The expert suggested five quick meals during Lent

During Lent, you can not only observe dietary restrictions, but also experiment with new flavors. Arina Samoilova, an expert of the X5 Club loyalty program, spoke about simple and quick dishes that will help diversify a lean diet.

According to the expert, one of the options may be red lentil cutlets with spices. To do this, the lentils are boiled until soft, lightly kneaded and mixed with fried onions, garlic and spices such as paprika or cumin. Cutlets are formed from the resulting mass and baked until golden brown. Inside, they remain soft, but outside they acquire a dense texture.

Another dish is carrot fritters with herbs, Samoilova added. Grated carrots are combined with finely chopped herbs and a small amount of flour for density. The mixture is spooned into a preheated frying pan and fried until golden brown. These fritters can be served with a sauce based on tahini or tomatoes.

As the expert emphasized, baked cauliflower is suitable as a hot dish. The head is cut into large slices, greased with vegetable oil with spices and garlic and baked until browned. So, the dish can become an alternative to traditional options. Bulgur pilaf with dried fruits will also help diversify the menu.

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"Bulgur cooks quickly and absorbs flavors well. Stew it with onions, carrots, add dried apricots or raisins and spices. The dish turns out to be fragrant, with a slight sweet note and an oriental character. This is an interesting alternative to the usual cereals and a way to add variety to your daily menu," she said.

Another option is oatmeal cutlets with vegetables. Oat flakes are poured with hot water until soft, then mixed with grated carrots, onions and spices.

"Form cutlets from the resulting mass — they can be fried in a frying pan or baked in the oven. Serve with a vegetable salad or a sauce based on vegetable ingredients. This is a budget—friendly and nutritious option that will suit even those who are usually skeptical about lean meals," she added.

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In the evening, the rite of forgiveness is performed in churches and penitential prayers are performed.

On February 23, Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, head of the educational committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, said that during Lent, lay people are usually advised to give up meat, eggs, milk and dairy products, as well as, with the exception of a few days, fish.

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