C
ComeHome2Rome
Guest
I like the Saladā¦but what kind of dressing is āFastā worthy? Everthing I can think of either has dairy or olive oil in it.then I have no advice other then Salad Salad Salad, and cooked veggies.
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A
Aramis
Guest
Ground mustard powder mixed with honey.
pulverized nuts with honey.
If you use vinegar during fast (some avoid it)ā¦
Spiced Vinegar
Honey and Vinegar
prepared mustards, possibly mixed with honey.
If you are willing to accept non-olive oils, you can substitute safflower, sunflower, sesame and/or peanut oils with only minor difficulties, and make tasty vinegar and oil dressings.
A
Angel_Gabriel
Guest
I love making a good chopped salad (romaine, red bell peppers, celery, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers) then I put some almonds on it and some shrimp. For the dressing I just use some balsamic vinegar. I also like to put avocados on it too if I have them around.
I tend to be hypoglycemic and have a family history of diabetes so I will also include boiled chicken breast if I am out of shrimp. yes I knowā¦ not traditional lol! but I have to have enough protein or I honestly canāt function
T
theistgal
Guest
Get some of Trader Joeās Bruschetta sauce (itās really good, and chunky, and vegan!), and mix it with some pasta. Then add some frozen vegetables and voila! Youāve got yourself a lenten supper! 
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Aramis
Guest
Guacamole can be a decent dressing, in and of itself. Thin it just a touch with waterā¦
U
UncleBill
Guest
Why avoid vinegar? Iāve never seen vinegar as something to fast from.
A
Aramis
Guest
Most vinegar traditionally was made from wine. Local russians avoid it as being wine. (keep in mind: I live in the one state where 1 in 5 people is Russian Orthodox.)
Modern white vinegar is made from corn mash.
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UncleBill
Guest
The prohibition is alcohol not the fact that it was once wine. Having lived in a number of Orthodox countries (including Russia) Iāve never heard of fasting from vinegarā¦maybe folks in Alaska do things differently.
C
Crescentinus
Guest
How about fast Lenten recipes which involve leeks?
K
Kensho
Guest
Iām not Eastern Catholic and donāt know all the rules. Are you allowed to eat nuts and seeds? On days that I donāt eat meat, I like to make myself cucumber, apple, and green onion salad with balsamic vinegar and lots of sunflower seeds for protein. Itās tasty, and sunflower seeds are cheap.
I was about to offer you a vegan lentil soup recipe, but then I saw something on here about no olive oil.
I was about to offer you a vegan lentil soup recipe, but then I saw something on here about no olive oil.
A
Aramis
Guest
Oh, yes, seeds are allowed. Iāve heard and read that olive oil was banned because it was usually filtered through leather in Early Christian Greece.
K
Kensho
Guest
Ah, I thought it had something to do with the fat content. But surely modern olive oil is processed in ways that make it all right? And what about other oils, like coconut?
Iām going to flip through my vegetarian recipes to see if I have anything to help an Eastern Catholic bachelor out.
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Aramis
Guest
The mandated fast for Ruthenians is pretty lax - no meat on wednesdays and fridays.
But, itās not so much about avoiding X as eating more simply, at least in theory, and less expensively, again in theory, and then putting the difference in spending as alms.
My familyās food expenses go up during fasts (sigh) due to the relatively inexpensive meat not being available as a protein source.
K
Kensho
Guest
I think for a lot of us modern people it is easy to fall into the trap of eating more expensive and complicated food during Lent, which as you point out, defeats the purpose. I gather seafood was plentiful and cheap in the past, whereas for most of us now itās a luxury. And many vegetarian recipes call for things like tofu.
I have lots of simple vegan recipes that would work as long as one could substitute the forbidden few tablespoonfuls of olive oil with coconut oil or some other vegetable-based cooking oil. Would that work for you gentlemen?
A
Angel_Gabriel
Guest
I agree. Where I live, chicken is a poor manās seafood! I honestly tried to go vegan on the first Fast I did and that lasted about 2 weeksā¦there just wasnāt enough protein and I couldnāt afford to eat shellfish everyday. So reluctantly I added in the chicken (Iāve mentioned before that I boil chicken breast and cut it up into cubes to just sprinkle on whatever Iām making). I found that I was being prideful about fastingā¦I wanted to follow the strictest form and when I couldnāt I was madā¦then I realized what fasting was all about and things got much better lol! Itās still a sacrifice for me thoughā¦giving up dairy,eggs and olive oil is quite the struggle and I was really craving a good steak the other dayā¦but it makes me look forward to Pascha that much more. Fasting really helps you appreciate why we celebrate those Feasts (and no itās not just about the food but that does make the day more special
)
H
Hmgbrd
Guest
Zucchini Gratin (garnished with Pico de Gallo/Salsa)
for 4 people
1Tbs Butter
1 1/2- 2 lbs Zucchini (cut lengthwise in thin strips)
Salt
1/2 cup liquid cream
2 oz. Fresh grated Parmesan cheese (or more if you like it)
Preheat the oven to middle temp (350-375 F or 180C)
Take 1 tsp of the butter and grease a large flat casserole.
Layer the thin zucchini slices
Salt them and pour the cream over it
Top everything with the parmesan cheese and dot with the rest of the butter.
Bake for 20 minutes until done.
Garnish with a cold tomato pico de gallo or salsa
Cold Tomato Sauce (pico de gallo) optional
Mix together:
3 chopped tomatoes
freshly chopped basil
1 Spring Onion
1 garlic clove
1 Tbs Olive oil (or another oil, but olive tastes better itās only 1 Tbs after all)
Black pepper (fresh ground)
Salt
Serve the dish with rice and maybe/or a salad.
I make this when I I am tired of meat. It is fast, easy, and yummy .
(you donāt have to do the tomato sauce but maybe even sub some ready made salsa!)
Ice Cream with fresh berries as a dessert.
Bon Appetit
for 4 people
1Tbs Butter
1 1/2- 2 lbs Zucchini (cut lengthwise in thin strips)
Salt
1/2 cup liquid cream
2 oz. Fresh grated Parmesan cheese (or more if you like it)
Preheat the oven to middle temp (350-375 F or 180C)
Take 1 tsp of the butter and grease a large flat casserole.
Layer the thin zucchini slices
Salt them and pour the cream over it
Top everything with the parmesan cheese and dot with the rest of the butter.
Bake for 20 minutes until done.
Garnish with a cold tomato pico de gallo or salsa
Cold Tomato Sauce (pico de gallo) optional
Mix together:
3 chopped tomatoes
freshly chopped basil
1 Spring Onion
1 garlic clove
1 Tbs Olive oil (or another oil, but olive tastes better itās only 1 Tbs after all)
Black pepper (fresh ground)
Salt
Serve the dish with rice and maybe/or a salad.
I make this when I I am tired of meat. It is fast, easy, and yummy .
(you donāt have to do the tomato sauce but maybe even sub some ready made salsa!)
Ice Cream with fresh berries as a dessert.
Bon Appetit
W
wynd
Guest
Protip: Get a rice cooker! 
Takes all the brains out of cooking rice.
Takes all the brains out of cooking rice.
A
Aramis
Guest
My microwave rice cooker is a godsendā¦Protip: Get a rice cooker!
O
Ohana
Guest
My husband and I like hot cooked rice with canned salmon right out of the can. Our kids think this is weird, but we like it. Kids are grown now. We never forced them to eat it during Lent. We made them something else, like tuna salad or salmon cakes.
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