Need Italian Lent Recipes? Here are 33 meatless dinner ideas from Cooking with Mamma C that are perfect for Lenten Fridays, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday! You'll find recipes for fish, shellfish, pasta, sauces, soups, pizza, frittatas and vegetable entrées.
I have a confession to make. (Since this is a post about Lent, it seems appropriate.)
I've never enjoyed the food at a Lenten fish fry. I'm sure some parishes do a better job than others. But if I go, it's more about the community atmosphere and a night off from cooking than it is about the meal itself.
Can you relate?
If you love Italian food and need some meatless recipes for dinner during Lent, I've got you covered! All of these meals would go well with a simple green salad and Italian bread, but feel free to browse these Italian Side Dishes for many options you'll love.
Now, before we get to all the Lent food, here's some information you might find helpful.
When is Lent 2024?
In 2024, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14, and ends on Holy Thursday, March 28. Good Friday is March 29, and Easter is Sunday, March 31.
Lent rules for fasting & abstinence from meat
Catholic rules for Lent include:
- People age 14 and older must abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays during Lent and Good Friday.
- Catholics 18 or older, and under age 59, must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, unless there are medical reasons not to do so. Women who are pregnant or nursing don't have to fast.
- On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, one full meatless meal is allowed, plus two other light, meatless meals that are just enough to maintain strength. No snacking between meals is allowed.
What counts as meat?
Catholic guidelines prohibit eating meat from land animals or birds on Lenten Fridays, Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. So, you're not supposed to eat chicken on Fridays during Lent.
However, foods made from meat juices and fats are allowed. So broth, stock, gravies, etc., are fine.
Eggs, milk, fish and shellfish are permitted on abstinence days as well. Here's more information.
Do you love Italian food and want to make delicious Lenten meals? Enjoy this recipe collection from Cooking with Mamma C. You'll find fish, shellfish, pasta, sauces, soups, pizza, frittatas and vegetable entrées. Most recipes are either authentic Italian or Italian-American, and a few feature an Italian twist! Looking for fish recipes for Lent? Here are my favorite Italian-style seafood dishes, including cod, salmon, shrimp, scallops and calamari! You'll love this authentic Italian recipe from my Nonna! Ready in 20 minutes, this cod with tomatoes is accented with garlic, olive oil, olives and parsley for a simple but delicious meal. Don't forget the crusty bread! Mom's Broiled Scallops with Parmesan Bread Crumbs is our favorite seafood dish! Made with butter, olive oil and fresh, homemade bread crumbs mixed with Parmesan, a little Romano and seasonings. Delizioso! If you've never paired pesto with salmon, you've been missing out! This fish dinner can be on your table in 25 minutes and is fabulous with boiled redskin potatoes...tossed with butter and pesto! This Parmesan-crusted cod is my most popular recipe! It's low carb, keto, gluten free and tastes fabulous. Loved by adults, teens and toddlers, this is the most family-friendly fish to serve on Fridays during Lent! This is simply the best Fried Shrimp! Don't miss my family's easy recipe that's perfect for a Lenten fish fry. These Easy Breaded Scallops can be on your table in 15 minutes! Coat them with Italian bread crumbs, bake and serve them in a salad with a delicious lemon vinaigrette. Or, you can add them to linguine with lemon and olive oil! I invented Salmon Caprese because I love the combination of mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze. I hope you enjoy this easy salmon recipe that delivers big flavor with an Italian twist! This Parmesan shrimp contains no bread crumbs, so it's gluten free, keto and low carb! Serve it with rice, cauliflower rice or zoodles for a delicious Lenten meal. Don't miss this family recipe for Fried Calamari as made in Naples! Fresh calamari is dredged in seasoned flour and pan-fried until crispy. All you need is a squeeze of lemon! If you need Lenten pasta recipes, here are some family favorites. Enjoy these authentic Italian pasta dishes on no-meat Fridays or any time throughout the year! Whether you use bucatini or make traditional linguine with clams, this is the perfect Italian meal for Lent! It's ready in 20 minutes or less. Pasta e Piselli (Pasta with Peas) is my favorite one-pot meal from Naples! It’s ready in less than 30 minutes and is a delicious and easy Lenten meal. You’ll love Pasta al Forno with Smoked Mozzarella! This baked rigatoni is always a hit and is perfect to feed family and friends during Lent. We love this easy Linguine with Creamy Walnut Sauce, based on a dish we at in Genoa! Just throw the sauce ingredients in the food processor or blender to make a blonde pesto! Pasta e fa*gioli, as made in Naples, is a cross between soup and a pasta dish. Enjoy this one-pot family recipe for a simple Lenten meal! Pasta with Broccoli is a one-pot dish that's the perfect Lenten Friday meal. The broccoli is cooked down until it envelopes the pasta in a garlicky sauce. You'll love this authentic Italian recipe from Naples! A cross between soup and a pasta dish, Pasta with Zucchini is Italian comfort food at its best! Enjoy this one-pot meal that's based on a family recipe from Naples. One-Pot Farro with Cauliflower is similar to Pasta e Cavoli (cauliflower). Farro is an ancient Italian wheat grain that's high in fiber and protein, so it helps keep you full longer. Just what we need for fasting days during Lent! Pasta with Pecorino and Pepper (Cacio e Pepe) hails from Rome and delivers big flavor in 25 minutes! Enjoy this zesty, cheesy pasta recipe that's great for Lent! These meatless Italian sauces are perfect to serve over pasta, zoodles or pizza during Lent. And don't miss the recipe for pizza dough! My Homemade Marinara Sauce is so quick and easy, you can forget jarred spaghetti sauce! Enjoy this authentic Italian recipe on pasta, pizza or zoodles during Lent or throughout the year. You have to try this Homemade Pizza Dough with Beer! It’s so easy, and makes the best pizza. Use it to make plain cheese pizza or add veggie toppings for Lenten Fridays. Made with a 50-50 combination of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano, Mom's basil Pesto is simply the best! Enjoy it with pasta, pizza or salmon! When fresh basil is scarce, make this Easy Spinach-Walnut Pesto! It'll be ready in five minutes and is delicious with pasta or pizza. My Homemade Alfredo Sauce with Garlic has a creamy, velvety texture and huge flavor from Parmesan and Romano! You're going to love it! Make these Italian vegetable dishes when you need delicious meatless meals for Lent but aren't in the mood for fish or pasta. They're perfect for vegetarians any time of year! My Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe features three kinds of cheese, fresh basil and a light tomato sauce. As in Naples, the eggplants are dipped in flour and egg, but no bread crumbs. Enjoy this as a meatless main dish for Lent! Mom's Spinach-Ricotta Pie is absoultely fabulous! The filling is easy to make, and you can use her crust recipe or any pie crust. Save me a piece! Make this Baked Vegetable Risotto as a main dish or to go with fish on Lenten Fridays, Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. The leftovers freeze well! This Cheesy Zucchini Bake is made from scratch with Pecorino Romano and Parmesan! It’s based on my Mom’s zucchini casserole that’s been a staple at family functions for years! Serve it as a main dish or side dish for Lent. Meatless soups and stews are perfect for Lent! Enjoy these Italian recipes when you need a warm bowl of comfort. Fire-roasted tomatoes add tremendous flavor to this hearty Minestrone! It's loaded with veggies, plus pasta, beans and Romano. Enjoy it with a side of crusty bread! Escarole and potatoes are so delicious in this Tuscan White Bean Soup! Feel free to substitute spinach or kale for the greens, but this dish needs to be on your table during Lent! This is basically Italian lentil soup that's cooked until it becomes thick and deeply flavored. Liquid Smoke adds a delicious, smoky accent! Whether you bake or fry them, frittatas are perfect for Lent! Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheeses provide delicious flavor in these Italian omelettes featuring either vegetables or pasta. Mom's Asparagus Frittata is made on the stove, just like in Naples! It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Promise me you'll try it! Leftover Spaghetti Frittata is one of the best things in life! You can start with cold, cooked pasta out of your fridge or boil some just to make this authentic Italian dish from Naples. Enjoy it warm, chilled or at room temperature. Baked Arugula Frittata features peppery greens combined with eggs,garlic, Parmesan, Romano and feta. Make this for a light Lenten meal! Italian Lent Recipes
Fish/Shellfish
Sautéed Cod with Tomatoes
Broiled Scallops with Parmesan Bread Crumbs
Pesto Salmon
Baked Cod with Parmesan and Garlic Butter
Jumbo Fried Shrimp
Easy Breaded Scallops over Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Salmon Caprese with Balsamic Glaze
Baked Parmesan Shrimp with Garlic Butter
Neapolitan-Style Fried Calamari
PASTA
Bucatini with Clams and White Wine
Pasta e Piselli (Pasta with Peas)
Pasta al Forno with Smoked Mozzarella
Linguine with Creamy Walnut Sauce
Pasta e fa*gioli
Pasta with Broccoli
Pasta with Zucchini
One-Pot Farro with Cauliflower and Onions
Pasta with Pecorino and Pepper (Cacio e Pepe)
Sauces & Pizza
Homemade Marinara Sauce
Homemade Pizza Dough with Beer
Mom's Pesto with Pecorino Romano
Easy Spinach-Walnut Pesto
Homemade Alfredo Sauce with Garlic
Vegetable Entrées
Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe
Mom's Spinach-Ricotta Pie
Baked Vegetable Risotto with Asparagus and Spinach
Cheesy Zucchini Bake
Soups/Stew
Minestrone with Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
Tuscan White Bean Soup with Escarole and Potatoes
Smoky Lentil Stew
Frittata Recipes
Mom's Asparagus Frittata
Leftover Spaghetti Frittata
Baked Arugula Frittata
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