Six original and delicious Lenten dishes: simple and healthy

March 3 began Lent - a period of not only spiritual cleansing, but also a conscious approach to nutrition. It will last until April 19. Fasting involves strict dietary restrictions: refusal of meat products and eggs, milk and baked goods, alcohol.

Many people think that Lenten dishes are boring and monotonous, but this is not at all true. In this article, the Russian brand of goods for the whole family, YokoSun, has prepared six unusual and tasty recipes that do not require complex ingredients, but will still surprise you with bright flavor combinations. Even those who do not plan to fast will want to try them.

Aromatic buckwheat with mushrooms and onions

Ingredients:

• 1 glass of buckwheat
• 200 g champignons or wild mushrooms
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 2 tbsp. l. unrefined sunflower oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

First, let’s prepare the ingredients. Peel the onions and carrots, rinse the buckwheat and mushrooms. Cut the onion into small cubes and grate the carrots. Cut the champignons into slices and place them in a frying pan greased with vegetable oil. Fry until maximum moisture comes out of the mushrooms.

Then add onions and carrots to the pan, continue frying until golden brown. Add one glass of washed buckwheat and fill the contents of the pan with two glasses of water. Add salt and pepper to taste, cover the pan with a lid. Simmer the dish until the buckwheat is completely cooked, about 15 minutes.

Hearty red lentil soup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 carrot
• 2 potatoes
• 1 onion
• 2 tbsp. l. olive oil
• 100 g grated tomatoes or tomato paste
• Spices: turmeric, paprika, salt, black pepper

Lentils are very nutritious. One hundred grams of product contains more than 20 grams of protein and 300 calories. It is believed that its properties can even replace meat. This means it’s time to try dishes with lentils, for example, a spicy and hearty soup.

In a saucepan, boil water or vegetable broth. While the water is heating up, prepare the remaining ingredients: wash and peel the vegetables. Fry chopped onions and grated carrots in a frying pan; as soon as they acquire a golden hue, add tomatoes. Season the roast with spices to taste - salt, pepper, turmeric and paprika.

Place potatoes cut into large cubes into boiling water. After a few minutes, add the lentils. When the potatoes are ready, add the frying agent to the broth and cook the soup for another five minutes. After you turn off the heat, let the aromatic dish steep for a few more minutes.

Crispy potato pancakes without eggs

Ingredients:

• 500 g potatoes
• 1 small onion
• 50 g flour
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Vegetable oil for frying

Potato pancakes turn out tasty and juicy even without adding eggs - here is a simple recipe for the dish.

Wash and peel the potatoes and onions. Grind the vegetables on a grater - keep in mind that the finer the grater, the more pancake-like consistency the potato pancakes will have. Add flour, salt and pepper, and then mix the future pancakes thoroughly.

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan and start spooning out the potato mixture in small portions. Fry pancakes on each side until golden brown. The potato pancakes will be even more satisfying and juicy if you add mushrooms to them - before adding them to the potato mixture, the mushrooms must be fried.

Spicy stewed cabbage with tomato

Ingredients:

• 500 g white cabbage
• 1 large carrot
• 1 onion
• 2 tbsp. l. tomato paste
• 3 art. l. vegetable oil
• Bay leaf, salt, pepper, to taste

Chop the cabbage and onion, grate the carrots. Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan. Send the onions and carrots to fry, but make sure that the ingredients do not have time to take on a golden hue - otherwise they will quickly burn. When the onion in the pan becomes translucent, add the chopped cabbage.

Fry for a few minutes, stirring the cabbage, and then add tomato paste and spices to taste. Bring the dish to readiness by covering the pan with a lid and frying the cabbage over low heat for about 20 minutes.

Oatmeal with nuts and baked banana

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 2 glasses of water
• a handful of nuts (walnuts, cashews, almonds)
• 1 banana
• 2 tsp. honey

During Lent, you can eat fruits, including bananas, rich in vitamins C and B6. This unusual dish with baked bananas is perfect for breakfast and will delight your sweet tooth.

Peel and cut the banana into large slices. Drizzle it with a little honey and place it on baking parchment. Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven for 10 minutes, baking temperature - 180°C.

Boil water, add oatmeal to the pan and cook until done. When the porridge is ready, place it on a plate and top the dish with baked bananas, chopped nuts, cinnamon and honey.

Spice beans in tomato sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup beans (white or red)
• 1 onion
• 2 tbsp. l. tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil
• Garlic, basil, salt and pepper to taste

Beans, like lentils, are considered a filling product. In addition, these legumes contain a low amount of fat - only 1 gram of fat per 100 grams of product. However, beans are quite high in calories and protein.

First, you need to rinse the beans and soak them in water overnight. Then chop the onion and garlic and fry them in a frying pan. When the onion becomes translucent, add the beans and then the tomato paste. Pour in a little water and season the dish with spices to taste. Simmer the dish for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve the beans garnished with fresh herbs.

These recipes will not only help diversify the menu, but will also prove that lean food can be tasty and satisfying. Try making them at home, experiment with additives and create your own unique variations.