Mexican Recipes for Lent
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on Feb 20, 2023, Updated Mar 02, 2025
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Growing up Catholic, Fridays meant Meatless Fridays even when it wasn’t the Lenten season.
Although I have not committed to that tradition year round, I still give up meat on Fridays during Lent. Following is a collection of my favorite Mexican Lent recipes which make me long for Lenten Fridays early in the week.
If you take part in Lent, remember you don’t have to substitute sabor during this time of reflection.
Traditional Mexican Entrees for Lent
Stacked Red Enchiladas (Enchiladas Rojas)
These homemade red enchiladas are full of authentic Mexican flavor! With or without a fried egg, you’ll find yourself making this recipe time and time again.
Red Enchiladas Recipe
Chiles Relleno Recipe
An authentic fried Chiles Rellenos recipe. Anaheim peppers are roasted and then filled with melty queso Oaxaca, coated in a delicate, soft, but slightly crispy coating and served with a warm ranchero salsa. Delicious!
Chile Relleno Recipe
Tuna Salad with Chopped Eggs
This is my mom’s simple and delicious tuna egg salad recipe! This tuna salad is healthy and makes an excellent sandwich filling for a comforting meal or a protein-packed topping on mixed greens or lettuce leaves for a light lunch. It packs up great for school and road trip lunches.
High Protein Tuna Salad Recipe
Tortitas de Camarón con Nopales (Mexican Dried Shrimp Patties with Red Chile Sauce and Cactus)
Today, I'm so excited to share my recipe for Tortitas de Camarón con Nopales, a traditional Mexican dish that is perfect for Lent. Chopped nopales (cactus paddles) are cooked and simmered in a slightly spicy guajillo chile sauce then poured over dried shrimp patties for a deliciously satisfying pescatarian meal.
Tortitas de Camaron Recipe
Vegetarian Mexican Tostadas with Refried Beans and Guacamole
This dish was our go-to meal especially during Lent and still is. It doesn’t get any simpler than this recipe.
Beans & Guacamole Tostadas Recipe
Crispy Potato Tacos (Tacos de Papa)
Crispy potato tacos are also known as “Tacos Dorados de Papa” or “Tacos de Papa” in Spanish. If you’re looking for a vegetarian taco recipe, try these crispy tacos stuffed with a flavorful and cheesy mashed potato mixture.
Potato Tacos Recipe
Sopa de Lentejas (Mexican Lentil Soup)
This simple and earthy Mexican Lentil Soup (Sopa de Lentejas) is a complete one-pot meal, feeds 8 to 10 people, can easily be made in 30 minutes, and is healthy and hearty packed with protein, fiber, and veggies. This tasty dish is filling and full of flavor yet light and vegetarian.
Mexican Lentil Soup Recipe
Sopa de Fideo
Sopa de Fideo is an incredibly simple, flavorful Mexican noodle soup made with a savory tomato-based broth. It is the epitome of kid-friendly comfort food, and takes just 20 minutes to make!
Sopa de Fideo Recipe
Traditional Mexican Seafood Recipes for Lent
Caldo de Pescado y Camaron (Fish and Shrimp Soup)
Excellent for a Lenten meal this fish stock and shrimp in a chipotle-tomato broth is slightly spicy and easy to prepare. Serve soup with lime wedges, hot sauce, and saltine crackers.
Caldo de Pescado recipe
Beer-Battered Fish Tacos
Mexican beer-battered cod, fried to perfection topped with chipotle cream sauce and garnished with red cabbage, thinly sliced jalapeños and radishes, pico de gallo, and avocado. Wrapped in a warm corn tortilla, this taco has the perfect level of heat and combination of textures.
Fish Tacos Recipe
Camarones a la Diabla
Camarones a la Diabla are juicy large shrimp cooked in a flavorful and spicy red chile sauce.
Camarones a la Diabla Recipe
Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)
This shrimp cocktail with a spicy cocktail sauce made with freshly chopped red onions, cilantro, and avocados is the perfect light and easy appetizer or healthy lunch, especially during hot months.
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
Mexican Shrimp Ceviche (Ceviche de Camarón)
Bright, fresh, and bursting with flavor, this Mexican Shrimp Ceviche recipe is sure to become one of your favorite summer recipes. Made with just 11 ingredients and 15 minutes of active prep, this easy ceviche recipe is the no-cook meal of your dreams!
Mexican Shrimp Ceviche Recipe
Traditional Mexican Breakfast Recipes for Lent
Nopales con Huevo
Nopales con huevo is a classic Mexican dish made with cactus paddles and scrambled eggs.
Nopales con Huevo Recipe
Migas Breakfast Tacos
Hold breakfast in your hand, Austin style! Its food for the soul folded in half and stuffed with eggs, fresh ingredients, and crunchy tortilla chips. Try this easy recipe for a taste of a Tex-Mex breakfast.
Migas Recipe
Traditional Mexican Side Dishes for Lent
Frijoles de la Olla Recipe
A pot of freshly made Mexican frijoles or “frijoles de la olla” is my absolute favorite way to eat beans. The perfect side dish for your Mexican feast.
Frijoles de la Olla Recipe
Calabacitas con Elote (Mexican Zucchini & Corn)
Here's an easy way to make Calabacitas con Elote (Zucchini with Corn) – a zesty and satisfying side dish to have in your summer menu. The buttery creaminess of the suero catapults me to my childhood every time.
Calabacitas con Elote Recipe
Elote en Vaso (a.k.a. Esquites)
This is Mexico’s finest street dish, often sold in styrofoam cups.
Corn in a Cup Recipe
Ensalada de Nopales Asados (Grilled Cactus Paddle Salad)
Grilled nopales and bell peppers combined with tomato, red onion, black olives, and avocado drizzled with with a tangy, salty, and smoky dressing.
Cactus Salad Recipe
Traditional Mexican Desserts for Lent
Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)
Capirotada is a Mexican bread pudding made with cinnamon, piloncillo, cloves, raisins, bread, and cheese. I can smell and taste the sweet warm melted cheese as I type this. Yes, you read it right…cheese. The combination of these ingredients is sure to awaken your taste buds!
Mexican Bread Pudding Recipe
Do you practice meatless Fridays during Lent? You can find many more Mexican Lent Recipes on the blog and in my new cookbook, Muy Bueno Fiestas. If you tried any recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments!
Originally published: February 2012.
Thank you for posting! All these recipes remind me of my childhood. This year we are doing no meat for all days of lent and was trying to find recipes and get ideas.
No pues wow
Do you have a recipe for “chacales”?
Hola Hilda! Sorry for the delay. I have a recipe for Sopa de Chacales in my latest cookbook, Muy Bueno Fiestas.
Thank you so much for posting this blog. This Lenten season reminds me so much of my mom, this was her favorite season and mine too because of all the cooking she would do and I got to enjoy every meal with her. Only memories of my mom I have with me these days. I definitely time traveled with your blog. Thank you and God bless you.
My grandmother used to make that egg and shrimp patties with that tomato based soup with potatoes..the soup almost like gravy And make Papa labas they were a potato enchilada so good
A lot of choices for LENT. My favorite, green or red enchiladas, yum. Don’t forget the capirotada.
Thank you for the great recipes for lent. My mom would make egg tortas with dried shrimp. She would beat the eggs and add the dried shrimp. She would then fry them into these little round tortas and make mole to pour over them. Delicious!
Putting it up in my house menu…Friday is the day fro this