In 2026, the Great Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition falls on the period of February 23 to April 11. As per tradition, the fasting begins right after Maslenitsa and ends before Orthodox Easter – two much-loved holidays that involve quite a bit of feasting. But throughout the Great Lent, observers must avoid meat, fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy products. Thus, various grains, pulses, vegetables and fruit, and plant oils become the primary source of nutrition.

Although the Great Lent is a religious custom, many non-believers still observe it – either as part of a family tradition or simply as a form of conscious consumption. The rules of lent also make it a great boon for all vegans and vegetarians. Cultural and ethical reasons aside, this is also simply a great opportunity for foodies to try new and unusual recipes and dishes.

Lenten meals to make at home

Prune borscht

Don’t be surprised – the go-to Slavic culinary classic is actually quite often made with prunes, which add a pleasant sweetness and smokiness to the iconic soup. For Lent, home cooks will simply eliminate the meat and the dairy (i.e. the sour cream) from the recipe – instead adding mushrooms for the flavour. Find the recipe here.

Various kashas

The humble-yet-versatile kasha, or porridge, has always been a staple of Eastern European cuisine. There’s more to it than oats, too: the Russian cuisine uses everything from semolina and millet to buckwheat and pearl barley for its kashas, both sweet and savoury. For a variety of kasha recipes, check out our World Porridge Day feature.

Veggie cutlets

A dish category familiar to everyone who’s been to a Russian kindergarten, the various veggie cutlets in Russian cooking trace their roots all the way back to the 19th-century vegetarianism fad. One common variation is the carrot cutlet – savoury-sweet, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Find two ways of making them here.

Where to eat Lenten

Credit: M Draa (@nouvellebeautybymarion) via Unsplash

Credit: M Draa (@nouvellebeautybymarion) via Unsplash

Teremok

At the storied bliny chain, the Lent goes on all year round! The постное (postnoye – “Lenten”) menu includes takes on all the classics, such as soups, salads, buckwheat kasha, and of course crepes; we especially recommend the fusion-y “Olivier” crepe, filled with a vegan version of the iconic Russian salad.

Barschi

If you’re looking to dip your toes into a bit of Slavic kitsch, look no further than Barschi – this charming little spot has one of the quirkiest menus around. For instance, a portion of borscht will be priced per gram, with a +10% surcharge if you ask for some of yesterday’s batch (as many will attest, it always tastes better on the second day). For Lent, the restaurant has introduced two variations on the soup – either with beans or with forest mushrooms.

Bushe

The popular bakery-slash-bistro chain has also gotten in on the occasion: this year’s Lenten menu includes plant-based beefsteaks, miso-based mashed potatoes, and an almond-y millet kasha with cranberries, among other items.