Mexican Recipes for Lent
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Updated Mar 02, 2025, Published Feb 20, 2023
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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 Mexican Lentil Soup (Sopa de Lentejas) is a hearty one-pot vegetarian meal ready in 30 minutes. Packed with protein, fiber, and vegetables, it’s healthy, comforting, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
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
Authentic Camarones a la Diabla (Mexican Deviled Shrimp)
This authentic Camarones a la Diabla recipe features tender shrimp simmered in a bold, smoky red chile sauce made with guajillo and chile de árbol peppers. Ready in under 30 minutes with just 7 simple ingredients, this classic Mexican deviled shrimp is spicy, saucy, and perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Camarones a la Diabla Recipe
Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)
This Coctel de Camarones is a refreshing Mexican shrimp cocktail made with cooked shrimp, creamy avocado, lime juice, and a zesty tomato-based sauce using V8. Serve cold with saltine crackers or tortilla chips for an easy no-cook appetizer that’s perfect for parties, holidays, or hot summer days.
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 beloved Mexican street corn snack—known as elote en vaso or esquites—is served in a cup with butter, lime, crema, cheese, and chili powder. Quick, easy, and packed with flavor!
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 traditional Mexican bread pudding made with piloncillo syrup, cinnamon, cloves, raisins, toasted bolillo bread, and melted cheese. This authentic capirotada de piloncillo is especially popular during Lent and Christmas and is a nostalgic dessert in many Northern Mexican and Texas-border homes.
Traditional Lent Dessert
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.
My mother use to make a soup mostly water base with tomatoes and garlic onions and then make a breaded potato and shrimp fried to add also added fresh ciliantro to the soup me and my sisters have been searching for the recipe and would appreciate your help if possible I have a culinary back ground and feel I could make the soup/dish just want to see if anyone could help me to make this more authentic! We’re from south central Texas! Thanks!
We are not religious folks but do love mexican food and respect others who do the religious thing.I love chile rellenos and was raised just north of the mexican border so love most things mexican.Make my own pinto beans and freeze them after they are cooked so I can make homemade soups plus other things with them.
I love ALL the recipes you’ve posted for Lent Season…would you happen to have one for Tortas de Camaron with nopales?? Please share if you do…I’d like to make them for this coming Friday. 🙂 Thanks
Hola Alicia! I know this reply is a few years late, but I now have a recipe for Tortas de Camaron with nopales. The recipe has now been added to this blog post. Happy Lenten season.
What a great picture of my tia! Love your blog!
This is great!! My fiancé is Mexican and am always looking for awesome authentic recipes to make for him! Even though we’re working the Fish Fry at our church every Friday, these will be great recipes to use anytime! Especially the Chile Rellenos! His favorite! Thank you!!
I’m always looking for good meat-free meals, and all of these sound wonderful!
I’ll take the green enchiladas please! It all looks wonderful Yvette. Really nice to see you yesterday.
Just the type of post I was looking for! Thanks for the awesome meal ideas. Yesterday i ate fish(sticks) for the 5 time in my life. Needless to say i wasn’t happy but i wasn’t going to against my beliefs and eat meat 🙂
In my house we love flautas de papa during this time
Thanks so much for posting this. I think I’ve got all 7 Fridays of Lent covered! 😀 Those chile rellenos (mmm, my faves!) look amazing!!