Summary
When someone says "meatless Lenten recipe," many think of boring dishes and sacrifice. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this guide: Meatless Lent: much more than a renunciation, Fish recipes (the stars of Lent), Legume and vegetable recipes.
Meatless Lent: much more than a renunciation
When someone says "meatless Lenten recipe," many think of boring dishes and sacrifice. Nothing could be further from the truth. Spanish Lenten cuisine is one of the richest and most varied repertoires that exists. Fish, seafood, legumes, vegetables, eggs, and preserves offer endless possibilities.
Here are 15 meatless recipes for the 40 days of Lent. There are dishes for all levels: from 15-minute dinners to Sunday stews. All tested, with exact quantities and real times.
Fish recipes (the stars of Lent)
1. Gilded Cod (Bacalhau à Brás)
A Portuguese recipe that takes 20 minutes to make. Cut 400 g of desalted cod into thin strips. Fry 400 g of straw potatoes (you can buy them pre-made). Sauté 2 julienned onions with 3 cloves of garlic. Mix everything in the pan and add 6 beaten eggs. Stir over medium heat until the egg sets but remains creamy. Garnish with black olives and parsley.
2. Hake Meatballs
Process 500 g of cooked hake with 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs, 1 minced garlic clove, and parsley. Form balls of about 30 g. Fry them in oil until golden brown. Serve with a homemade tomato sauce or a green sauce with peas. Makes about 20 meatballs.3. Monkfish and Clam Casserole
Cut 600 g of monkfish into pieces. Sauté 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, and 1 green pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of flour, 200 ml of white wine, and 300 ml of fish stock. Cook for 10 minutes. Incorporate the monkfish and 500 g of clams. Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes until the clams open. A hearty dish that looks like it's from a restaurant.
4. Tuna Empanada (Savory Pie)
Prepare or buy 2 sheets of empanada dough. For the filling: sauté 2 onions, 1 red pepper, and 1 green pepper for 20 minutes. Add 400 g of crushed tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Drain 2 large cans of tuna and mix with the sofrito. Fill, seal, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 30 minutes at 190 °C.
5. Cod Croquettes
Melt 80 g of butter, add 80 g of flour, and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually pour in 500 ml of milk, stirring constantly. When it thickens, add 250 g of flaked desalted cod and parsley. Spread on a tray, cover with cling film, and chill for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight). Form the croquettes, coat them in egg and breadcrumbs, and fry at 180 °C. Makes about 30.
Legume and vegetable recipes
6. Vigil Stew
The flagship dish of Castilian Lent. Cook 400 g of chickpeas with 1 bay leaf (1.5 hours if dry, 20 minutes if canned). Sauté 1 onion, 4 cloves of garlic, and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Add 400 g of spinach, the chickpeas, and 300 g of flaked cod. Cook for 10 minutes. Top with hard-boiled egg cut into quarters.
7. Lentils with Vegetables
Without chorizo or morcilla, lentils are a perfect Lenten dish. Sauté 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 green pepper, and 2 cloves of garlic. Add 400 g of Pardina lentils, 1 diced potato, 1 bay leaf, and water to cover. Cook for 30 minutes over medium heat. Pardina lentils do not need to be soaked beforehand.
8. Cod-stuffed Peppers
Roast 8 large piquillo peppers (or use canned). Fill with a mixture of 300 g of flaked desalted cod, 100 g of chopped shrimp, and thick béchamel sauce. Place them in a dish, cover with more béchamel, and gratinate for 10 minutes at 200 °C.
9. Scrambled Wild Asparagus with Shrimp
Cut 2 bunches of wild asparagus into 3 cm pieces. Sauté them in oil with 1 clove of garlic for 5 minutes. Add 200 g of peeled shrimp and sauté for 2 minutes. Pour in 4 beaten eggs and stir over low heat until it sets but remains creamy. 10 minutes in total.
10. Manchego Pisto with Egg
Chop 2 onions, 2 green peppers, 2 red peppers, 2 zucchinis, and 4 ripe tomatoes. Sauté each vegetable separately and mix at the end. Cook everything together for 10 minutes. Serve with a fried or poached egg on top. The secret to good pisto: cook each vegetable at its own time so it maintains its texture.
Quick recipes with preserves
11. Chickpea Salad with Tuna and Peppers
Mix 400 g of cooked chickpeas, 2 cans of drained tuna, 4 piquillo peppers in strips, 1/2 chopped red onion, black olives, and parsley. Dress with extra virgin olive oil, Sherry vinegar, and salt. Ready in 5 minutes. Perfect for taking to work.
12. Anchovy and Tomato Toast
Toast sourdough bread slices. Grate ripe tomato on top. Place 2-3 Cantabrian anchovy fillets on each toast. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. It's the perfect dinner when you don't feel like cooking but want to eat well.
13. Pickled Mussels with French Fries
Open 2 cans of quality pickled mussels. Serve with a portion of homemade French fries and a green salad. It sounds simple, but with good mussels, it's a satisfying dinner that's ready in 15 minutes.
Sweet Lenten recipes
14. Torrijas (French Toast)
The quintessential Lenten sweet. Heat 500 ml of milk with 150 g of sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Let cool. Soak 8 slices of day-old bread (torrija bread or brioche) in the milk for 5 minutes. Dip in beaten egg and fry in oil over medium heat. Drain and coat in sugar with cinnamon. Or bathe them in syrup: 200 ml of water, 150 g of sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, boil for 5 minutes.
15. Leche Frita (Fried Milk Pudding)
Heat 750 ml of milk with 100 g of sugar, lemon peel, and cinnamon. When it boils, remove the aromatics. Dissolve 100 g of cornstarch in a little cold milk and pour it into the hot milk, stirring vigorously. Cook until very thick (3-4 minutes). Pour into a greased tray (2 cm thick). Chill for at least 3 hours. Cut into rectangles, coat in flour and egg, and fry. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Frequently asked questions
What foods are prohibited during Lent?
Only the meat of land animals (beef, pork, chicken, lamb, rabbit) on days of abstinence. Fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, and vegetables are always permitted.
Can I use chicken broth in Lenten recipes?
If you want to respect tradition, substitute it with fish fumet or vegetable broth. The result is just as good, and the dish will be consistent with the Lenten spirit.
How many Lenten recipes do I need for the 40 days?
With 10-12 main dishes and 4-5 side dishes, you'll have plenty. Many stews last 2-3 days in the fridge. Alternate between fish, legumes, vegetables, and eggs to avoid repetition.
Are torrijas for Lent or Holy Week?
Both. Historically, torrijas were made throughout Lent as a way to use stale bread without wasting food. Today, they are more associated with Holy Week, but you can make them whenever you want during the 40 days.
Where can I buy quality cod for these recipes?
At Bacalalo.com, we work with premium Icelandic cod, desalted and ready to cook. We ship throughout Spain in 24-48 hours with a cold chain. We also have Cantabrian anchovies and selected preserves to solve your Lenten meals.
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