Last year I posted a guide for what to eat on Friday’s in Lent since Catholics and many Christians are asked to refrain from eating meat. That post has tons of great options for restaurants, quick meals at home, and even some recipes for the adventurous types. It reminded me of some favorites I need to bring back, but I thought I’d add some of my new favorites this year.
Easy At Home
I’ve been making a big effort to make my own meals lately, and these four meat-free options have been regulars in my rotation.
1. Tuna salad. This is so simple. I mix a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt, a squirt if dijon mustard, and garlic powder with a can of tuna. You can eat it with chopped veggies or in a wrap or on a salad. Delicious!
2. Egg white and veggie muffins. I eat these plain for breakfast, but they’re also great to chop up and eat in tortillas at any meal. And you can do so many varieties! Whole eggs or just whites, any vegetables you want, add some shredded cheese, and even add a crust for a quiche-like muffin. This is my favorite way to eat eggs at work since I can make them ahead.
3. Frozen salmon burgers. I found the SeaPak version near me and love that they are wild Alaskan and all natural. They are good as sandwiches, but I love cooking them on the stove top and chopping them over salads.
4. Tempeh. Last year I gave you a recipe for tempeh sloppy joes, but usually I just eat it raw on salads. If raw tempeh scares you, there are tons of other options! Sauteeing tempeh with soy sauce is a really common cooking method, but you can also buy the “tempeh bacon” strips that are pre flavored and taste amazing. I had some of the lightlife brand on my salad today and bet a faux BLT would be great!
Image and recipe from Peas and Crayons.
Restaurants
Not everyone like’s to bring their food with them to work, so knowing where you can run in and grab something meat-free is essential. Aside from last year’s ideas, here are two more:
1. I fell in love with Starbuck’s spinach egg white wrap this year. It has feta and is salty deliciousness. They also have great lunch options like their caprese sandwich, roasted veggie panini, and sesame noodle and tofu bistro box. High five to Starbucks on having lots of vegetarian options.
2. Eatzis in Dallas, or any place with a great salad bar (Jason’s Deli? Souper Salad?), is always a good option. It could even be a grocery store! If they have options for salmon or shrimp on top that’s a bonus, but most salad bars will at least offer chickpeas or hardboiled eggs for some protein. Add some avocado, veggies and balsamic and prepare for serious mmms.
Other easy ideas that come to mind:
- Omelettes
- Greek – falafel, hummus, pita! Can’t go wrong.
- Shrimp or tofu stir fry
- Pasta with veggie meatballs (Trader Joe’s has a great version)
Between those two posts you should have tons of options, and maybe even some newfound loves. Hopefully it will help make Fridays in Lent will be a little less stressful!
What’s your favorite EASY meat-free meal?
Coconut chickpea curry with quinoa. So east just combine light coconut milk, curry powder, diced tomatoes, chickpeas and desired veggies in skillet to heat and simmer and serve with quinoa. Voila!
Eggs are alwasy my go to. Cheap, easy to keep on hand, and quick to throw together.
Thank you for the GREAT ideas!
i love salmon burgers!
What to eat on Friday during Lent used to always be a challenge. Well, not a challenge..but I’d always freak out if I thought I had accidentally eaten meat! Nowadays, meat’s no longer in my diet so it’s not something to worry about anymore. Great ideas! I like the egg and veggie muffins!
Love tuna salad! Is that a hard boiled egg mixed in yours? I always put some in mine!
yep!!
I can’t wait to try that tuna salad and I’ve always loved tempeh but never tried to make that at home.
Eggs, all the way, are the easiest to make. Or tilapia, which I’ve had 4 days in a row!
i’m not catholic, but enjoy eating meat-free on a regular basis. i LOVE tofu. there are just so many different ways to prepare it and it takes on whatever flavor you pair it with!
Okay, I so wish I would have gone to eatzi’s when I lived there. I have heard such great things!!
I used to complain all of the time when I was little because I couldn’t eat meat on Fridays. Now it’s funny, because sometimes I go a week without eating meat! I think I just wanted what I couldn’t have, haha.
I love Mama Pea’s chickpea tacos! So good. Really I could just eat those roasted chickpeas on basically anything. lol.
I don’t ever eat meat so I think it’s hilarious when i hear people complain about not being able to find anything to eat on Friday’s except fish (which is still meat to me). These are great ideas though!
I know right? I was a vegetarian for two years so when people say there is no food without meat I start to get a little heated…
haha I’m the same way. I’ve eaten every meal and snack without meat for about 3 years and I’m not starving by any means! And…people just resort to fish frys. I wish people would branch out and try quinoa, bean dishes, hearty soups, great and filling salads, etc. I’ve learned you can only lead by example though. When I bring lunch to work, so many people want to know what “interesting” dishes I have to eat. haha. Even if its so common like a veggie burger on a bagel, or pasta salad.