Meatless Recipes for Lent

Today is the first Friday of Lent, and for observant Catholics, that means abstaining from meat (see AmericanCatholic.org for a thorough explanation of the rules). I was raised with this tradition and I ate my fair share of fish sticks on the Fridays between Mardi Gras and Easter. Then one year my mother introduced a cheesy eggplant casserole as a Lenten meal. My siblings and I loved it so much we started requesting it year-round (so much for Lenten sacrifices...). Taking inspiration from that dish (I really need to get the recipe!), after the jump are a few quick and easy meat-free main courses:

10 Quick and Easy Meatless Mains

• Grilled Eggplant Stacks with Tomato and Feta

• Superfast Vegetarian Pizza

• Vegetarian Black Bean Chili with Orange and Cumin

• Spaghetti with Cauliflower, Green Olives, and Almonds

• Frittata with Ricotta Salata, Green Onions, and Parsley

• Seared Tofu with Green Beans and Asian Coconut Sauce

• Orzo with Garbanzo Beans, Goat Cheese, and Oregano

• Roasted Winter Vegetable Baklava

• Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Feta and Cabbage Slaw

• Bean and Bello Burger
  

What are your favorite meatless meals? You can browse thousands of vegetarian recipes on Epicurious.

By Megan O. Steintrager