64 Best Lent Recipes

Fat Tuesday may be devoted to indulging in pancakes, paczki, or Hurricanes cocktails, but at the stroke of midnight, the fun is over and the 40-day fasting season of Lent begins. In the Christian church, Lent is a time when the faithful are meant to prepare themselves through prayer and reflection for the Eastertime celebration of Christ's resurrection.

The Catholic church, in particular, has some specific rules regarding food that apply during the Lenten season, chief among them that no meat is to be eaten on Fridays as well as on Ash Wednesday. These rules apply to everyone aged 14 and up, although parents of younger children are also encouraged to include them if they can. Luckily, the church has a somewhat liberal interpretation of what counts as meat products, so they're certainly not expecting anyone to go vegan. Cheese, eggs, and all types of dairy are okay to eat, along with fish and seafood of all sorts (as well as reptiles, amphibians, and insects, although we're a bit short on recipes for these).

Another traditional (if non-obligatory) Lenten custom involves giving up some type of favorite food for the duration - President Biden, our nation's second-ever Catholic president, has been known to make the ultimate sacrifice of going dessert-free for all 40 days. Whether you're simply observing the Lenten meat abstinence or going all-out by giving up a favorite food of your own, the following options should help you get through the season without feeling too deprived.

One beloved Lenten tradition in certain parts of the country, particularly the Midwest, is the Friday night fish fry. If you're not lucky enough to have one of these in your parish, however, you can always recreate the meal at home by frying up your own fish and chips. Just add a slice of rye bread and a cup of coleslaw, plus maybe a big piece of homemade cake and a bottle of beer, and you'll have the full church basement experience.

Recipe: Fish And Chips

In British-themed pubs, as well as in the U.K. itself, the condiment of choice for fish and chips is malt vinegar, but here in the U.S., we're more apt to opt for tartar sauce. For the fish, that is. The chips (fries) get ketchup, of course. This slightly fancy recipe for the former condiment calls for adding capers and parsley to the basic sauce, but all you really need are the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pickles. To save a little time, you can also just use pickle relish instead of dicing your own gherkins.

Recipe: Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe

While anyone under the age of 14 is not required by canon law to give up meat on Lenten Fridays, it's always easier if you can feed the same meal to the entire family. If the young ones aren't really on board with the whole fish-eating thing, though, you may be better off sticking to more child-friendly meatless dishes like good old grilled cheese. To head off complaints before they start, why not wow the kids by whipping up the very same sandwiches served at the Most Magical Place on Earth? Bonus points if you can manage to cut the bread into Mickey Mouse shapes.

Recipe: Authentic Disney Grilled Cheese

When you're thinking of meatless meals, stir-fry may not immediately come to mind, but egg foo young is a Chinese-American classic that gets its protein from eggs and shrimp. The chicken broth used in this recipe is kind of iffy, but you can always substitute it with water or vegetable or seafood stock. You can also swap out the bean sprouts for a different type of vegetable, like peas, water chestnuts, bell peppers, or carrots.

Recipe: Egg Foo Young

Tilapia may not be the most exciting or flavorful of fish, but it is one of the cheaper ones, and anyway, Lent isn't supposed to be about indulgence. This basic grilled fish cooked with olive oil and lemon juice is pretty healthy, low in carbs, and has plenty of good fat, so eating it in place of your typical Friday night takeout is a pretty virtuous thing to do. Don't worry if it's still not grilling weather where you live, since you can always pan-fry your fish instead.

Recipe: Easy Grilled Whole Tilapia

Lobster bisque is an iffy kind of dish to order at a restaurant as there's always a chance that the "lobster" will really be a cheaper crustacean such as langoustine. If you make it at home, though, you'll know exactly what goes into it, plus it's bound to be a bit cheaper, as well. Add a chunk of crusty bread and a side salad and you have a meal that manages to be light and simple, yet also delightfully indulgent.

Recipe: Easy Lobster Bisque

Macaroni and cheese is a long-time meat-free standby, one with the benefit of being pretty budget-friendly. In fact, you can often find the boxed kind for under a buck, although you do still have to add your own butter and milk. As long as you're going to the trouble, though, you might as well just make the whole dish from scratch, plus give it a few not-too-expensive upgrades like the ones in this recipe. Pasta shells are more satisfyingly chunky than elbow macaroni, while a mixture of cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, and cheddar tastes much better than any neon-orange powder.

Recipe: One-Pot Mac And Cheese

Usually when you see a food labeled "rice and chicken" or "noodles with beef," this is a major red flag that when you open the package you're going to see a lot more of the former ingredient than the latter. Well, let's set your mind at rest right away regarding this recipe: Despite the name, we assure you, there's a lot more fish than ginger. There's just enough of the ginger to add flavor, along with some honey, sriracha, and soy sauce, but the main ingredient is most definitely the salmon.

Recipe: Easy Fresh Ginger And Salmon

If you're used to having dessert after a meal, but you've given up sweet stuff for Lent, you might find yourself feeling pretty deprived a few days in. What you need is a good substitute – something that's slightly dessert-like, but not enough so that it'll make you feel like you've cheated on your vow. These microwave "baked" apples ought to do the trick – sure, they're flavored with sugar and syrup, but minus any type of crust or crumb topping, they're more of a sweet side dish than an actual dessert.

Recipe: Microwave Baked Apples

A cabbage and noodle combination is more of a side dish than a main course as it doesn't include much in the way of protein, but the good thing about it is, it's very cheap and filling. Were it not Lent, you could toss in a few chunks of kielbasa to make the cabbage and noodles into a meal. On a meat-free day, though, you might pair it with a small piece of fish, some scrambled eggs, or a grilled cheese sandwich, instead.

Recipe: Quick Cabbage And Noodles

Have you ever seen basa fish in the supermarket and wondered what it is? It's just a type of catfish and can be prepared the same way you would any other catfish. We're especially fond, however, of pan-frying it. While this recipe may be simple, it's anything but plain, as the fried fish gets all dressed up with a rich, creamy, lemon sauce. Add a green salad and some steamed rice and you'll have a meal that is as satisfying as it is quick and easy.

Recipe: Easy Fried Basa Fish

Crab meat can be very expensive and crabs can be quite tricky to eat, as well, what with having to bash them with mallets and then use picks or other implements to dig into all the hidden crevices. A far easier and thriftier way to enjoy this crustacean is by making crab cakes. Stir some breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, an egg, and some mayonnaise into a pound of crab meat and you'll find it can easily be stretched to feed six.

Recipe: Crab Cakes

If you've always found macaroni and cheese to be a bit too squishy for your taste, but you're willing to give it another go for the sake of a meat-free Friday, we recommend trying this baked version. Not only does baked macaroni and cheese tend to be drier and less goopy than the kind cooked in a pot, but here there's even a nice crunchy topping made from breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Baked Mac And Cheese

Gordon Ramsay's vocabulary may be on the profane side, but Hell's Kitchen has been known to turn out some pretty heavenly dishes. What's more, this salmon recipe has the benefit of being Lent-appropriate, as well. Our version of Ramsay's recipe isn't an exact duplicate of the Scottish chef's, however, as we've also added some lemon and swapped out his Cajun seasoning for plain cayenne pepper. Feel free to swap it back if you like, but do keep the lemon since it's every fish's best friend.

Recipe: Gordon Ramsay's Salmon

Pimento cheese may not be as southern as it purports to be as the dish actually originated deep in Yankee territory, but it is quite popular below the Mason-Dixon line. If you're not familiar with this spread, it's a (literal) mashup of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and shredded cheddar with assorted seasonings plus, of course, some chopped pimentos. While this very contemporary recipe also adds pickle juice, you can swap the stuff out for vinegar or lemon juice if you're not all that into pickles. As for what to do with your pimento cheese once you make it, it's a great sandwich filling or baked potato topper.

Recipe: Southern Pimento Cheese

Shakshuka may seem like something dreamed up by hipster foodies sometime in the past few years, but eggs baked in spicy tomato sauce are actually a traditional dish from northern Africa. We suspect one reason it's been adopted into the American trendy foods pantheon is that it's quite easy to cook and makes for a great one-pot meat-free meal. Just add a few chunks of bread for sopping up the sauce and you'll be all set for dinner.

Recipe: Simple Shakshuka

What's the best way to cook sea bass fillets? Opinions may differ, but you really can't go wrong with a simple pan fry. Top everything off with a sauce of butter, lemon, and garlic and you couldn't wish for a better fish dish. You can keep your meal nice and light by adding a basic side salad or add some starch in the form of steamed rice or boiled potatoes to make for a heartier meal.

Recipe: Sea Bass Recipe

Eggs Benedict may be stereotyped as a brunch dish, but there's no reason why it can't make for a delightful dinner – just be sure to leave out the Canadian bacon if you're serving it on a Friday during Lent. (You could always use smoked salmon instead if you're feeling fancy.)  Yes, the various components of the recipe take a little effort but mastering the arts of making great Hollandaise and poaching perfect eggs are well worth learning. Practice makes perfect, and you can take solace in the fact that while your not-so-successful efforts may not be very photogenic, they'll still make for a great-tasting, meal.

Recipe: Eggs Benedict

Pan-fried grilled cheese often comes out on the soggy side, disappointing those who prefer their sandwiches not to be limp, floppy, and dripping grease. For a "grilled" cheese sandwich that's still got some bite to it, you might be better off using the air fryer. If you take the time to grate the cheese so it melts quicker, and remember not to overdo it on the butter, you'll soon have a quick and tasty meal that's great for a Lenten lunch or light dinner.

Recipe: Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

The Lenten season is meant to bring us closer to God, but it's also a great time to get better acquainted with cod. (Perhaps we should give up the dad jokes for Lent?) If you haven't tried this type of fish before, we suggest coating it in bread crumbs, pan-frying it, and serving it with a side of tartar sauce. Conveniently enough, this twofer recipe includes directions for both fish and sauce, with a contemporary take on the latter that involves dill pickle relish and chopped fresh dill.

Recipe: Breaded Pan-Fried Cod

Macaroni and cheese can often be a very bland dish, which may be why it's considered comfort food. Comfort, after all, doesn't typically pair too well with excitement. If you're not looking to soothe your taste buds into a nap, though, you might enjoy waking them up with this cayenne and jalapeño-enhanced version of the dish. If you wish, you can even replace the Monterey jack called for here with pepper jack for some extra-intense flavor.

Recipe: Spicy Mac And Cheese

The incredible, edible egg may not be as cheap as it once was, but it's still an economical, protein-packed powerhouse. In this easy recipe, eggs are baked in bread and topped with shredded cheese to make for a super-simple main dish that works just as well at nighttime as it does in the morning. While a side of bacon or ham is verboten during Lent, at least on a Friday, you can always add a big fruit salad and some muffins to make this a breakfast-for-dinner kind of meal.

Recipe: Quick Baked Eggs In A Basket

Lent isn't exactly outdoor cooking season during most parts of the country, so you may be hesitant when you see a recipe that calls for grilling. Even if you live in a cooler climate, you needn't give up on the idea of cooking this salt-brined salmon. The same quick brining technique (it takes just a few minutes) as well as the delicious lemon butter sauce can be used for salmon that's pan-fried or oven-baked, as well.

Recipe: Easy Grilled Salmon

Haluski is a simple Polish dish made of boiled egg noodles tossed with fried cabbage and onions. The dish on its own contains very little protein so it's not really a main course, but it does make for a cheap side dish that can fill you up. As such, it could be useful for helping to stretch out a seafood entrée, or else it could be paired with a big, meat-free chef salad made with plenty of boiled eggs and chunks of cheese.

Recipe: Polish Haluski

Pierogies are another dish that is very popular in Poland and throughout Eastern Europe. These dumplings are often made with a meaty filling, while in other cases they may be filled with fruit and/or sweet cheese to make a delightful dessert, but the ones in this recipe are stuffed with potatoes and cheese so they're a legitimate Lenten entrée. If you combine them with the aforementioned haluski, you'll have a marvelously meat-free Polish-style meal.

Recipe: Pierogies

Mahi mahi is a type of white fish distinguished by having a very delicate flavor, which is culinary-speak for "it doesn't taste too fishy." If you're on the fence about fish, mahi mahi's a good one to start out with and this recipe makes it easy even if you've never cooked a fish before. All you need to do is to bake the fillets in the oven with a topping of garlicky herb butter, then squeeze on plenty of fresh lemon juice. Try it and you'll find that this baked mahi mahi makes for a decent dinner even if you're not a real fish fan.

Recipe: Simple Baked Mahi Mahi Recipe

Welsh rarebit, also known as Welsh rabbit, is a dish that isn't made with any actual rabbits (or rarebits, for that matter). It contains no meat at all, as a matter of fact, which is why it's landed on this Lenten list. Perhaps the best way to describe Welsh rarebit is as a kind of souped-up version of a grilled cheese sandwich – instead of being toasted between two slices of bread, the cheese is used to make a sauce and then poured over toast. While the sauce in this recipe is made with beer, you can substitute milk or cream if you've given up booze for Lent.

Recipe: Traditional Welsh Rarebit

If you typically celebrate the end of the work week with a large pepperoni pizza, you know that's out of the question for as long as Lent lasts. Sure, you can always make do with a cheese pizza, but for extra protein, why not try an egg pizza instead? This recipe includes directions for making your own pizza crust while calling for pizza sauce from a jar, but you can feel free to reverse the two or else just go with both store-bought crust and sauce. As for the eggs, they bake right on top of the pizza. Take it out of the oven when the yolks are still a bit runny if you prefer them that way, or else leave it in for another few minutes until they firm up to more of a boiled egg consistency.

Recipe: Egg Pizza

While the words "crispy fried" may make you think of something batter-dipped and submersed in hot oil, trout really isn't a fish that lends itself to that process. Instead, the fish fillets here are simply coated with seasoned flour, then sauteed in butter. Top the trout with a squeeze of lemon, serve it up with a side of rice and a tossed salad, and enjoy a healthy, tasty, and church-approved Friday night meal.

Recipe: Crispy Fried Trout

Cacio e pepe may sound like a fancy new dish and it certainly has been super-trendy as of late, but it's actually an old Italian standby that couldn't be much easier to make. Cacio e pepe simply translates to cheese and pepper, and those are, in fact, two of the three main ingredients. The third one, of course, is pasta, with butter making a fourth ingredient as it helps the cheese to stick to the spaghetti.

Recipe: Cacio E Pepe

Fruit salad is not something that we'd consider to be an actual dessert per se, meaning that it can be eaten without violating your Lenten vow to go without sweets for the duration. This medley of fresh fruits and berries mixed with plain yogurt makes for a pretty healthy meal ender if eaten in place of dessert, so your body as well as your soul will likely benefit from the substitution.

Recipe: Creamy Fruit Salad

While salmon is delicious all by itself or with a simple sauce of butter and lemon, it can also stand up to much stronger seasonings. Here the salmon fillets are oven-baked with a glaze of butter, honey, and lime juice spiked with cayenne, garlic, and chili powder. You could use this fish to top a tasty salad bowl or serve it with a side of rice, but either way, it's sure to be a hit with salmon lovers.

Recipe: Spicy Baked Salmon Recipe

Tuna salad on its own is kind of meh — okay, but not too exciting. Sandwich it between two slices of toast and top it with a thick, oozy layer of melted cheese, however, and you have one of the world's finest sandwiches. The tuna salad in this recipe is flavored with celery, onions, and dill, but you can feel free to omit any of those ingredients and/or substitute with relish, chopped pickles, or diced jalapeños instead. As long as you have tuna, mayonnaise, and lemon juice, these ingredients are all you really need for the salad since the cheese adds plenty of flavor.

Recipe: Simple Tuna Melt

Shrimp are a great option when you need a meatless meal in a hurry. Even if you've forgotten to defrost them ahead of time, you can easily do so by putting them in a colander and running them under cold water for a few minutes. Once they're thawed, toss them in a marinade of olive oil, lemon, crushed red pepper, and garlic, then give them a quick sauté. If you serve these garlic shrimp over rice or pasta, there's a good chance you won't be missing meat at all.

Recipe: Easy Garlic Shrimp

Red snapper may have a name that sounds bold and, well, snappy, but the flavor is actually very mild. To give it a little more bite as well as a nice crunchy texture, we recommend coating it in seasoned breadcrumbs, then baking it until it has a crispy crust. Squeeze some lemon juice over the snapper to add a bit of tang, then serve it with a salad and some type of starch like rice, pasta, or bread.

Recipe: Crusted Baked Red Snapper

This recipe is what we call a double winner. Not only is shakshuka a super-easy, meat-free meal, but anything that only calls for three ingredients saves both shopping and prep time. All you'll need to make this delicious dinner is a jar of spaghetti sauce, some pepper to season it with, and a few eggs. We suggest adding a fourth ingredient, however: Throw a few slices of bread in the toaster so you'll have something to eat alongside the saucy eggs.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Shakshuka

Friday nights call for fun food like this enjoyably interactive queso dip. It's kind of like a spicier, less fancy form of fondue, one that goes great with dippers like tortilla chips, soft pretzels, and small flour tortillas. One note on the ingredients: If you can't find a block of American cheese, you can always use something like Velveeta. Not a fan of processed cheese? Cheddar will work if you don't mind a few lumps in your queso. After all, what you lose in photogenicity you'll more than make up for in deliciousness.

Recipe: Easy Homemade Queso

Ina Garten is known for using nothing but "good" ingredients, so she no doubt uses the finest imported dijon mustard to coat her salmon fillets before she rolls them in a crust made of the very best breadcrumbs. Our ingredients, we contend, are not so shabby themselves, even if we do buy them from the supermarket. We are changing up her recipe just a smidge, though, by swapping out the mustard for sriracha mayonnaise (you can easily make your own by combining the two condiments to taste) and replacing the parsley she favors with chopped cilantro, instead.

Recipe: Ina Garten's Salmon With A Twist

Red Lobster may specialize in its namesake seafood, but it does offer other types of crustaceans, as well, including the crab used in this popular pasta. If your Lenten vow happens to be giving up over-spending on restaurant meals, you can always make a decent duplicate of the dish with this copycat recipe. Creamy, cheesy pasta paired with rich crab meat makes for a meal that's so delectable no one will suspect you cribbed it from a chain restaurant.

Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Crab Alfredo

Quesadillas are among the easiest of Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes to whip up in a hurry as the only real cooking that's required is to toast the tortillas and heat up the filling to the point where the cheese melts. Should you be feeding a crowd, though, you can cook up a batch of these great-tasting bean-and-cheese quesadillas on a single sheet pan to speed up the process even more.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Quesadillas

Tilapia is a fish that can be found in just about any grocery store and is not too tricky to cook. Just about the easiest way we know of to prepare it is to plunk it into a pan, cover it with garlic/lemon butter, then bake it till it flakes. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can also add some crushed red pepper to the fish dish either before or after you cook it.

Recipe: Easy Baked Tilapia

While Chick-Fil-A is famously closed on Sundays, it remains open on Fridays, even during Lent. It may not be a good idea to go there if you're Catholic, though, since you shouldn't be eating chicken on that day. But what if it's the macaroni and cheese that you're craving? Well, yes, that's still permissible, but in order to avoid what the church calls a near occasion of sin (meaning, in this case, proximity to those tempting chicken sandwiches), you're better off staying at home and recreating it in your own kitchen using this copycat recipe.

Recipe: Copycat Chick-Fil-A Mac And Cheese

If you, like President Biden, have chosen to give up sweets for all 40 days of Lent, you have our profound respect and deepest sympathy. Dessert, after all, is one of life's greatest pleasures, so the sacrifice you're making isn't a small one. Although this fruit smoothie is no real substitute for ice cream or any other sweet treat, that's what makes it 100% sin since you can drink it to your heart's content without breaking your vow. As an added bonus, bananas, strawberries, dates, and plain yogurt are all really good for you, too.

Recipe: Strawberry Banana Smoothie

One way of preserving fish – or any meat, really – is by salting it pretty heavily, but there are different methods of doing so. One type of salt cod that you may see in the store is dry as a bone, kind of like fish jerky, and that is not the kind you'll be using for this recipe. Instead, this fried cod recipe calls for the kind that is salted but still retains its regular fishy texture. In fact, if you can't find salt cod, you can use any firm white fish and just skip the step where you soak it to get the salt out.

Recipe: Classic Fried Salt Cod

"Shrimps on the barbie" is the kind of cliché that's bound to annoy any Australian, but grilling is still a great way to cook shrimp as long as the weather is mild and pleasant. How likely is that during Lent, though? There's a pretty good chance you'll have great grilling weather if you do live in Australia since it's still summertime or early fall there, but if you're in a chillier part of the northern hemisphere, you can always "grill" these lemony, garlicky shrimp in a pan on the stove.

Recipe: Quick Grilled Shrimp

Cocktail sauce is a great condiment for chilled shrimp, but it goes fine with warm shrimp, as well, and even with clams and oysters. There's no need to buy the bottled kind, however, since it's one of the easiest condiments to DIY. All you need to do in order to make the homemade cocktail sauce is combine ketchup with horseradish (not the creamy kind!), then season the mixture with lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. If you like it spicy, feel free to add both black pepper and Tabasco sauce to taste.

Recipe: Zesty Cocktail Sauce

If you've got an Instant Pot, you may well have made all the soups and stews you can stand, but did you know you can also use this appliance as a steamer? As you no doubt already know, it builds up quite a head of steam as it cooks since you have to release the buildup before you can open the pot. Here we're putting all that steam to good use by having it cook a few salmon fillets. As the fish is adorned with nothing more than a drizzle of oil plus some salt, pepper, and lemon, it makes for a simple and very healthy Lenten meal.

Recipe: Instant Pot Steamed Salmon Recipe

Cheese souffle is a dish that's notoriously difficult to make as anything so airy will also be extremely delicate. In order to make things a bit easier, the souffles in this recipe are baked in individual portions to keep them from collapsing under their own weight to the extent that a larger souffle might do. Even if they do deflate as they come out of the oven, though, you may be able to camouflage that with some artful garnishing. If this doesn't work, you can console yourself with the fact that cheese souffles are just as tasty (some would say even more so) once they've flattened out a bit.

Recipe: Cheese Souffle

What is the connection between crab dip and the Old Line state? If you're lucky enough to live within driving distance of the Chesapeake Bay, you may be able to make it with blue crab, which is Maryland's official state crustacean. If you're not in the Mid-Atlantic region, chances are you'll have to settle for crab meat of unknown provenance from a can or jar. No matter where the crab in this recipe comes from, though, the dip is flavored with Maryland's favorite seasoning, Old Bay.

Recipe: Hot Maryland Crab Dip

Sweetened fish may sound like a taste sensation that only Bertie Botts could love, but honey actually makes a pretty good glaze for salmon. Well, not just honey alone – here it's combined with salty soy sauce, tangy lemon juice, and pungent garlic to make for a well-balanced combination that pairs well with simple baked fish fillets. What with all of the different flavors going on though, you'll probably want to stick with a very plain side such as steamed rice.

Recipe: Easy Honey-Baked Salmon

Spaghetti and eggs might sound like a very odd mashup, perhaps something a small child would come up with if asked to plan a menu, but if that were the case, the kid would actually be onto something. Fried eggs, go figure, pair pretty darn well with spaghetti sauced simply with olive oil and parmesan cheese. Not only is this meal complete without meat, but it also comes together with very little time and effort.

Recipe: Easy Spaghetti And Eggs

Traditional shakshuka consists of eggs cooked in tomato sauce, but once anything gets trendy, chefs and home cooks alike start tweaking. Not only are there now vegan variants where the eggs are replaced with tofu but there are also versions such as this one that even dispense with the tomatoes. In this recipe, which is basically a 21st-century take on green eggs and ham minus the ham, the sauce is made from nutmeg-spiced spinach. If you're a fan of eggs Florentine, this recipe is a must-try. As a bonus, in those years when St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday, it makes a great meat-free alternative to corned beef and cabbage.

Recipe: Green Shakshuka

Fish and chips are such a classic combo that it's even beloved by people who aren't usually fish fans, and cod is a type of fish that lends itself especially well to this preparation. The trouble with the dish, though, is that it's such a hassle to make what with having to batter and deep-fry the fish fillets. For a much easier but still very tasty version, we suggest going with a crumb crust and using an air fryer, instead. That takes care of the fish, and for the fries, you can always cook those in the air fryer, too.

Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Cod

Pasta salad may seem like something you'd save for a summertime supper, but there's no reason you can't eat it in winter or spring. In fact, it's probably a lot safer to do so, as mayonnaise-based salads tend to spoil quickly in hot weather. This particular pasta salad not only tastes good but is also pretty economical as it takes just half a pound of crab and stretches it out to feed about four people. (The directions say eight, but that's for more of an appetizer or side dish-sized portion than a main course.)

Recipe: Creamy Crab Pasta Salad

While shakshuka may be having a moment right now, it's not the only Mediterranean/Middle Eastern egg dish that's worthy of our attention. The eggs in this recipe rest on a bed of garlic-flavored yogurt and, as an extra flavor punch, are drizzled with smoked chile butter. Can't find the smoked chile flakes called for here? No problem, you can use chipotle powder, smoked paprika, or even crushed red pepper instead. Sure, the flavor will be slightly different, as is the case with any substitution, but it will still be delicious and that's all that really matters.

Recipe: Turkish Eggs

Miso, which is made from fermented soybeans, is one of the healthiest ways to add an extra hit of umami to any recipe. Here it's combined with soy sauce, sesame oil, and maple syrup to make a glaze for baked salmon fillets. Not a fan of maple-flavored fish? Feel free to use honey, instead. This Asian-inspired salmon goes great in a rice bowl, and you can also use it to top a green salad for a flavorful low-carb meal.

Recipe: Broiled Miso Salmon

The price of lobster puts it way out of many people's budget to serve as an entrée, but when you use a small amount of the stuff as part of a hearty salad, that makes for a much more affordable option. This lobster cobb salad is based on one of Ina Garten's recipes, although we're making two major tweaks. For one thing, our dressing is made from miso paste, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar to give the salad a slight Asian flavor. For another, while we're keeping the avocados and the cheese, we're ditching the bacon since it's not Lent-appropriate. If you want some extra protein in your salad, though, you can always replace it with a few chopped hard-boiled eggs.

Recipe: Ina Garten's Lobster Cobb Salad With A Twist

Fondue? Isn't that some cheesy food fad from the '70s? Well, yes, home fondue parties may have been at the height of their popularity back in the disco decade, but the dish still makes for a fun meal where everyone gets to choose from an assortment of bread chunks, apple slices, and crudites for dipping. This particular fondue is made from a combination of Swiss and gouda cheeses flavored with white wine and brandy, although you can swap those out for broth if you're going alcohol-free (whether for Lent or in general).

Recipe: Easy Cheese Fondue

If you're feeling poetic, you might look at a mild fish such as haddock as a blank canvas on which you can paint your culinary masterpiece. This basic baked recipe calls for the standard combination of butter, lemon, and garlic, but you may add any other spices you wish. Spice it up with cayenne, add some astringency with rosemary, and bring the bam! (as Emeril would say) with some Cajun seasoning, or just experiment with whatever's in your spice cabinet ... save for the bacon bits, of course, since Lent.

Recipe: Easy Baked Haddock

Dressed-up macaroni and cheese is nothing unusual these days as there are whole restaurants devoted to the stuff that offer fancy add-ins like lobster and truffles as well as more basic ones like chicken and ham. This recipe, which is a meat-free one, of course, gives the dish a Mediterranean-style makeover by mixing in some pesto sauce and using a combination of mozzarella and parmesan for the cheese. If you wish, you can also swap out the elbow macaroni for rigatoni, penne, or a similar type of chunky pasta to make it even more Italian-esque.

Recipe: Pesto Mac And Cheese

Lobster rolls are a paradoxical dish that manages to be simultaneously upscale (because lobster) and informal (because hot dog buns). Whether you consider them to be fancy fare or a football snack, though, they're always appetizing and almost always extremely expensive. Luckily, they're also quite easy to make at home for far less than you'd pay in even the most lowbrow of lobster shacks. While this recipe is more or less a traditional one, it does include one more modern ingredient: the ever-popular sriracha, a mildly spicy condiment that also adds a hint of sweetness.

Recipe: Lobster Rolls 

While salmon, butter, and lemon juice are a combo you will find in countless recipes, here we're doing something just a little bit different. Rather than mixing the lemon juice with melted butter or simply squeezing lemon wedges over butter-baked salmon, we're making a compound butter flavored with lemon zest and then adding some orange and lime zest for good measure. This zesty butter is not only good with baked salmon and other types of fish, but it goes great with green vegetables, as well.

Recipe: Slow-Baked Salmon And Citrus Butter

While Lent may, at times, feel like it's all about deprivation, you can put a positive spin on it by thinking of it as a time to explore some healthier eating options. While you may not be ready to adopt a plant-based diet, you can at least experiment with a few vegetarian dishes. The quesadillas in this recipe are actually 100% vegan as they're with sweet potatoes, chickpeas, avocados, and no cheese, so technically they're not quesadillas at all since the word translates to "little cheesy thing." Dairy products are not forbidden during Lent, though, so you can always remedy the lack of cheesy goodness by adding a few slices of pepper jack or provolone.

Recipe: Healthy Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Are boards still a thing, or are they an early 2020s trend that's already on its way out? If you're bored with boards, you can always do a simple word swap and have a delicious bagel, lox, and cream cheese platter instead. In addition to the three main ingredients, these delightfully carby creations are adorned with the traditional onions, capers, and lemon slices as well as some colorful sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Vegetables + starch + protein sounds like a complete meal to us, one that works just as well for dinner as it does for brunch.

Recipe: Bagels And Lox Cream Cheese Board