Lenten Main Dishes for Greek Orthodox Fasting
Main dishes that do not include dairy products, meats, and fish, appropriate for times of fasting as defined by the Greek Orthodox faith.
Aginares me Hortarika: Artichokes with Vegetables
Artichoke hearts with vegetables in a light lemon-dill sauce create a delicious side dish that goes especially well with lamb and pork main dishes. This is a variation on Anginares à la Polita (Artichoke Stew in the Constantinople style) that is a Greek classic.
Artichoke hearts with vegetables in a light lemon-dill sauce create a delicious side dish that goes especially well with lamb and pork main dishes. This is a variation on Anginares à la Polita (Artichoke Stew in the Constantinople style) that is a Greek classic.
Black-Eyed Peas with Capers - Mavromatika me Kapari
This easy dish highlights black-eyed peas with the tastes of onions, capers, and dill. Because it is often served chilled or at room temperature, we call it a salad, but it makes a wonderful warm side dish or vegetarian and vegan main dish.
This easy dish highlights black-eyed peas with the tastes of onions, capers, and dill. Because it is often served chilled or at room temperature, we call it a salad, but it makes a wonderful warm side dish or vegetarian and vegan main dish.
Broad Beans & Artichoke Hearts - Koukia me Aginares
Broad beans and artichoke hearts are a delightful taste combination and a favorite main dish during the lenten season. It can also be served as a side dish.
Broad beans and artichoke hearts are a delightful taste combination and a favorite main dish during the lenten season. It can also be served as a side dish.
Brown Lentils & Rice - Fakes me Ryzi
This vegetarian- and vegan-friendly recipe for lentils cooked with rice, herbs, and spices meets the most stringent Greek Orthodox guidelines for periods of fasting and the Great Lent. It also happens to be frugal, healthy, and delicious as an appetizer, salad, side, or main dish.
This vegetarian- and vegan-friendly recipe for lentils cooked with rice, herbs, and spices meets the most stringent Greek Orthodox guidelines for periods of fasting and the Great Lent. It also happens to be frugal, healthy, and delicious as an appetizer, salad, side, or main dish.
Domatosoupa me Lathi: Tomato & Pasta Soup
Made with fresh tomatoes, vegetables, and pasta, this hearty soup is a cold-weather delight.
Made with fresh tomatoes, vegetables, and pasta, this hearty soup is a cold-weather delight.
Fakes: Lentil Soup
Legumes are an important part of the Greek diet, and lentil soup is a perennial favorite as well as a lenten dish consumed during fasting periods in the Greek Orthodox faith.
Legumes are an important part of the Greek diet, and lentil soup is a perennial favorite as well as a lenten dish consumed during fasting periods in the Greek Orthodox faith.
Fassolakia Freska me Domata: Fresh Green Beans and Tomato
As simple as this recipe looks, it will fast become a family favorite. Fresh grean beans, tomatoes, herbs and spices are simmered together long enough for the tastes to meld. Served in larger portions, it can also be used as a main dish.
As simple as this recipe looks, it will fast become a family favorite. Fresh grean beans, tomatoes, herbs and spices are simmered together long enough for the tastes to meld. Served in larger portions, it can also be used as a main dish.
Fassolatha: Greek Bean Soup
The national food dish of Greece is Fassolada, a hearty bean soup. It is a delicious dish that represents the best of Greek cooking: vegetables, herbs, and olive oil. There are many variations of this wonderful dish, and this recipe can be made with tomatoes or with lemon.
The national food dish of Greece is Fassolada, a hearty bean soup. It is a delicious dish that represents the best of Greek cooking: vegetables, herbs, and olive oil. There are many variations of this wonderful dish, and this recipe can be made with tomatoes or with lemon.
Fried Yigandes (Gigantes) Beans - Yigandes Tiganitoi
Dried giant ("yigandes") beans are cooked, coated in flour, and fried until crispy. A delightful vegetarian dish that also meets Greek fasting (Lenten) requirements.
Dried giant ("yigandes") beans are cooked, coated in flour, and fried until crispy. A delightful vegetarian dish that also meets Greek fasting (Lenten) requirements.
Kalamarakia Tiganita: Fried Squid (Calamari)
There's no secret to this wonderful dish - the squid is dredged in flour, fried, and served with lemon. Listed as an appetizer, it is often served as a meze, side dish, or entree as well.
There's no secret to this wonderful dish - the squid is dredged in flour, fried, and served with lemon. Listed as an appetizer, it is often served as a meze, side dish, or entree as well.
Kalamarakia Yemista: Baked Stuffed Squid
Squid (calamari) is a Greek favorite, cooked in many ways. This recipe is for squid with an herb, rice, and raisin stuffing, suitable for lenten Sundays.
Squid (calamari) is a Greek favorite, cooked in many ways. This recipe is for squid with an herb, rice, and raisin stuffing, suitable for lenten Sundays.
Makaronia me Thalassina kai Ouzo: Seafood Pasta with Ouzo
Penne pasta, shrimp, crawfish, and ouzo combine to create a taste sensation.
Penne pasta, shrimp, crawfish, and ouzo combine to create a taste sensation.
Octopus Stewed with Onions & Tomato - Htapothi Stifatho
Stifatho is a stew made with tomatoes and a lot of those wonderful small pearl onions. This is a delightful main dish that also meets lenten requirements.
Stifatho is a stew made with tomatoes and a lot of those wonderful small pearl onions. This is a delightful main dish that also meets lenten requirements.
Popping Fried Snails - Kohli Bourbouristi
"Bourbouristi" isn't really a word - it's the Greek equivalent of the sound the snails make when frying. These snails, seasoned with rosemary, are a great main dish or meze.
"Bourbouristi" isn't really a word - it's the Greek equivalent of the sound the snails make when frying. These snails, seasoned with rosemary, are a great main dish or meze.
Revithosoupa: Chickpea Soup
Chickpea soup is a warming and filling thick soup that isn't as appealing to the eye as it is to the tastebuds. It's easy to make, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and this version has few ingredients.
Chickpea soup is a warming and filling thick soup that isn't as appealing to the eye as it is to the tastebuds. It's easy to make, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and this version has few ingredients.
Snails and Stone-Ground Wheat or Bulgur
Snails are a specialty on the island of Crete, and this is a classic recipe for snails cooked with stone-ground wheat. Bulgur is a common alternative and perhaps more readily available.
Snails are a specialty on the island of Crete, and this is a classic recipe for snails cooked with stone-ground wheat. Bulgur is a common alternative and perhaps more readily available.
Soupa me Bizelia: Split Pea Soup
When the weather turns cold, this thick soup is especially delightful. It's vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and a favorite lenten dish as well.
When the weather turns cold, this thick soup is especially delightful. It's vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and a favorite lenten dish as well.
Spanakorizo: Spinach and Rice
Made with fresh or frozen spinach, this is a quick dish to fix, and a delicious and healthy addition to any meal.
Made with fresh or frozen spinach, this is a quick dish to fix, and a delicious and healthy addition to any meal.
Stovetop Vegetable Stew
Peas, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes with a fabulous selection of herbs and spices. A great vegetarian, vegan, and Lenten dish.
Peas, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes with a fabulous selection of herbs and spices. A great vegetarian, vegan, and Lenten dish.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Rice - Lahanodolmathes Orphana
Cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice and herbs can be made with the full cabbage leaf as a main course, or made into small rolls as an appetizer or side dish using pieces of the leaf.
Cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice and herbs can be made with the full cabbage leaf as a main course, or made into small rolls as an appetizer or side dish using pieces of the leaf.
Stuffed Vegetables with Rice - Yemista me Ryzi
This vegetarian version of stuffed tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant is so delicious, you'll never miss the meat.
This vegetarian version of stuffed tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant is so delicious, you'll never miss the meat.