Lenten-Fast Recipes That Don't Sacrifice Taste

For those of us from the Catholic or Orthodox traditions, Lent has begun. (And with it, for the Catholics, the eternal annual cycle of Orthodox and Jewish friends making fun of the Catholic definition of a “fast,” which consists of … one meal and two snacks.) That means meals to make without meat -- and depending on the strictness of the abstinence your tradition requires, possibly also dairy products as well. Readers have already been discussing Lenten dinner ideas in the comments here.

Fortunately, this is a column I am very qualified to write, having been a vegetarian and even a vegan. I will therefore offer some suggestions for meatless, and even dairy-and-eggless, recipes for those who are observing a Lenten fast this year.