Good Friday is an important day for Christians around the world. Commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary, it reminds Christians of the ultimate sacrifice made to absolve humankind of all sins. According to the Catholic Church, its members should refrain from eating meat and poultry on Fridays – a rule carried out by all other Christian churches. And even if the rules were relaxed a few decades ago, many people still enjoy eating fish or vegetarian meals on most Fridays and definitely on Good Friday. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious feast to mark the start of Easter celebrations. Here are a few Good Friday fish recipes and meat-free recipe ideas to get you started.
1. FISH AND CHEAT’S CHIPS WITH TARRAGON MUSHY PEAS
Give a new lease of life to the classic fish and chips with Jamie Oliver’s fish and cheat’s chips with tarragon mushy peas. Not only are these oven-baked chips as delicious as the real deal – as well as healthier and much easier to make – but the tarragon adds freshness to the peas. For a vegan alternative, you can also try a tofish and chips – no matter your choice, serve with an English pale ale or ice-cold, tangy rosé.
2. SMOKED SALMON AND BAKED EGGS IN AVOCADO
Whether you’re on the Keto diet or want to surprise your family with something different on Good Friday, smoked salmon and baked eggs in avocado will surely stand out. This recipe is a great choice for a protein-packed breakfast, brunch, or quick lunch. It’s also ridiculously easy to make – simply cut the avocados in halves and carve out some of the flesh. Fill each half with a slice of smoked salmon and dollop in an egg. Bake until the egg is cooked and serve warm.
3. DEVILLED EGGS WITH TUNA AND MAYONNAISE
Beloved by everyone, devilled eggs are one of the most delicious appetizers. To stay in-tune with the Good Friday mood, fill them with a tuna and mayo mix, or ditch the tuna altogether if you have a vegetarian lifestyle and want to leave the fish out of the picture.
4. SALMON DAUPHINOISE
Salmon dauphinoise is an excellent choice for Good Friday. What makes it special is the difference in textures given by the softness of the middle potato layers combined with the crispiness of the upper layer and the chewiness of the bottom one – a meal beloved by kids and adults alike.
5. SMOKED SALMON AND DILL WAFFLES
Beyond the crucial meaning Good Friday holds, this day marks the beginning of Easter weekend, so why not start the day with a special breakfast? Instead of the usual pancakes or granola bars, try some smoked salmon and dill waffles. They’re very easy to make with waffle batter mix, some cheese, and smoked salmon flakes. Serve them with Greek yoghurt and dill dip. Don’t have a waffle maker or special waffle pan? Simply cook them in a regular grill press.
6. PAN-FRIED SEA BREAM WITH CANNELLINI BEANS AND TOMATOES
Ready in only 20 minutes, this recipe is a perfect choice for either lunch or dinner. For the best results, you should cook the fish in a non-stick cast iron pan, as cast iron ensures even heat distribution, and you’ll have fewer issues with hot spots.
7. MUSSELS WITH TOMATOES AND GARLIC
Essentially a Mediterranean dish, steamed mussels with tomatoes and garlic are one of the best savoury treats you can try this Good Friday. Not only do they look fancy, but cooking this meal requires under 30 minutes of your time. Pair your dish with bruschetta and your favourite chilled white wine.
8. ONE-POT SHRIMP PASTA
Seafood and pasta are a match made in heaven, and the proof is in the numerous seafood spaghetti recipes you can taste all over the world. And whilst Italians aren’t too thrilled about one-pot pasta recipes, nothing takes away the fact that cooking everything in one pot is a sweet idea for a quick lunch or dinner. Thus, try one-pot shrimp pasta this Good Friday, made with delicious spaghetti and served with Pinot Gris or Prosecco.
9. BROILED FLOUNDER WITH LEMON CREAM SAUCE
Want to impress everyone around the table with a fancier dinner? You can’t go wrong with broiled flounder with lemon cream sauce. The best thing about it? It can be ready in only 15 minutes, but it looks and tastes like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. Easy to pair with a variety of sides, this recipe is also a great choice for busy weeknights.
10. COD WITH TOMATO AND HERB BUTTER
Of all our Good Friday fish recipes, this one requires more of your time and a few more passages than most other recipes on this list. However it still takes under an hour to make, and you won’t regret it. You don’t even have to use cod fish specifically – any white fish would do, or you could replace the butter with olive oil and try it with tofu if you’d like a vegan alternative. The possibilities are truly endless.
11. WHITE FISH OMELETTE
White fish omelette is an excellent choice for an easy and healthy breakfast or brunch. The secret to a fluffy omelette is to add some pancake batter to the whisked eggs before frying them in a hot non-stick pan. This delicious recipe is also versatile enough to adapt to a vegetarian diet, and – it goes without saying – it’s gluten-free.
12. AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA
If you’re vegetarian, instead of these Good Friday fish recipes, this aubergine parmigiana can easily conquer hearts. It is a sort of lasagne recipe without pasta, a thing that makes it perfect for gluten-free requirements. The original recipe requires a combination of cheeses, but if you’d like to make it vegan, simply use any type of vegan hard cheese.
13. CACIO E PEPE WITH SAGE MUSHROOMS
Another vegetarian dish you could try this Good Friday is cacio e pepe with sage mushrooms. The combination of flavours is simply stellar, and you’ll be able to cook and serve dinner in more or less half an hour.
With so many Good Friday fish recipes, we hope you now know what to cook for your loved ones on this day. Or, if you don’t really want to cook, why not support a local business and order a restaurant-quality meal?
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