Lent has arrived
Mexican Lent recipes go together with our traditions before “Semana Santa,” meals like Capirotada, are a delicious treat during Lent. Here you will find a list of the most popular recipes to start cooking from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday!
In the month of March, there is a characteristic breeze (at least in the states that I’ve lived in) that announces a monumental season for Mexicans, that of Lent season and Holy Week.
In the Catholic religion, Lent is the time before Easter “ Semana Santa”, where a kind of purification takes place, in order to welcome the most important moment which is the resurrection of Jesus after being crucified. This is a basic and simple overview of the tradition.
Dried Shrimp Patties - Tortitas de Camarón con Nopales
Most popular Mexican recipes for lent:
Capirotada, Dried Shrimp Patties, Fava Bean Soup, Cactus Soup, Cactus Salad, Potato Patties.
For all Mexicans, Catholic or not, Lent season marks a festival of flavor where we delight in dishes that we might not find during the rest of the year. It is a good pretext to have these delicacies in a season that brings us thoughts of beaches, seafood, and much-needed rest.
Since during this period of catharsis we try not to eat pork or other red meats, our options steer us towards chicken, fish, and seafood (apart from fish). Dishes commonly found on Mexican tables during Lent (and especially on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays) include fish that it is either fried, battered, steamed, or prepared “a la Veracruzana.” As for shrimp, it can be made “a la diabla”, “al mojo de ajo”, and “al chipotle”. Additionally, both fish and shrimp can be found prepared in ceviche, aguachile, sashimi, and the famous Baja style tacos.
Mexican vegetarian dishes:
Swiss Chard, Potato & Cheese Soup, Creamy Potato with Poblano Peppers, Mexican Style Cactus, Tlacoyos & Potato Tacos.
There also exist several vegetarian recipes, which are delicious recommendations as we try to abstain from meat during Lent season. These include the famous “tortitas” (“little cakes”), which can be made out of potato, dried shrimp, plantains, squash, garbanzo, or amaranth.
Some other well-known vegetarian dishes are: Nopales Navegantes, enfrijoladas, enmoladas, fava bean soup, lentil soup (with or without plantains), bean or garbanzo burgers, as well as ceviche made out of coconut, mushrooms, or jícama. These are several meatless recipes that, without seafood, fish, or chicken, can still give us sweet moments during this particular time of year.
This list of recipes has continued to grow, thanks to new flavors that we had not tried before, and that we have found are healthy and tasty. Because of this, this year’s Lent Mexico can be different, if we dare to add new flavors to this season.
This article was written by our guest Chef Manuel Arciniega
Manuel Arciniega has worked in the kitchen since his mother asked him to peel cloves of garlic and mix spices. He has a degree in gastronomy and is currently a chef in Pavita. He enjoys traveling in Mexico visiting places and meals so much that sometimes he takes pictures and writes about them. His wife and son are always at his side. Visit his Instagram account.
More lent season recipes using canned tuna
Tuna Tinga Tostadas, Canned Tuna Chipotle Sandwich, Canned Tuna Empanadas, Canned Tuna Ceviche & Tuna Mexican Style.
You can find many more Mexican Lent Recipes here in the blog, just click HERE.
Aracely
Mely I was a little disconcerted when I read this on your page for Lent season "Since during this period of catharsis we try not to eat pork or other red meats, our options steer us towards chicken, fish, and seafood (apart from fish)" During Lent we should only be eating cold blooded animals and Chicken is not one of them.
Mely Martínez
Hello Aracely,
Some people actually think that eating chicken is ok. Not sure if they know that they should or shouldn't according to their beliefs, that is another thing.
Thank you for your comment.
Elizabeth Lopez
We don't each chicken either, except vegetarian or fish and seafood.
Janet MacKenzie
Hola Mely! I am looking for a recipe for sopa de ajo that I had many years ago in Veracruz. It was not in the Spanish style, with bread for thickening. It was a clear very garlicky soup with some heat from the garlic. Are you familiar with this soup?
Mely Martínez
Hello Janet,
What part of Veracruz waht that?
Vic
Hello again
Bye chance would you happen to have a recipe for oxtail. I vegley
Remember my dad making them .
Unsure if it was cream?
Mely Martínez
Hello Vic,
There are two recipes in the blog that use oxtail. You can also make Mole de Olla with oxtail, recipe also in the blog.
Here is one of those recipeshttps://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/chipotle-adobo-tacos/
JG
I am looking for the recipe to make fritas. My mother-in-law use to make these as a treat as well as for lent. I never could learn the recipe as she wouldn't tell me. I know you use corn meal, some flour, salt, baking soda and/or baking powder, as well as an egg. I'm also trying to find the recipe for Mexican hot chocolate - I know there is cinnamon and coco powder, but not sure what else.
Thank you in advance.
mmartinez
Hello JG,
Are you talking about a crispy fried tortilla topped with sugar and cinnamon, of it is something salty?