Lenten Main Dishes for Greek Orthodox Fasting

A delicious and hearty lentil and rice pilaf flavored with savory herbs and spices and the nutritional powerhouse Kale.

A vegetarian stew made with artichokes, carrots and potatoes that are highlighted by the flavors of lemon and dill. This recipe can be made as a main course or as a delicious side dish.

A simple and easy pasta recipe combining delicious lemon-roasted shrimp with spinach and mushrooms that can be enjoyed during Lenten and fasting periods.

A delicious savory bean stew of Fava or Broad beans simmered with tomatoes and onions. A great Lenten or Vegetarian meal or side dish.

A simple and rustic vegetarian stew made from chickpeas that is the specialty of the island of Sifnos, Greece.

A traditional dish for Palm Sunday, this tasty fish can be batter-fried or baked and is delicious with a tangy garlic dip known as Skordalia (skor-thal-YAH).

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 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.

This recipe for Briam is a delicious oven roasted vegetable dish featuring potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes in a savory sauce.

Made with fresh tomatoes, vegetables, and pasta, this hearty soup is a cold-weather delight.

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.

Dried giant ("yigandes") beans are cooked, coated in flour, and fried until crispy. A delightful vegetarian dish that also meets Greek fasting (Lenten) requirements.

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.

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.

Penne pasta, shrimp, crawfish, and ouzo combine to create a taste sensation.

The fabulous tastes of "stifatho" (also "stifado") dishes aren't limited to meat and seafood. This mushroom stew is a simple dish that brings favorite Greek tastes to a meatless table!

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.

"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.

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 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.

When the weather turns cold, this thick soup is especially delightful. It's vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and a favorite lenten dish as well.

Peas, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes with a fabulous selection of herbs and spices. A great vegetarian, vegan, and Lenten dish.

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.

This vegetarian version of stuffed tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant is so delicious, you'll never miss the meat.