Lent / Fasting Recipes
This Lenten Bowl is a nutritious and satisfying meal, perfect for those observing Lent or simply looking for a healthy, plant-based option. Combining protein-rich lentils, fiber-rich brown rice, sautéed carrots, fresh cucumber, and cherry tomatoes, this bowl is a hearty and refreshing choice. The addition of avocado adds creaminess, while a zesty lemon dressing […]
Fava, a reduction of cooked yellow split peas, is a Greek classic and one of the most essential plant-based, legume-based spreads on the Greek table. It is an ancient food in the Eastern Mediterranean, and there are many variations. In this version, I add heirloom carrots, which lend both a deeper golden color to […]
The concept of using ground nuts, especially walnuts, to help thicken a sauce is rooted in some of the regional Lenten traditions of Greece. It was a brilliant way for cooks to mimic the texture of, say, ground meat, during periods of fasting, and to provide important nutrition. (read more on Notes below)
This recipe for Yemista me Thalassina, or peppers and tomatoes stuffed with seafood, turns the ordinary into the extraordinary! You can use any combination of seafood you like. Yemista, or stuffed peppers and tomatoes, are, of course, a Greek diet and Mediterranean diet classic, especially during periods of fasting and in the summer when […]
This lemony fresh cod and chickpea stew will have you coming back for more and dipping great crusty sourdough bread into all the thick lemony pan juices! It’s filling, healthy, easy to make and nutritious, a great example of the many ways beans and legumes are used in the traditional Greek kitchen. It’s a […]
Try these delicious Lenten tahini filo pastries.
I raised my kids on Greek soup recipes and have more than a few up my proverbial sleeve, but this one, for chunky carrot tomato soup perfumed with great spices, is really special. Its simplicity belies its delicious, complex flavor. Soups are a great Mediterranean diet food category and this one, totally vegan and […]
This Greek recipe for leek walnut rice with saffron can be both a main course and a side dish. It is perfumed with all the wonderful flavors of the Greek earth, especially in the saffron, aka krokos Kozanis. Rice is an important ingredient in the Greek diet and is often prepared as a main […]
Many recipe roads lead to a great taramosalata, arguably the best-known Greek dip and one of the great Greek meze recipes! I have a few different recipes for taramosalata, the fish roe spread that is a Lenten classic but also eaten throughout the year as a meze, on this very site. The secret to […]
THE IMPORTANCE OF HERBS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET: Herbs are widely used in the Mediterranean Diet. They are used not only as flavor enhancers but also because of their medicinal properties. The contribution of the traditional herbs of the region to good health is indeed incredible. Herbs such as parsley, oregano, rosemary and, thyme, […]