Orthodox Lenten Menu 2021, with Less Time in the Kitchen

Orthodox Lenten Menu with Less Time in Kitchen

This year, Orthodox Christians celebrate Pascha (Easter) much later than do Catholic and Protestant
Christians. While others are about half way through Lent, our Lent just started on March 15. 

Orthodox Lenten foods exclude meat, poultry, most fish, dairy, and eggs. In other words, mostly Vegan foods. This menu is all Vegan, with an emphasis on reducing your time in the kitchen, and your money spent on foods, so that you can focus on the tasks of Lent - Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving. 

If you really hate cooking, but still want to observe Lent, check out this post:

40 Day Lenten Menu for People Who Hate to Cook

If you have family members who do not observe Lent, and you need to prepare food for them, check out these posts:

Month of Meals for Vegan and Omnivore Family 

This year's Lenten menu is a simple double. I made a three week plan, and then repeated it for a full Lent worth of recipes. Many of these recipes can be doubled for the freezer, so I'll make a note by each one to give freezer ideas. If you play it right, half the days of Lent (which can be quite busy with services!) will be almost cooking-free : )

1. Lentil Soup over Spaghetti (Double Lentil Soup and Blend it to Freeze. Serve with Vinegar on Holy Friday)

Lentil Soup over Spaghetti

2. Bamies Yachni (Quadruple Sauce, and add to Peas & Artichokes, and to Revythia, and Gigantes to serve later in Lent. For the second 1/2 of Lent, you may want another quadruple batch of sauce)

Bamies Yachni

Peas & Artichokes

Revythia

 

Gigantes (Greek Giant Beans)

3. Chinese Stir Fry Over Rice (Cook Extra Rice for Freezer, but veggies must be made fresh)

Chinese Stir Fry Over Rice

4. Greek Style Black Eyed Peas

 

Greek Style Black Eyed Peas

5. Calzone Casserole (Make Extra Bread Mix to use later - you can use it to make breadsticks to go with Spaghetti, or with a number of other meals)

Calzone Casserole

6. Revythia (use Sauce from Freezer, day 2)

Revythia

 

7. Spaghetti (you can make noodles in microwave & use jarred sauce, or make homemade sauce & freeze half) Use your Bread Mix from day 5, if you like.

Spaghetti

8. Veggie Fajitas (Make Extra Sauteed Veggies for Freezer, and Extra Refried Beans for Freezer. You can also send the Refried Beans in Lunch Burritos)

 

Veggie Fajitas

 

Refried Beans

Lunch Burritos with Leftover Refried Beans, Rice & Salsa

9. Skyline at Home (Double Bean Recipe for Freezer)

Skyline at Home

10. Peas & Artchokes Yachni (use sauce from freezer)

Peas & Artichokes

11. 10 Minute Lazy Day Lo Mein (This is a super easy recipe, but still, it is possible to freeze cooked spaghetti & veggies to use later, if you like & have the freezer space)

10 Minute Lazy Day Lo Mein

12. Chili over Rice (Make Extra Chili for Freezer & serve over potatoes later in Lent)

Chili over Rice

13. Gigantes (Use 3 to 4 cups of Sauce from Freezer)

Gigantes (Greek Giant Beans)

14. Veggie Burgers, Oven Fries (both from Freezer Section of Grocery Store - I use Vegan Boca Burgers & serve with all the fixin's - buns, mustard, ketchup, onion, tomato, etc). If you prefer homemade, here's my recipe Burgers & Fries, Vegan Style

Burgers & Fries, Vegan Style

 

15. Moujendra (This may be doubled & frozen)

Moujendra

16. Eggplant Stew  (Both the Stew & the Rice may be doubled & frozen)

Eggplant Stew

17. Black Bean Soup (May be doubled & frozen)

Black Bean Soup

18. Pad Thai (cannot be frozen - needs to be made fresh each time)

Pad Thai

19. Tabbouli & Lentil Salads (Grains & Legumes may be doubled & frozen for later use - then after thawing, add fresh veggies & dressing)

Tabbouli

 

 

Lentil Salads

20. Fasolia Yachni (may be doubled & frozen to serve later)

Fasolia Yachni

21. Bulgur Pilaf (may be doubled & Frozen)

Bulgur Pilaf

And, of course, even during Lent, sometimes you need a little treat. Many Converts to Orthodoxy are shocked to find that sugar is not one of the foods on the forbidden list (though, without a doubt, it should not be overindulged in during Lent). 

To keep our easy cooking theme, I'll share one of my more popular easy desserts - 

Vegan Cookies from a Store-Bought Cake Mix.

 

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