Fish during Lent: can you eat it and when? Fish dishes during fasting: possible or not
During the period of fasting, true Christians deny themselves many weaknesses. Orthodox Christians must exclude carnal pleasures and any kind of entertainment, constantly indulge in prayer and repent, purifying themselves spiritually. In addition, believers adhere to a strict menu and do not allow themselves anything extra. In this way purification is accomplished physical body, overcoming bad habits and compliance with church requirements. This has been happening since time immemorial.
The diet is mainly dominated by lean and simple foods, consisting of vegetables, legumes, pasta, greenery. But on certain days, fish is allowed during fasting. Few people know about this. Let's figure out what days you can pamper your stomach with this product.
When can you eat fish during Lent?
It should be noted that even during the period of Lent, certain days, allowing the inclusion of fish products in the menu. These include Palm Sunday, and on Lazarus Saturday the consumption of caviar is allowed. During the Assumption Fast, it is allowed to eat fish on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, during the Nativity and Peter's Fasts - on Saturday and Sunday. Such relaxation (or even refusal to fast) is also permissible for persons engaged in active physical and mental activity, as well as for pregnant and lactating women, small children, the elderly and patients with gastrointestinal disorders.
Abstaining from drinking and certain foods expresses the complete repentance and humility of the laity. The most stringent and lengthy is considered Lent. Within 48 days, the believer strengthens willpower, character and religious feeling.
Over the centuries-old history of human existence, many tasty, healthy and varied dishes have been invented. Fish during Lent can completely replace deli meats. If you show a little imagination and approach the cooking process creatively, you will see that you can easily abandon culinary stereotypes and eat according to religious canons without compromising your health.
It is advisable to use low-fat varieties aquatic inhabitants. Pike perch, pollock, hake, flounder, capelin, and crucian carp are perfect for these purposes. Undoubtedly, it is also very useful for the body and brain activity, but not everyone can afford to buy salmon or trout. This is not a reason to refuse a tasty dish. Natural canned fish - pink salmon, sockeye salmon, salmon - are quite suitable. This delicacy makes amazing soups and salads. If your mouth is already watering, then we suggest moving on to interesting cooking options.
Nutritious and tasty fish recipes
You need to eat right not only on religious holidays, but throughout your entire adult life. By replacing red meat with seafood and vertebrate animals that live in rivers, lakes or oceans, you will become much healthier. The Lenten fish dishes presented in today's article will delight the whole family at a modest evening meal.
Cod in marinade
We will use low-calorie fillet and lean fish- cod. If desired, you can replace it with any other species, such as hake or blue whiting. Taste qualities will remain on high level. So, what will be useful to us:
One kilogram fish carcass;
Parsley root;
A bunch of dill;
Onion head;
Large carrots;
Two medium tomatoes (fresh);
A pinch of salt and sugar.
In our case, both frozen and fresh carcass are suitable. Rinse, gut, separate from bones and skin. Cut the pulp into small pieces, place it on the bottom of the pan and pour cold water. For added spice, add some peppercorns.
Set the heat to high, wait until it boils and boil for 15 minutes. Place the finished fillet on a plate with a slotted spoon, and prepare a delicious marinade from the broth. Chop the onion into half rings, grate the parsley root and carrots. Lightly fry all the vegetables in vegetable oil.
After a couple of minutes, pour in the broth, add chopped tomatoes (separated from the skin), chopped dill and desired spices. Simmer the mixture for about 5-10 minutes. Pour the aromatic marinade over the cod, cool and enjoy! But remember: only on strictly established dates can you eat fish during Lent.
Baked pink salmon with vegetables
Let us introduce you to the festive, beautiful and extremely delicious dish, which is perfect even for a special event. In a recipe, the proportions of the products are not so important as their quality. Cook for required quantity family members or guests. Required components:
Frozen pink salmon;
Onions, carrots;
Fresh tomatoes;
Sunflower oil;
Greens to your taste.
To prevent the fillet from becoming dry, we advise you not to completely defrost the carcass. Remove the head, fins, large bones, entrails (if any) and cut into portions, without removing the skin. Place pink salmon skin side down on a baking sheet lined with foil. It is advisable to add a little salt and pepper. Let’s leave her to “rest” for a while.
Chop the onion into half rings and sauté. Grate the carrots, remove the peel from the tomato and chop into cubes. Then fry separately. We move on to the final stage: place an onion on each piece of fish fillet, and carrots and tomatoes on top of it. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Wrap the edges of the foil and bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees. A minute before turning off the oven, open the foil slightly to allow the vegetables to brown.
During Lent, this is an excellent dish that is highly nutritious and healthy. Serve hot with rice or mashed potatoes. Be sure to place it on the table and fresh vegetables.
with tomato sauce
A light, low-calorie and, most importantly, lean dish, which can be quickly prepared from inexpensive ingredients, which is also important. During fasting, fish is allowed without the use of dairy products such as cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. Set of components:
A kilogram of pollock (frozen);
20 g flour;
Spices: black pepper, garlic salt, dry dill.
Ingredients for tomato sauce: ½ cup tomato paste (choose one without preservatives), two onions, a clove of garlic, 200 ml filtered water, flour (15 g), pepper, salt.
First, let's make a homemade marinade: finely chop onions, throw into hot oil, sauté until golden brown. Next add tomato paste, chopped garlic, specified seasonings and flour. Pour water into the mixture and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Let the sauce cool.
For now, let's take care of the pollock. Cut into small pieces, sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper, roll in flour or semolina. It needs to be fried or baked. Pour over the prepared fillet tomato sauce, refrigerate for about three hours. Sprinkle with dill.
Fish cutlets (lean)
Hake pulp (kilogram);
Two hundred grams of black bread;
Three cloves of garlic;
Breadcrumbs or semolina for coating;
Seasonings and herbs at your discretion.
Break bread without crusts with your hands and add warm water to soften. Pass the hake, onion, garlic and bread crumb through a meat grinder or blender (pre-squeeze). Add chopped herbs and seasonings to the minced meat. You can use seasonings that contain coriander, black pepper, tomatoes, and paprika.
If the minced meat turns out to be too liquid, add semolina. Knead the fish mass, form oval cutlets, roll in breadcrumbs and fry. Or cook it in a slow cooker, it will be much healthier. All that remains is to come up with a suitable side dish. Absolutely everyone, including small children, will like this kind of fish for Lent.
Quick Meatballs
Don't have too much time, but want to cook something original, savory and light for dinner? Use the following recipe. The whole process will not take you more than half an hour. You will need:
Canned fish (saury or tuna) - arbitrary quantity;
A piece of rye flour bun;
Garlic, onion and dill;
Semolina.
Mash the canned fish thoroughly with a fork and mix with the indicated ingredients. Season with salt and semolina. You can use grated potatoes (raw). Using a tablespoon, strain out the minced meat, place all the meatballs in the pan, and bake for 10 minutes. For juiciness, add tomato sauce to the finished dish.
We hope that you will be pleasantly surprised by the nourishing and tasty Lenten menu. The recipes are accessible to everyone and do not require any special culinary talents. Finally, we will describe a no less original option for cooking in the oven.
Fish and vegetable casserole
Ingredients:
Potatoes - 3 pcs.;
Lean fish carcass, or rather fillet (kilogram);
Assorted vegetables: zucchini, bell pepper, carrots, broccoli, garlic, cilantro.
Peel the potatoes, cut into thin slices, place on a baking sheet (grease with oil). The next layer will be fillet cut into strips. Cover with a vegetable coat. Chop all vegetables into cubes and simmer. Salt each layer. Place in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
You now know what kind of fish you can eat during Lent. Remember one thing: dietary restrictions are no less important than spiritual cleansing and deep faith.
Many people who decide to observe Lent are interested in whether it is possible to eat fish at this time, and if so, on what days? The strictest restriction for the 49-day period between the burning of Maslenitsa and the celebration of the Holy Day of Christ day - Sunday applied to meat and meat products. Animal products are rightly referred to as the types of food that are most saturated with energy. But these calories are “animal”, and in significant quantities they can have negative impact on the physical and spiritual health of a person. The violent death of a living creature, whose body subsequently decorates people’s tables and satiates their stomachs, also leaves a bad imprint.
One of the explanations for this limitation can be found on the pages of the Bible, which says that initially, living in paradise, people ate only plant foods. In addition, animals can be possessed by evil spirits. An unclean essence, having entered the body of a living being, lives in it and defiles its flesh. Since a person cannot guess which animal has an evil spirit and which does not, it is better not to eat meat at all for a while in order to cleanse himself of all bad things.
IN Holy Scripture We are also talking about the fact that all living creatures created by the Almighty are needed by man. Our attitude towards our “lesser brothers” must be appropriate. Therefore, during the flood, all types of animals were saved.
But fish is a product that is not included in the “Meat” category, since the Bible does not mention it as “Adam’s helper.” Therefore, on days of fasting that fall on weekdays, it is not allowed to be eaten, but on holidays this product is not strictly prohibited. Yes and during global flood Noah did not need to save the fish, because they were not in danger.
In addition, fish are among those creatures whose minds are most different from human ones. Therefore, it can be considered fair that when killed by humans, fish are not able to experience those negative emotions that are common to other animals.
On what days of Lent can you eat fish without fear of breaking the rules?
The Church provides two days on which the fasting person can slightly diversify his menu. The first day is the Annunciation, celebrated annually on April 7 and in most cases falling during the period of Lent. The second day when it is permissible to eat fish is Palm Sunday. Its date is different every year, since this holiday always falls on the Sunday that precedes the Bright Day of Christ. To put it simply, in the 49-day Easter fast the church allows eating fish any year on April 7 and on the Sunday preceding Holy Week.
Church law advises people suffering from diseases that do not allow them to severely limit themselves in food to replace their usual meat meals with fish. After all, fish is more light food, and its composition is ideal for feeding people whose body urgently needs wide range macro- and microelements. This diet is also recommended for pregnant women and the younger generation.
How to cook fish during Lent?
When preparing fish, you should take into account the requirements for the rest Lenten dishes: lack of seasonings, sauces and dressings. It is also not recommended to fry this product (only salt, boil or stew). The taste of fish should be as natural as possible so as not to “irritate” taste buds, because of which the mood of abstinence is dulled. The main fish dishes during Lent are fish soup, steamed fish and vegetable cutlets, and fish stewed with vegetables. Lightly salted fish (not subjected to heat treatment) is primarily recommended for consumption by those people who include: this product on the menu in order to recruit valuable substances.
Is it possible to include seafood in the menu on fasting days that allow you to eat fish?
If we consider this issue from the point of view of the Church Charter, then we should remember that the main criterion for fasting is the use exclusively plant food. And squid, shrimp, mussels and other marine life are representatives of the animal kingdom. Fish, the consumption of which is allowed by statute only on holidays, is recognized as semi-lenten food. This includes seafood.
If a person fasting on the permissible days wants to include seafood in his diet in order to replenish the balance useful substances, then this is allowed. We welcome the Church Charter and the initiative of those people who, due to health restrictions, are trying to replace the “meat” food (meat, eggs, cottage cheese, butter) with seafood. The fact is that seafood is rich in so necessary for the body irreplaceable for a person (especially a sick or growing person) fatty acids, iodine and other substances.
People who take the issue of observing the 49-day fast extremely seriously, but are unable to strictly follow it due to work related to difficult physical activity, eating seafood can help out. But they will need to approach the priest in advance to receive a blessing to relax the fast.
If a person simply wants to fast without depriving himself of his usual pleasures, then this can be called a regular diet. It will undoubtedly bring results. But only if the fasting person did not set for himself such a high goal as spiritual cleansing.
Conclusion.
For people who observe Lent not only in body but also in soul, consumption of fish and seafood is permissible only on holidays and if there is a good reason. And those who do not have any restrictions in terms of health, but want to eat delicacies during Lent, should remember that such “fasting” is nothing more than self-soothing and ordinary weight loss, which has nothing to do with the holiday of Great Easter.
During Lent, if you look at the nutrition calendar for this time, you cannot eat fish. Unlike other multi-day fasts, the ban here will be quite serious. There are only three days, on which three holidays fall, when relaxations are allowed.
Of the special days when you can eat fish during Lent 2017, you should note April 7, as well as April 8 and 9. These dates are not always allocated for the period of fasting. If April 7 is the feast of the Annunciation Holy Mother of God, has a constant date and will always be an exception, then Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday depend on the current date of Easter.
If you go to the temple on festive service on any of these days, and this must be done, it is worth listening to the sermons of the priests. Quite often they come down to the fact that modern man great value gives rituals to church holidays, but loses sight of the meaning and religious significance. Therefore, on the day of the Annunciation, Lazarus Saturday or Palm Sunday, it is not so important to set a luxurious fish table and eat, as it is important to go to church, pray, confess and receive communion. A festive meal is already an addition that takes place only after the main and more significant, spiritually valuable rituals.
Annunciation: baked carp
Every year this day falls during Lent, but for different periods. Although the holiday of the good news, the holy conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary is the holiday of Christmas, for this reason its date is constant. You can safely put all kinds of fish dishes on the table on this day. In Rus', every housewife prepared especially carefully for the feast of the Annunciation, because it was considered women's day. The Mother of God is the intercessor of women before God, asking for a good and happy family life, for the kids. In general, for everything that, according to the old tradition, is considered an important component of women's happiness.
For example, you can apply for festive table on this day of baked carp. Carp is an inexpensive but tasty fish. You can buy it today in the live fish department of any department store, and cook it live fish- a real pleasure, it definitely turns out juicy and tasty. It is recommended to bake the cleaned and gutted carp whole, stuffed with onions and herbs, and sprinkle generously with spices on top. The secret to getting a crispy crust is to place the fish on the baking sheet when vegetable oil It's already warmed up enough. Of course, this is only one of the options for a fish dish for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and each housewife may have her own options.
Lazarev Saturday: sandwiches with caviar
Not quite a fish day, but still a fast day of exception is this Saturday, which depends directly on the date of Easter and in 2017 falls on April 8th. According to church canons, you can eat fish caviar on Lazarus Saturday. It can be red or black caviar, expensive delicacies or cheaper capelin and pollock caviar. Some people also extend this relaxation of fasting to seafood. Here controversial issue on which the clergy have not yet come to a consensus.
Some priests believe that there is nothing wrong with serving not only caviar, but also other seafood on Lazarus Saturday. It’s just that when the tradition of fasting was formed in Rus' there were no seafood, but there was always caviar. Other priests emphasize that caviar on the Saturday of Lazarus is not just a product, but a symbol of the cycle of life. It is clear that a shrimp or mussel is definitely not such a symbol.
Interesting! It is no coincidence that caviar is a symbol of the cycle of life on this day. The fact is that more than two thousand years ago, it was on this Saturday, on the eve of Easter, that Jesus Christ resurrected in front of the disciples and ordinary people Lazarus, who had already been dead for four days.
Palm Sunday: fish pies
As for the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, it is large and definitely an exception to the Lenten menu. You can eat fish and seafood in completely different variations, as the hostess wants. Solemn services are held in churches in honor of this day, after which willow branches are blessed. We must remember that Palm Sunday is celebrated in the family circle, without noise and unnecessary entertainment. Because you still need to keep Lent.
Among the particularly common fish dishes that were prepared in honor of this Sunday in Rus' are fish pies or pies. They should be prepared only using lean dough (without eggs, milk or other dairy products). But when the right approach By choosing the filling and additional ingredients for the filling, fish pies turn out to be satisfying and tasty. You should not make too many fish dishes on Palm Sunday, because the strict Holy Week begins on Monday. During this period and until Easter, if possible, you should eat less and try to observe strict fast, and some days you can stay on only water and black bread.
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Is it possible to eat fish during Lent?
The Church Charter clearly states the time of consumption of Lenten food and its quality. There are very strict rules meals served in monasteries and by some believers with the blessing of their confessor. For the laity, certain degrees of relaxation of fasting are provided depending on the state of health, age, and type of occupation. When can you eat fish during Lent and what types of fish are there? we're talking about in this article.
You are allowed to eat fish twice - on holidays and on holidays. fish roe- only on Lazarus Saturday of Great Lent.
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem on the last Sunday before Happy Easter. IN Palm Sunday festivities are celebrated in churches All-night vigil, after which the priests read prayers and sprinkle the willow branches with holy water. Worshipers come to Church with willows, meeting the coming God at the service with bouquets of willows and burning candles.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great Christian celebration during Lent, glorifying the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the news of the conception and birth of the infant Christ. The celebration of the Annunciation is not postponed on Easter day, even if the holidays coincide. At the Annunciation, the Church Charter blesses the eating of oil and fish.
What fish can you eat during Lent?
Fish dishes from any types of fish are not prohibited: herring, pike perch, perch, salmon, pink salmon. Best to eat boiled fish, fish pie or , fish roll with vegetables, cooked in butter. Fish can be cooked over a fire, baked, fried, boiled. Good option– cook lean with the addition of fish or fish.
Is it possible to eat seafood during Lent?
In Orthodox monasteries in Greece, monks are not prohibited from eating seafood during Lent, although they fast strictly and do not eat fish. The Greek statute equates squid, shrimp and crabs with sea plants and gives permission to eat them on Sunday and Saturday along with butter. In Russia there is no strict ban on the consumption of seafood during Lent, but Orthodox Church puts forward a clear criterion: lean food– vegetable. Taxonomy classifies shrimp, squid and crabs as part of the animal kingdom, so seafood is considered a semi-lenten food. Some priests believe that it is permissible for the laity to diversify the table with “sea reptiles” on church holidays, while others believe that seafood should be consumed twice throughout Lent. It is advisable for believers to clarify this issue in a personal conversation with their confessor.
Is it possible to eat fish during Lent?
So, when can you eat fish during Lent? On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7) and Palm Sunday. The fast is softened for nursing mothers, pregnant women, children, the sick, and the elderly. It is necessary to fast as long as you are healthy, trying to preserve love, mercy, and patience, which are the purpose of physical fasting. The main meaning of fasting is abstinence and maintaining spiritual purity, which is impossible without attending divine services, prayer, confession, repentance, and communion with the Saints. Christ's Mysteries.
Fish for Lent, video recipe
The answer to the question “Is it possible to eat fish during Lent?” - “Yes.” Among the food prohibitions during Lent, one of the most stringent is that of meat. It is not without reason that food of animal origin is considered the most saturated with energy. But this is “animal” energy and in large quantities can have a negative influence on a person. The violent death of an animal, which subsequently ends up on our tables and in our stomachs, also leaves its mark.
One of the explanations for the ban lies in the Bible, which says that in paradise food for people was only plant-based. Animals were also considered “carriers” of unclean spirits, which could enter the animal’s body and move with it, desecrating its flesh, which was therefore, at least, undesirable to eat.
It is also said that all the animals created by God were needed by people. The attitude had to be appropriate. Everyone was saved during the flood.
But there is a product that differs from all types of meat, since it is not mentioned in the Bible when creating “Adam’s helpers.” This is a fish. Therefore in ordinary days During Lent, fish is one of the forbidden foods. However, on holidays it cannot fit into this law, because this is not said anywhere, and during the flood there was no need to save the fish, they existed on their own all the time.
Fish is also one of the representatives of creatures that have the most different intelligence from us, and therefore it is believed that when killing a fish, it does not experience the same fear and is devoid of emotions characteristic of other animals.
When exactly can you eat fish during Lent without fear of breaking the rules?
The clergy set aside two days when you can expand your diet so much. This is the day on which the Annunciation is celebrated, and the day that precedes Holy Week - Palm Sunday.
You can also eat fish if there is another special church day.
And if you have health problems that limit the severity of fasting, then it is better to prefer fish to other types of meat. Fish is not a heavy food, and its composition is suitable for feeding organisms that especially need microelements and minerals. For example, pregnant women, teenagers or sick people.
The requirements for fish recipes are the same as for any lean ones: no seasonings, dressings or sauces. You should also not fry fish. The product should be as natural in taste as possible, so as not to “pamper” the taste buds, dampening the mood of abstinence.
