven to roast for about 20 minutes at 375. Take them out halfway to add parmesan on top and place the pan back in the oven. After another 15-20 minutes, drizzle your sheet pan with lemon juice and top the dish with zest and fresh Italian parsley.
6. Cauliflower Tacos
Craving Mexican? Just because you’re going meatless doesn’t mean you have to give up tacos. Instead of meat, TikTok creator @plantyou tosses roasted cauliflower in a chipotle marinade. To give it a true street-style taste, top it with avocado crema, cilantro, and red onions.
7. Honey Garlic Salmon
Meat may be off the menu, but fish is a perfectly acceptable protein for Lent Fridays. These easy salmon bites marinated in a honey garlic marinade by @ashiashome are super user-friendly since there are no exact measurements; Ashia goes by taste. For a complete meal, pair it with a grain like rice or quinoa or a side salad.
8. Coconut Lime Tofu
If you’ve been curious to try tofu, Lent is the perfect time to try this meat substitute. @Veganabittofall’s recipe comes together in 15 minutes with basic pantry ingredients that you don’t need to go on a goose chase at the grocery store. Pan fry your silken or firm tofu in sesame oil until golden on both sides, and top it with a combo of sesame oil, garlic, ginger, red curry paste, sriracha, coconut milk, brown sugar, soy sauce, and lemon or lime juice. Top it off with scallions and sesame seeds, and pair it with rice.