Resources

Fasting Recipes

Simple, satisfying food for the fasting seasons, cooked to what the day allows.

Fasting is not a diet but a discipline of the whole person, kept in the body so the soul may pray. The recipes here are plain and nourishing, and each is marked for the day it suits, and every more lenient day after it. When in doubt about the fast, ask your priest.

Strict

No meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil. The simplest fare, for the strictest days.

Wine and Oil

Wine and olive oil are blessed for the day, a little richness on the table.

Fish

Fish is permitted, on feasts that fall within a fasting season.

Cheesefare

The bright week before Great Lent. Dairy, eggs, and fish are still blessed, but meat is set aside as the Fast draws near.

From the Kitchen

The Collection

Select a recipe to see the full ingredients, method, and printable card.

Choose a day below to see what it allows: every recipe fit for that day, plus anything simpler. A Strict day shows only the strictest fare; Cheesefare week shows the whole table.

Today is a Fish day .

Entrees Wine and Oil

Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry

A creamy, wine-and-oil curry of chickpeas simmered in coconut milk.

Serves 4 Prep 15 min Cook 30 min Total 45 min

Hearty Vegetable Soup

A warming strict-fast soup of seasonal vegetables.

Serves 6 Prep 20 min Cook 40 min Total 60 min

Marinated Baked Salmon

A quick baked salmon for days when fish is permitted.

Serves 4 Prep 10 min Cook 20 min Total 30 min

Breads Cheesefare

Maslenitsa Blini

Thin, lacy Russian pancakes for Cheesefare week, served with butter, sour cream, or honey.

Serves about 16 thin blini Prep 15 min Cook 20 min Total 35 min

Entrees Wine and Oil

Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes

Baked sweet potatoes dressed in Mediterranean flavors, a wine-and-oil entree.

Serves 4 Prep 15 min Cook 45 min Total 60 min

Mexican Pinto Beans

Long-simmered pinto beans, a simple strict-fast entree.

Serves 6 Prep 15 min Cook 90 min Total 105 min

Entrees Wine and Oil

Mujadara

Lentils and rice simmered together and crowned with deeply caramelized onions, a Lenten staple.

Serves 4 Prep 10 min Cook 40 min Total 50 min

No-Knead Lenten Bread

A simple strict-fast loaf that needs no kneading.

Serves 8 Prep 20 min Cook 45 min Total 65 min

Desserts Wine and Oil

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

A spiced wine-and-oil coffee cake for the fasting table.

Serves 12 Prep 20 min Cook 45 min Total 65 min

Soups Wine and Oil

Red Lentil Soup

A quick wine-and-oil soup of red lentils.

Serves 6 Prep 10 min Cook 30 min Total 40 min

Desserts Cheesefare

Syrniki (Farmer Cheese Pancakes)

Tender little farmer-cheese pancakes, golden outside and soft within, a Cheesefare-week favorite.

Serves about 12 small pancakes Prep 15 min Cook 15 min Total 30 min

White Bean & Kale Chili

A hearty strict-fast chili of white beans and kale.

Serves 6 Prep 15 min Cook 55 min Total 70 min

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Psalm 34:8