The Lenten Fast (Easter Fast) lasts for about 40 days. During this time, Christians do not eat meat dishes, but they are allowed shellfish on certain days. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. In other words, 6 weeks of eating vegan food. The Nativity Fast lasts from November 15th until Christmas (December 25) and the principles are similar.

Through the year, Greek Orthodox Christians observe other smaller fasts and, unless marked otherwise in the calendar, every Wednesday and Friday are fast days, year-round.

Whether you fast for religious purposes or just decide to try the amazing vegan Greek food, there are no shortages of dishes to enjoy during this time of the year.

Here are my favorite Greek foods to eat during lent, including how to make these dishes.

Oven roasted potatoes served with cabbage-carrot salad (Potatoes sto fourno ; Lachano-carota salata)

Although the potatoes are traditionally served as a side dish to accompany meat, you can turn them into a meal per se and serve with a salad.

To make the potatoes you will need 5 potatoes, 3 garlic cloves (minced), ¾ cup of olive oil, juice from half a lemon, salt, pepper, oregano, and enough water to cover them. Toss everything together in a pan, mix well, and put in the oven. It takes about 45 min to an hour to get the golden color.
In the meantime, make the salad. Grate a carrot and ½ cabbage. Add to those the juice from a lemon, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh dill.

Greek Beans Soup (Fassolatha)

It is the most popular Greek soup and my go-to meal during winter. It does take a while to make it, but you can “hack” the recipe to speed up a bit the process. Traditionally, you need to soak the beans overnight, then boil them for half an hour, before tossing them with the rest of the ingredients. Or you can use canned beans. You will also need carrots, celery, onion, tomatoes, bay leaf, and oregano.

Make fassolatha

Stuffed grape leaves (Dolamdes)

Dolmades are not a traditional Greek dish. In fact, you can find them all over the Balkans and Levant, taking various forms. In Greece, the dish is vegan and the mixture in wrapped in grape leaves. You will need eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, onion, rice, olive oil, and grape leaves.

Make dolmades

Lentils soup (Fakes soupa)

If you don’t plan to fast on Good Friday, then you can make this traditional meal. You will only need lentils, tomatoes, onion, olive oil, garlic, bay leaves, and water. Lentils cook very fast, especially if you soak them for half an hour before cooking.

Make fakes soupa

Yellow Split Peas Pure (Fava)

If you are looking for a tasty appetizer, then fava will hit the spot. You will only need yellow split peas, onions, garlic, juice of two lemons, olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and water. It is easy to make and tastes like heaven.

Make fava

How I keep the fast

As a child, I used to fast during the last week of Easter Lent and tried to fast all day on Good Friday. My family has never fasted for Christmas, though. As I moved on my own, I changed my diet to be mostly vegan and many times I would try, on purpose, to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. And since I’ve switched to fully vegan in August 2017, every day I eat lent food.

Note on olive oil

A literal interpretation of the rules, forbids eating olive oil during lent, especially in the countries where it is not a major part of the diet. Traditionally, olive oil is permitted on Saturdays and Sundays, starting with the second week of the Lenten Fast (Easter) until the end. The rules are a bit different during the Nativity Fast, when olive oil is permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Do you keep any of the fasts? What do you eat?

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