Favorite Recipes for the Lenten Season

A staple of the Lenten season. This recipe makes 6 - 8 servings and is hearty, nutritious, and delicious.

These are easy to prepare and when dressed with a bit of olive oil and lemon, you will really enjoy the clean, pure taste.

Stuffed with rice, pine nuts, and fresh herbs, dolmathakia (dol-mah-THAH-kya) take a little bit of time to prepare, but they are so worth the effort!  You can also see this step-by-step photo tutorial on how to stuff and roll grape leaves.

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

The Greek meze (meh-ZEH) or appetizer table would not be complete without this creamy spread.  Wonderfully salty and richly flavored it is a traditional favorite of the Lenten season.

Vegetable dishes that are cooked with olive oil and tomatoes are referred to as lathera (lah-the-RAH) in Greek, because the key ingredient is flavorful olive oil, or “lathi.”  Skip the sprinkling of crumbled feta cheese if you want to strictly adhere to fasting guidelines.

Briam is an oven roasted vegetable dish that can be adapted according to what is in season. Layers of vegetables are baked in a savory tomato sauce and served either as the main meal or as a tasty side dish.​

The word "orphana" means "orphaned" and in Greek cooking, usually means a dish that can be made with meat, but in this case is made without. Cabbage is a favorite winter food, and this meatless recipe is delightful and a Lenten favorite. These cabbage rolls are delicious as a main dish, but I often make them using small pieces of the cabbage leaf, to create small rolls that are perfect as a side dish, addition to a buffet table, or appetizer. Try them also using chard leaves and...MORE Romaine lettuce leaves (photo).

This meatless version of stuffed vegetables is so delicious, you'll never miss the meat. The stuffing is a mixture of rice and vegetables. This is my granddaughter's favorite version of stuffed vegetables and a great way to get her to eat healthy foods she might not otherwise touch! If there's any filling left over, freeze it and use it another time. Defrost for 3-4 hours.

Another deceptively simple dish, potatoes are stewed with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and seasonings to create a hearty and warming dish.

Fava is made with yellow split peas (or yellow daal), and puréed to create a light appetizer or meze that, during Lent, goes exceptionally well with salty dishes as well as dark leafy greens. This is a great dish for vegetarians and vegans as well.

This version without cheese is as popular with Greeks as the version with cheese and is a popular Lenten and fasting dish. Although the name for this dish is often used for the spinach pie with cheese, traditional spanakopita does not include cheese. Made with other greens, this pie is called hortopita.

If you aren't familiar with bulgur (also spelled "bulghur"), it is partially hulled wheat that has been soaked, steamed, dried, then crushed - and it can basically be used wherever you might use rice. It cooks quickly - like rice - and it has a wonderful nutty flavor. Bulgur is one of my favorite grains, and if you haven't tried it, this might be the perfect opportunity.