I’d like to take the opportunity and with those who are fasting a Blessed Lent.

I, myself, haven’t fasted in a few years and haven’t abstained from meats or dairies for longer. The thing is, I don’t usually cook with a lot of meats. Most of my recipes are either vegetarian, vegan, or can be altered to be either one.

For the son of a butcher, and a whole family of butchers, it is blasphemous for me to quit meats. I did quit red meats for2 years and I was given a hard time, even though I sometimes used to cook for myself or ask mom for a meat-less or chicken version of whatever she’s cooking. I decided to finally end it when I was tempted by mom’s spicy barbequed kababs. Now I am back to meats regularly. And allow me to say, a bit more than ever. I am a fan of beef burgers now, I ate barbecued meat, I have no problem with pork, and I enjoyed beef curries. Weird, isn’t it?

For now, I have not made up my mind whether I will be abstaining from a certain food group but for those of you who have, I present you with this list of 20 vegetarian and vegan recipes to cook during lent:

Lunch or Dinner

Creamy Cauliflower Soup (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/vegan-creamy-cauliflower-soup/ 

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Creamy Mushroom Soup (vegetarian + vegan alternative)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/creamy-mushroom-soup-and-a-very-cold-winter

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Protein Soup (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/all-protein-vegan-soup/

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Tabboule (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/not-about-fattouch-leave-tabbouleh-alone/

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Mexican-inspired salad (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/mexican-inspired-couscous-salad/

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Fava beans, Peas, and Freekeh Salad (vegan)

https://cookin5m2.com/2018/04/26/fava-beans-peas-and-freekeh-salad/

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Fool Mdammas – Broad Beans and Chickpeas (vegan)

https://cookin5m2.com/2017/04/27/fool-mdammas-broad-beans-and-chickpeas/

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Wood-Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Freekeh and Lentils (vegan)

https://cookin5m2.com/2016/10/31/wood-roasted-butternut-squash-salad-with-freekeh-and-lentils/

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Spinach quiche (vegetarian)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/the-first-cookin5m2-brunch-tweetup-lactose-free-quiche/

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Cauliflower steak with lentils (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/05/29/the-buzzfeed-clean-eating-challenge-and-cauliflower-steak-with-lentils/

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Garlic and coriander roasted vegetables
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/marinated-chicken-in-marinara-sauce-with-coriander-and-garlic-roasted-vegetables/

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Baked tomato and halloumi bites (vegetarian)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/halloumi-and-tomato-bites/

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Open-faced sandwiches (vegetarian)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/breakfast-sandwiches-part-i/

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Creamy mushroom farfalle (vegetarian)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/mushroom-farfalle-and-quick-spinach-salad-by-jamie-oliver/

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Fusilli with basil pesto (vegetarian)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/11/13/pesto-fuselli-with-grilled-halloumi-and-tomatoes/

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Spaghetti with 5-minute tomato sauce (vegetarian, or skip the cheese for vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/11/19/basic-spaghetti-with-tomato-sauce/

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Zalabye; Fried Dough for Epiphany (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.com/2018/01/16/zalabye-fried-dough-for-epiphany/

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Desserts

Creamy dark chocolate sorbet (vegan if honey is substituted by plant-based sweetener)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/lactose-and-sugar-free-creamy-dark-chocolate-sorbet/

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Chia Pudding with Strawberries and Pomegranates (vegan option)
https://cookin5m2.com/2018/03/06/chia-pudding-with-strawberries-and-pomegranates/

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Easy pancakes (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/comeback-and-recovery-with-an-easy-vegan-pancakes/

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Faux truffles (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/vegan-faux-truffles/

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Mhallabiyi; milk pudding (vegan, if nut milk is used)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/mhallabiyeh-traditional-milk-pudding/

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Meghlé; spice pudding (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/meghle-spiced-levantine-pudding-and-the-birth-of-more-new-members/

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Peanut butter (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/peanut-butter-and-why-you-should-make-your-own/

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Chocolate hazelnut spread (vegan)
https://cookin5m2.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/chocolate-hazelnut-spread-and-why-youll-never-need-nutella-again/

Lastly, if you’re fasting or not, I suggest you try recipes loaded with vegetables and grains instead of carbs, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and drink a lot of water. I will try to help here as much as I can on the blog and my Facebook page, by posting healthy vegan recipes that are nutritious and flavorful to keep you inspired, motivated, and, as much as possible, away from that delicious warm zaatar man’oushe a day.

Got any questions? Recommendations? Requests?
The comments space is yours, so is the Facebook page. I’d be glad to help!2