For Mexicans, Easter is one of the most popular religious celebrations. During Holy Week, especially on Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, or Holy Thursday, eating red meat is just not allowed.
But just because you’re giving up meat during Lent doesn’t mean you have to give up the zing and zest! You’re about to read a list of the most delicious Mexican Lent dishes that don’t contain red meat.
During Lent and Easter, Mexicans serve up some of its most mouthwatering traditional Mexican seafood dishes, soups, broths, and tacos. The most common recipes are shrimp tostadas, aguachile, fish fillet, and coconut shrimp.
Keep reading and we promise these dishes will make your mouth water.
1. Romeritos
This is an herby and delicious Mexican dish that has been served for over a hundred years. It is made with quelite, Mexican wild green species which in some places is considered an invasive weed.
Romeritos are so popular during periods of celebration, they are also served up for Christmas.
2. Surimi Rolled Snacks
This is an easy, creamy snack that comes with an exquisite flavor! While they can be eaten all year round, they have become particularly popular at Easter. They are usually filled with surimi or salmon with sour cream.
3. Fish and Shrimp Sonora-style Aguachile
A fresh and spicy dish that envelops the flavors and textures of the sea and the countryside. Its freshness welcomes you to the spring season and its spiciness makes you wish it would never end.
It is the ideal dish for Easter! One of the most popular in the entire Mexican Republic.
4. Chihuahua-style Capirotada
This is a dessert with many exquisite textures! It is a beautiful, sweet dish with a base of bread toast, raisins, piloncillo, and Mexican cheese.
The capirotada as we know it today is nothing like the traditional Lent dish. The original dates back to 1477 and consisted of slices of toast soaked in mutton broth and layered with the meat of a roasted partridge. Years later, it morphed into the delicious modern sweet dessert that made its way into America with the Spanish conquest.
Nowadays, there are many versions of this dessert, but the best has to be that produced by the State of Chihuahua.
5. Seafood Tostadas
A toasted, crunchy tortilla with the freshness of the sea in a bite!
Tostadas have their origin in the indigenous cultures that inhabited Mexican territory. When they prepared them, they left the tortilla in the comal, a kind of flat griddle, until it was stiff and crispy. Then, they ate them with beans and chili.
Today, you can accompany them with just about anything you can imagine.
6. Papillote Fish Fillet in Cilantro Sauce
Some regional Mexican recipes have become popular throughout Mexico, such as this mouthwatering papillote fish fillet. It is a certain must-have for the Easter table to celebrate the occasion with family and to pamper the most demanding of tastes.
The perfect creamy cilantro sauce is made with sour cream, fresh cilantro, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. Yes! It’s easier than you think!
7. Tacos Gobernador
These are one of the most delicious savory cheesey-shrimpy dishes you will find in Mexico – especially during Lent.
The story goes that these shrimp tacos were created in the State of Sinaloa back in the 1990s. The chef at Los Arcos restaurant in Mazatlán heard that the governor particularly loved his wife’s shrimp tacos. Not to be out done by the governor’s other half, the chef wanted to prove he was just as good. When the governor finally got to eat at Los Arcos and taste the chef’s creation, he liked them so much he named them “governor tacos”.
These are a definite must!
8. Poblano Pepper Stuffed with Seafood
Fresh green peppers are characterized by their unique earthy flavor. It is so favored by Mexicans that they will stuff a pepper with just about anything: cheese, meat, seafood, soy ‘meat’, and more.
My favorite stuffed poblano pepper is the famous Chile en Nogada. But for Lent, this pepper stuffed with seafood is worthy of a Holy Week food for sure! You can eat these with a side of buttery white rice and nopal salad.
9. Nopal Salad (Cactus Leaves)
Umm! If you have yet to taste this delight of the land of Mexico, you have missed out on a festival of flavors.
The nopal is the most wonderful food in the country (followed by corn, of course), which is a pretty good reason for it to appear on the country’s flag.
Nopal salad, a vegan dish, goes perfectly with this season. You got to try it out.
Editor’s Note: The prickly pear fruit from the nopal cactus is now a favorite in some parts of the United States as well. It counts as one of the most must-try foods in Arizona.
10. Surimi Flautas and/or Hibiscus Flautas
These salty, golden, crispy corn tortilla rolls can be stuffed with any of your favorite flavors! Also known as taquitos dorados (golden taquitos), flutes are one of the most popular Mexican appetizers. They are elongated tortillas stuffed with meat, cheese, or vegetables.
The hibiscus flutes are excellent for a zero-waste diet because after boiling them, the flower is sautéed, seasoned, and boom! You have your stuffing for some delicious flutes. These versions are an absolute necessity in your life!
11. Enchiladas de Queso Estilo Chihuahua
This is a favorite Easter Mexican dish for so many! The cheese, the chili, the corn tortillas… what a combination! The dry chili sauce and cheese is an absolute delight, making these enchiladas simply yummy! Are you convinced yet?
12. Dried Shrimp Stock
The aroma when this dish is cooking spreads throughout the house in a kind of smelly-tasty madness. Fish soups and seafood broths in general are never missed out for Easter and the concentrated flavors of the sea in this dish are unmatched.
The dish is also served in seafood restaurants as an entrée, presaging your main dish. The best way to eat it is by pouring over lemon and you are ready to go!
13. Tortitas de Charales (Charales Pancakes)
The aroma and taste of this small fish will take you on a journey through a dream river. But it is not a taste for everyone. Sadly, this little fish is rather unvalued and can even be despised. But for those who appreciate the unique flavors, it is a delight.
Anchovies are ample during Lent and highly nutritious of course, so why wait. Go make a Mextlapique!
14. Mextlapique or Charal Tamal
This is a delight for the very demanding and curious palate! Just the beauty of this delicacy is enough to impress. The tamale: a truly historic, pre-Hispanic dish.
There’s no need to describe it or talk about it. Just try it. But make sure you unwrap it first as many foreigners get caught trying to eat the inedible corn leaf wrapper!
To Sum Up,
It can be hard coming up with dishes for Lent when meat is off the menu. But this incredible list should give you a few ideas to help you go meatless.
In fact, let the lack of meat be the opportunity to explore the culture and taste everything, because that’s how you get to know the people.
Best wishes for this Easter & Holy Week Season!
Related: Top 25 Mexican Desserts
The post 14 Tasty Mexican Easter & Lent Foods to Try Out appeared first on Chef's Pencil.
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