Hi Lent! Once again, we are welcoming this season when we Catholics commemorate the passion of Christ before His resurrection. We are trying our best to journey with Him in this time. We sacrifice some of our wants and even needs to unite with Him. Sweets, social media, and coffee are famous items we usually give up during this season. And this is good! For a few days, we experience mortification which is great for our souls. This is our choice though, however, eating meat during Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent is discouraged by the Church. I find it to be exciting, to be honest, what seems to be the hassle here is looking and prepping for meatless recipes! If you are like me, you are in the right place! Here, we will list some of the easy Lenten Friday meals that can get you through the entire season.
Recipe No. 1: Vegetarian Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (frozen or fresh)
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 8 small tortillas
- Toppings: avocado, salsa, cilantro, lime wedges
Directions:
- Heat a pan over medium heat and sauté bell pepper and corn for 5 minutes.
- Add black beans, chili powder, cumin, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Warm tortillas and fill them with the vegetable mixture.
- Top with avocado, salsa, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Serve!
Recipe No. 2: Caprese Salad
Ingredients:
- 3 large tomatoes, sliced
- 1 ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Balsamic glaze
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Arrange sliced tomatoes and mozzarella on a plate.
- Sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top.
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze, then season with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately!
Recipe No. 3: Lentil Soup (Quick Version)
Ingredients:
- 1 can of lentils, drained and rinsed
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- In a pot, combine lentils, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer for 10-15 minutes to heat through.
- Serve with a slice of bread!
Recipe No. 4: Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
Ingredients:
- 2 medium zucchinis, spiralized into noodles
- ½ cup store-bought pesto
- Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
- Instructions:
Directions:
- Sauté zucchini noodles in a pan with a bit of olive oil for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
- Stir in pesto until the noodles are coated.
- Top with halved cherry tomatoes and serve!
Recipe No. 5: Tomato and Avocado Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Combine chopped tomatoes and avocado in a bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice.
- Season with salt and pepper, then toss and serve!
Recipe No. 6: Veggie Quesadillas
Ingredients:
- 2 large tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or your choice)
- ½ cup corn kernels
- ½ cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salsa for dipping
- Instructions:
Directions:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the pan.
- Sprinkle cheese, corn, black beans, and cumin on top.
- Place the second tortilla on top and cook until the cheese melts and the tortillas are golden brown (about 3-4 minutes per side).
- Serve with salsa for dipping.
Recipe No. 7: Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Tortellini
Ingredients:
- 1 package spinach and ricotta stuffed tortellini (store-bought)
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- Grated Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the tortellini according to package directions.
- Heat marinara sauce in a pot.
- Serve the cooked tortellini with marinara sauce on top and a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.
- These dishes are easy to prepare, require minimal ingredients, and can be customized based on your preferences!
Recipe No. 8: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of bread
- 2 slices of cheese (cheddar or your choice)
- 1 can tomato soup (store-bought or homemade)
- Butter for toasting
- Instructions:
Directions:
- Butter the outside of the bread slices, then place cheese between the bread.
- Grill the sandwich in a pan over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
- Heat the tomato soup in a separate pot.
- Serve the grilled cheese with the hot tomato soup.
Recipe No.9: Baked Sweet Potato with Black Beans
Ingredients:
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Toppings: sour cream or avocado (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork and bake for 40-45 minutes until soft.
- Heat black beans in a pan with chili powder, salt, and pepper for 5 minutes.
- Split the baked sweet potatoes open and top with seasoned black beans.
- Add optional toppings like sour cream or avocado, then serve.
Conclusion
There you have the Easy Lenten Friday Meals, to try in this holy season!
These recipes are just easy to cook and prepare so you can focus more on other activities you are set to do during this sacred period. Have sumptuous and blessed meals this Lent!
Mama Mary, pray for us.