Lenten dishes for the New Year of the Ox 2021

Thrifty housewives begin preparing for the holidays well in advance, especially when they plan to invite many guests. If the hosts or guests are deeply religious, they adhere to the recommended dietary restrictions during Lent, abstaining from processed foods, meat, fatty foods, spicy foods, dairy, and egg-based dishes. But there's no need to forego the festive feast. Lenten dishes for the New Year of the Ox 2021 will help celebrate the holiday as joyfully as the usual secular dishes.

Lenten dishes for New Year 2021: what to cook

The White Metal Ox is a leisurely, strong, and deliberate animal. It prefers various greens, grains, and vegetables. It doesn't mind fish and meat, with the exception of beef, but during Lent, you'll have to limit yourself to fish.

Those who believe it's best to completely abstain from animal products won't go hungry either. Delicious and filling dishes can be prepared even without fish.

Fragrant fish baked with potatoes

This dish has several cooking options. You can cook it immediately with the side dish, baking it in the same pan, or boil the potatoes separately. The latter option is preferable. Some guests prefer to eat the main course with a salad instead of the potatoes.

Ingredients:

• medium-sized pollock without head - 4 carcasses;
• onions - 2 heads;
• potatoes - 1 kg;
• lemon juice - 1 tbsp;
• garlic - 3 cloves;
• vegetable oil - 5 tbsp;
• spices and seasonings: a pinch of salt, black pepper, 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds and fish seasoning;
• parsley, dill and cilantro to taste.

If you plan to bake the fish and side dish together, you can add some vegetables, such as carrots and bell peppers.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Pollock is cut into portions 4-6 cm long.
2. Marinate, sprinkle with fish seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Refrigerate for 40-60 minutes.
3. The onion is cut into half rings.
4. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
5. Place half the onion in the pan, smooth it out, and spread the fish on top. Sprinkle the remaining onion on top. Cover with foil.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and leave for another 10 minutes to allow the crust to brown.
7. Peeled potatoes are boiled without salt.
8. Mix 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil with mustard seeds, pepper, lemon juice and garlic passed through a press.
9. Mash the potatoes and season with fragrant oil.
10. Before serving, sprinkle the dish with herbs.

Soft potato zrazy with mushrooms and onions

To ensure the dish is not only delicious but also beautiful, worthy of a holiday table, you need to take care of the frying pan. The coating must be completely smooth to prevent the potato dough from sticking. Modern ceramic cookware is best.

Read alsoLenten cabbage cutlets - healthy and delicious Cutlets made from raw cabbage, carrots, and onions are a great option for those observing Lent. However, they're also a popular vegetable side dish for meat. Follow this step-by-step recipe with photos…

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of potatoes;
• 4-5 tbsp flour + 200 g for dusting;
• 1 large onion;
• 0.5 kg of champignons (oyster mushrooms are also possible);
• half a glass of vegetable oil;
• to taste - salt, sugar and black pepper.

There's no need to form large zrazy—small ones look neater. They're also easier to turn over.

Step-by-step recipe with photos:

1. Finely chop the mushrooms and onions.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the onions until golden brown, then the mushrooms, adding a little salt. Allow the liquid to evaporate completely until the mushrooms are golden brown.
3. Peel the potatoes and boil them until done.
4. Mash the potatoes until smooth, add salt and a little sugar. Add flour and knead into a stiff dough while the potatoes are still warm.
5. Lightly moisten your hands and form small flat cakes up to 1 cm thick.
6. Place 1.5 tablespoons of filling on each and form a pie.
7. Heat sunflower oil in a frying pan, and at the same time generously roll the dough pieces in flour.
8. Fry until golden brown on each side.

This dish can be served as an appetizer or as a main course. Zrazy are delicious even when cold. The tomato sauce is best served on the side.

Avocado salad with shrimp

The metallic white bull will appreciate this beautiful Lenten dish—it combines greens and vegetables. The original composition and unforgettable flavor will make this appetizer a favorite.

Ingredients:

• shrimp - 200 g;
• arugula - 60 g;
• orange - 120 g;
• avocado - 1 pc.;
• avocado oil - 1 tbsp. l.;
• lemon juice - 1 tbsp;
• salt and pepper to taste.

Shrimp are first boiled and then peeled, removing the head, shell, tail, and intestinal vein. Raw frozen shrimp are boiled for 5 minutes, while fresh shrimp are boiled for about 10 minutes.

Step-by-step preparation:

1. The arugula is washed, dried on paper towels and placed in a salad bowl.
2. The avocado is peeled, cut into small cubes, the white membrane is removed from the orange slices, the pit is removed and they are cut in half.
3. Arrange fruit, avocado slices, and shrimp on the arugula. Sprinkle with lemon juice and drizzle with avocado oil.

You can replace the salad with seafood and avocado tartlets. They're quick and easy to make:

• Place red caviar (1 teaspoon each) into the prepared baskets;
• on one side - a shrimp, on the other - a piece of avocado;
• decorated with greenery.

A standard shortcrust pastry tartlet is about 10 cm in diameter. For serving red caviar tartlets, it's best to choose smaller ones—about 5 cm.

Warm, simple, and delicious mushroom salad with lemon zest

Warm salads are a popular appetizer. When serving, it's best to portion them out and warm the plates—this will keep them warm longer. Alternatively, you can serve them in a shared dish under a transparent lid.

Ingredients:

• 400 g mushrooms;
• 100 g tomatoes;
• 1 lemon;
• 1 sweet red onion;
• 2 tbsp. l. olive oil;
• 1 clove of garlic;
• 1 bunch of green onions;
• salt and ground black pepper;
• 1 tbsp. l. lemon zest;
• cherry tomatoes;
• half a bunch of parsley.

This dish is very easy to prepare. Cut the red onion into half rings, the green onion and garlic into small pieces, the mushrooms into quarters, and the large tomatoes into eighths. Leave the cherry tomatoes whole.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Heat oil in a frying pan, sauté the onion until translucent, add the onion and mushrooms, and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring continuously.
2. Add tomatoes (except cherry) and green onions, leave under the lid for 3 minutes.
3. Without removing from the pan, add salt, pepper, sprinkle with lemon juice and season with zest.
4. Transfer to a salad bowl, stirring at the same time.
5. Before serving, sprinkle with herbs - parsley or cilantro.

How to bake Lenten honey muffins

This is an authentic monastery recipe. You can bake it in a large pan or as small muffins—they're easier to serve.

Ingredients:

• honey - 1 tbsp;
• warm water - 250 ml;
• granulated sugar - 0.5 ml
• vegetable oil - 0.5 ml;
• a pinch of salt;
• soda - 0.5 tsp;
• flour - 1.5 cups.

It's easier to bake in silicone molds. Just make sure they cool slightly before removing them, otherwise they'll fall apart.

Step-by-step recipe with video:

• Combine honey, sugar, water, vegetable oil and salt.
• Stir until all the grains are dissolved.

• Add sifted flour with soda.
• Mix until completely smooth - the dough will be slightly runny, even thinner than for pancakes.

• Grease muffin tins with vegetable oil or insert parchment-lined cups into them. Fill with batter 2/3 full.
• Bake in an oven preheated to 200°C for 13-17 minutes, until risen and golden brown.

Lenten gingerbread with raisins and nuts

This dessert is perfect for New Year's Eve. The dough is tender and airy. You can decorate it just like a real cake for a social occasion. And, crucially, it doesn't take much time to make.

Read alsoNorwegian Romance Salad with Canned Pink Salmon Norwegian Romance Salad is a delicious dish made with canned pink salmon, rice, and vegetables. To season the layers, I recommend mixing equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream, then season with salt and pepper and…

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour;
• 2 tbsp. honey;
• a glass of sugar;
• 100 ml vegetable oil;
• 200 ml of water;
• 0.5 cups walnuts;
• 0.5 cups of raisins;
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder;
• 2 tsp baking powder;
• a pinch of coriander and cinnamon.

When preparing, it's important to follow the order. Dry and wet ingredients are mixed separately. This is how muffins are baked—the dough turns out slightly loose and moist.

Step-by-step recipe with photos:

1. Heat the honey until it melts. Combine all the liquid ingredients and sugar, stirring until the granules dissolve. Let cool.
2. Combine dry ingredients.
3. Mix the two types of ingredients and add nuts and raisins.
4. While the oven is preheating to 200°C, grease the pan with vegetable oil. Pour in the batter.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick. Before serving, garnish with nuts and powdered sugar.

Another New Year's baked good that the year's host—the Metal Ox—will surely appreciate. The recipe is easy to remember: 1 cup each of semolina, sugar, and water, and half a cup of vegetable oil. Mix everything together, add a packet of baking powder and vanilla sugar, 3 tablespoons of cocoa, a handful of chopped nuts, and 100 grams of raisins. Bake in a preheated oven in a greased pan at 180°C for about 45 minutes.

Delicious Lenten canapés

Canapés are miniature bread sandwiches. They are easily served with skewers or toothpicks. These mini sandwiches are served as an appetizer or dessert.

There are many cooking options:

1. Herring, fresh cucumber, and dill. Cut black bread—preferably Borodinsky bread—into small pieces. Remove the membrane and outer skin from the herring and cut into serving pieces. Place the fish on the bread, top with a sprig of dill. Secure with skewers.
2. Fruit platter. You will need: tangerines, fresh strawberries, grapes, and canned pineapple. Place the pineapple pieces in a sieve to drain. Remove the seeds from the grapes and tangerines, and cut the strawberries in half. Thread the strawberries, tangerines, pineapple, and grapes onto skewers and arrange them in a "rainbow" pattern on a plate.
3. Vinaigrette canapés. Cut croutons into small squares. Boil carrots, beets, and potatoes and cut into equal pieces. You can use molds. Also slice a pickled cucumber. Mix the vegetables, add canned red beans and a little grated horseradish, and dress with mayonnaise. Place the salad between the croutons and secure with skewers. Garnish with herbs such as dill, parsley, or green onions.
4. Canapés with bean paste. Cut slightly toasted bread or croutons into squares. Fry 1 large chopped onion in vegetable oil until golden brown. Add chopped parsley and cilantro, khmeli-suneli, and salt. Fry for 3 minutes. Drain the can of beans, lightly dry 70 g of walnuts in the microwave, and mince the mixture with 2 cloves of garlic. Mix with the onion dressing. Refrigerate for 1.5 hours.

A special mayonnaise made for Lenten meals is made without animal products. This sauce is suitable not only for canapés but also for dressing vegetable salads and serving with hot dishes such as fish or mushrooms.

Ingredients for making lean mayonnaise:

• water - 200 ml;
• corn starch - 1.5 tbsp;
• sugar - 1 tsp;
• salt - 0.5 tsp;
• mustard - 1 tsp;
• lemon juice or table vinegar 9% - 2 tsp;
• vegetable oil - 200 ml.

Divide the water into two containers. Place one on the stove and bring to a boil. Add the starch to the second container and stir until smooth.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Gradually pour boiling water into the dissolved starch, remembering to stir to avoid lumps.
2. When the mixture has thickened, cool to room temperature.
3. Using a whisk or mixer at low speed, gradually add sugar, salt, mustard, oil, and lemon juice. Let cool.

For dessert on New Year's Eve, they serve not only baked goods, but also candiesYou should be careful when choosing this type of confectionery. Chocolate—even dark chocolate—contains milk, an animal product. It's also used to make caramel and toffee. Therefore, the best sweet option for children is hard candy.

Boil a syrup of 1 part vinegar, 10 parts sugar, and 1 part water until thickened. When the sweet mixture turns reddish, pour it into molds greased with vegetable oil. Instead of water, you can use compote, berry, or fruit juice. For brightly colored candies, you can add food coloring.

Culinary experiments are always welcome. If you plan ahead, New Year's Eve at the Lenten table will be as fun as any holiday with a regular menu.