The best meatless and fishless recipes for Holy Week

During Holy Week, fish and seafood are the protagonists of the dishes consumed at this time. This is due to the tradition of abstaining from eating red meat during the Holy Week (Semana Mayor). For this reason, we have prepared a collection of Lenten recipes without fish or seafood, ideal for those who cannot consume them or simply do not like them.

Why is red meat not eaten during Holy Week?

Some may wonder where the tradition of not eating red meat during Holy Week comes from; this custom has its origins in the Christian religion, especially Catholic. For the faithful of this religion, consuming this food is prohibited during these dates because they associate it with the body of Christ. Strictly speaking, abstinence applies on three specific days: Ash Wednesday (which marks the beginning of Lent), Holy Thursday, and Good Friday, days when the passion and death of Christ are commemorated.

(Read also: Holy Week: Typical recipes from Colombia for this season)

For Christians, the ideal during these days is to fast or prepare humble meals in order to honor Jesus Christ. Likewise, they can replace red meats with white meats or purely vegetarian dishes. Without further ado, below we show you which are the Colombian recipes free of fish and seafood that you can prepare during the Holy Week. All these options are economical, since they are made with ingredients that are easy to find in any supermarket.

Recipes with white meats for Holy Week

Besides fish, there are other white meats that can be consumed at this time, such as chicken and rabbit.

• Malangada (Taro root stew) (see recipe)
• Conejo guisado con coco (Stewed rabbit with coconut) (see recipe)

Soup and stew recipes for Holy Week

Broths, soups, thick soups (motes), and stews (potajes) are delicious and perfect alternatives for Holy Week. In fact, in Santander (Colombia), it is a tradition to prepare the “seven dishes” (siete potajes) during Holy Week as a way to honor Jesus Christ.

• Ajiaco (Traditional chicken, corn, and potato soup) (see recipe)
• Sopa de menudencias (Giblet soup) (see recipe)
• Caldo de queso y cebolla (Cheese and onion broth) (see recipe)
• Mote de queso (Thick yam and cheese soup) (see recipe)
• Mote de guandul (Thick pigeon pea soup) (see recipe)
• Sopa de pollo o sancocho de gallina (Chicken soup or traditional hen stew) (see recipe)
• Sopa de cabeza de gato (Plantain dumpling soup) (see recipe)

Side dish recipes for Holy Week

These are some of the ideal side dishes to complete the Lenten menu.

• Patacones o tostones (Fried green plantain discs) (see recipe)
• Arepas de ñame (Yam cornmeal cakes) (see recipe)
• Papas en chupe (Potato and cheese stew) (see recipe)
• Papas chorreadas (Potatoes smothered in cheese and onion sauce) (see recipe)
• Plátanos calados (Sweet stewed plantains) (see recipe)
• Arepas amarillas (Yellow corn cakes) (see recipe)
• Buñuelos de frijol cabecita negra (Black-eyed pea fritters) (see recipe)
• Buñuelos de lenteja (Lentil fritters) (see recipe)
• Arepas de chócolo o choclo (Sweet corn cakes) (see recipe)
• Arepas asadas (Grilled corn cakes) (see recipe)

Salad recipes for Holy Week

No menu would be complete without a good salad; therefore, here we bring you several fresh and perfect options for this celebration.

• Ensalada de repollo y piña (Cabbage and pineapple salad) (see recipe)
• Acelgas o espinacas guisadas (Stewed chard or spinach) (see recipe)
• Ensalada de papaya verde (Green papaya salad) (see recipe)

Dessert recipes for Holy Week

In Colombia, sweets are essential during the celebration of Holy Week, especially in the Caribbean region, where festivals dedicated to these delicacies are held. This selection of desserts will be the perfect touch your Lenten menu needs.

• Dulce de guandul (Pigeon pea sweet) (see recipe)
• Dulce de tomate de árbol (Tree tomato / Tamarillo sweet)(see recipe)
• Manjar blanco (Milk pudding) (see recipe)
• Arroz de leche (Rice pudding) (see recipe)
• Dulce de maíz (Sweet corn dessert) (see recipe)
• Torta de banano (Banana cake) (see recipe)
• Dulce de icacos (Cocoplum sweet) (see recipe)
• Enyucado (Cassava and coconut cake) (see recipe)
• Bolitas de coco (Coconut balls/macaroons) (see recipe)
• Dulce de grosellas (Otaheite gooseberry sweet) (see recipe)

Juice and beverage recipes for Holy Week

Finally, we bring you the perfect beverages and juices to prepare during these days; they are refreshing, easy to make, and very economical.

• Jugo de banano (Banana juice) (see recipe)
• Avena (Oatmeal drink) (see recipe)
• Jugo de níspero (Sapodilla juice) (see recipe)
• Jugo de zapote (Sapote juice) (see recipe)
• Jugo de corozo (Corozo palm fruit juice) (see recipe)
• Refresco de flor de Jamaica (Hibiscus tea/drink) (see recipe)
• Chicha de maíz (Fermented corn drink) (see recipe)
• Guarruz llanero (Sweet rice drink) (see recipe)
• Jugo de carambola (Starfruit juice) (see recipe)