I can be pretty secular and forget that Easter isn't really about bunny rabbits and egg hunts. As a matter of fact, many can't imagine Easter without Lent. Lent is the 40 day period that leads up to Easter and Catholics (14 and older) traditionally abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and all of the Fridays leading up to Easter. It takes planning and preparation to abstain. Fortunately, there is a vast array of Lenten recipes to choose from, that will provide you with ideas and alternatives to red meat, especially for this last weekend if you missed all of Lent!
Not being able to eat meat does not mean that you have to give up on flavor, in fact this is the perfect time to get creative with your meals, to branch out and incorporate ingredients you may overlook the rest of the year. These recipes are so good they're not just for Catholics during Lent, they're for food-lovers all year long and once Lent is over, you may not want to give them up and you don't have to.
Read more ¿Qué Más?: National Paella Day: Easy rice with shrimp (EXCLUSIVE RECIPE)
Warning! You may be tempted to lick the screen. It's okay if you do, I won't tell.
Cream of potato and Poblano soup
You can tell just by looking at it that this soup is going to be amazing.
Get the full recipe instructions at Nibbles and Feasts.
Enchiladas made of Swiss chard & spinach
You had me at enchiladas!
Get the full recipe instructions at La Cocina de Leslie.
Seafood paella with a Mexican twist
You can twist paella any which way but loose and I'll still like it.
Get the full recipe instructions at Muy Bueno Cookbook.
Bacalao en salsa
Another Lenten recipe that is perfect year-round.
Get the full recipe directions at Modern Mami.
Nopales with chile negro
I just don't get enough nopales in my diet, do you?
Get the full recipe instructions at Mamá Latina Tips.
Mexican shrimp cocktail
Mexican shrimp cocktails are the best!
Get the full recipe instructions at TechFoodLife.com.
Tilapia with lemon pepita sauce
Pepitas are always a welcome addition to pretty much any meal.
Get the full recipe instructions at Sweet Life.
Hearts of palm, artichoke tapenade tortillas
Tapenade is a party in my mouth.
Get the full recipe instructions at Latin Food Lovers.
Fish with black olive sauce
This fish looks so pretty dressed up with black olive sauce.
Get the full recipe instructions at Peru Delights.
