But our Lenten abstinence does not have to mean bland food. The foods we often associate with Lent are primarily popular American dishes from the 1950's. Catholic culture in Europe and Asia, however, has been coping with Friday abstinence (and not just during Lent) a lot longer.
The collections of recipes below may make you long for Lenten Fridays--and even to extend your Lenten abstinence to every Friday of the year!
Lenten Recipes From Germany
When we think of German food, we think of sausages and sauerbraten, not meatless dishes. Since Germany was the home of the Protestant Reformation, it's easy to forget that parts of the country, especially Bavaria, still hold tight to the Catholic Faith.
These traditional German recipes, presented by Jennifer McGavin, the About.com Guide to German Food, are the sorts of things that Pope Benedict XVI might have eaten during Lent, while growing up in his native land.
French Lent Recipes
Perhaps more than any other Western European cuisine, French food offers a wide variety of elegant meatless dishes. Not all of the recipes in this list are specifically for Lent, but all of them are appropriate for days of abstinence from meat. Let Rebecca Franklin, the About.com Guide to French Food, show you how to add some simple yet elegant variety to your Lenten menu!Spanish Recipes for Lent
Americans are well acquainted with Mexican food (or at least an Americanized version of it), but relatively few of us know much about Spanish food, to which it is related. As Lisa and Tony Sierra, the About.com Guides to Spanish Food, point out, though, Spanish food is perfect for Lent, because the Spaniards eat quite a bit of seafood. Still, not all of these recipes, which include tapas (appetizers), paella, soup, and dessert, contain seafood, so there's something here for everyone.Italian Recipes for Lent
When we think of the Catholic Church, most of us think of Rome. Under the traditional Lenten fast in the Western Church, no meat was allowed at all during Lent. (And you thought that meatless Fridays were bad enough!) It's no surprise, then, that the Italians developed many wonderful Lenten recipes that are often quite simple and wholesome, yet very delicious.
Kyle Phillips, the About.com Guide to Italian Food, offers the following collections of his favorite Lenten recipes:
Low-Carb Foods for Lent
Have you ever gained weight during Lent, even though you fasted every day and only rarely ate meat? If you're like me, you're one of those people who can benefit from a low-carb diet. Yet our Lenten staples are high in carbohydrates: spaghetti and other noodles; potatoes; breaded fish; even just bread.
You don't need to break your low-carb diet, though, just because it's Lent. Many of the European cuisines listed on this page offer low-carb recipes, but to make it easier to find some, Laura Dolson, the About.com Guide to Low Carb Diets, has compiled a list of low-carb Lenten resources.
Greek Orthodox Fasting Recipes
Eastern Orthodox (and many Eastern Catholics) practice a much stricter Lenten fast than Roman Catholics do. They abstain not only from meat but from eggs, dairy products, and even, at points, from oils. That may not seem to leave much that they can eat, but as Nancy Gaifyllia, the About.com Guide to Greek Food, shows in these collections of Lenten recipes, you might eat better when you are fasting than when you're not!- Lenten Appetizers & Mezethes for Greek Orthodox Fasting
- Lenten Salads & Side Dishes for Greek Orthodox Fasting
- 12 Favorite Greek Lenten & Fasting Recipes
- Lenten Main Dishes for Greek Orthodox Fasting
- Menu: Kathari Theftera (Clean Monday) (Clean Monday is the first day of Orthodox Lent, and one of the strictest fasting days)
