15 Greek Lenten Recipes (2024)

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Mary Claire Lagroue

15 Greek Lenten Recipes (1)

Mary Claire Lagroue

Mary Claire Lagroue works as an associate commerce editor at Food & Wine. A former associate editor at Allrecipes, she joined Dotdash Meredith in 2019. She has written about food since 2017, and her work can be found in Cooking Light, Southern Living, and more.

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Published on February 4, 2021

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (2)

In the Greek Orthodox Church, the Lenten fast involves more than abstaining from meat. The faithful forego meat by-products, too, which means no cheese, butter, or eggs. The fast also limits fish, but other seafood like shrimp, mussels, and calamari have the OK. Greek Orthodox or otherwise, you can eat well while you fast thanks to all the fresh vegetables, grains, herbs, and seafood that abound in the Mediterranean. Here are 15 great Greek recipes to start with this Lent.

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Briam (Greek Baked Zucchini and Potatoes)

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (3)

Fill up on layers of roasted potatoes, zucchini, and red onions with briam, a delicious vegetarian main. Coated in pureed fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and fresh parsley, this dish couldn't get healthier.

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Greek Lentil Soup (Fakes)

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You won't miss meat when you dig into this hearty lentil soup, filled with aromatics like garlic, oregano, and rosemary. The ingredient that takes the flavor to the next level, however, is a drizzle of red wine vinegar on top.

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03of 15

Fasolakia (Greek Green Beans)

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (5)

Another plant-based dish eaten as a main, Fasolakia (Greek Green Beans) makes a comforting Lenten meal, especially when served with crusty bread. You'll want to sop up all the sauce you can!

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My Big Fat Greek Baked Beans

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (6)

You may not think of baked beans as Greek food, but these tomatoey, honey-sweetened beans will leave a lasting impression. Just omit the feta for an Orthodox-approved meal.

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Greek Baklava

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (7)

Perhaps the most loved Mediterranean dessert, baklava can easily turn into a Lenten-friendly treat if you replace butter with olive oil, commonly done in Greece, Allrecipes editor Diana Moutsopoulos says.

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06of 15

Spinach and Rice (Spanakorizo)

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (8)

"As a Greek-American family, we eat this often, especially during Lent and as a main dish," home cook ReneeFS says. "This recipe is authentic."

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Fasolatha

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (9)

A warm bowl of this white bean and vegetable soup will hit the spot on a cool evening. And the easiness of this recipe will hit the spot when you're busy!

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Shrimps Saganaki (Greek Recipe)

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (10)

Shrimp dinners can save you time on a Lenten weeknight, and using peeled and deveined shrimp will cut the time of this easy recipe. For a true saganaki supper, which refers to the style of cooking in a pan, don't add stock at the end. And to fast in true Greek fashion, leave out the feta.

09of 15

Vegan Tahini Cookies

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (11)

These sesame cookies need neither dairy nor eggs to turn out wonderfully chewy. Recipe submitter and Allrecipes editor Diana Moutsopoulos calls them "a virtuous treat." What better cookie to bake for Lent?

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Octapodi Kokkinisto (Greek Octopus in Tomato Sauce)

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (12)

Most of us don't eat octopus often, if at all, but it will shake up your Lenten routine for the better. Before you let this seafood intimidate you, note the recipe directions! With only two steps, it's totally doable for home cooks.

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Calamari

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (13)

More familiar than octopus, breaded, fried calamari is a Mediterranean favorite that will appeal to the whole family — even if you neglect to tell picky kids they're eating squid.

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Arakas Latheros (Greek Peas with Tomato and Dill)

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (14)

"Peas are normally considered a side dish, but in Greece it is common to eat a plate full of vegetables as a main course," Allrecipes editor Diana Moutsopoulos says. This combination of peas and potato wedges holds its own as much as any other vegetarian main dish, and it will hold you over well until your next meal.

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Taramosalata

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (15)

Combine fish roe with bread, olive oil, onion, and lemon juice in a food processor for a delicious spread to serve over, well, more bread. This simple dish seems especially appropriate for a seasoning of fasting, but you're certainly not fasting from flavor here.

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Mussels in a Fennel and White Wine Broth

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (16)

You'll forget you're fasting with this restaurant-worthy dish, which tastes nicely fresh thanks to roasted fennel, cherry tomatoes, and fresh parsley.

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Greek Potato Stew

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15 Greek Lenten Recipes (17)

Potatoes will always rescue you from your Lenten dinner woes, and this simple does so with all the Greek flavors you crave. Again, omit the feta for an Orthodox-friendly fast. As home cook MOONNOODLE says, "Kalamata olives and garlic are all the flavor it needs."

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