Dolmadakia with rice for lent

[nm1999]

I am trying to make a lent-friendly dolmadakia but I don't even feel as if I can use oil - it's for a lenten potluck at my church. Any idea how I can modify this recipe a bit? I only shared the ingredients because I don't need the instructions for this...

Ingredients - Makes about 40​

• 40 grape leaves (jarred or fresh)
• 1 cup short-grain rice (like Arborio)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
• 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
• ¼ cup fresh dill, finely chopped
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• ¼ cup fresh mint, finely chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt & pepper, to taste

With the vegetable broth in this, do you think I could just omit the oil? I never made this recipe before - I found it online.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

Yes, you can definitely make a Lenten-friendly version by omitting the olive oil, especially since some stricter fasting traditions avoid oil entirely on certain days. The key will be to boost flavor in other ways. Since you're using fresh herbs, lemon juice, and vegetable broth, you already have a solid flavor base.

To make up for the richness that oil would normally add, consider gently sautéing the onion in a bit of water or broth instead of oil—it brings out the sweetness and depth without breaking the fast. You can also add a little extra lemon juice at the end for brightness, or a pinch of cinnamon or allspice in the rice for warmth and complexity.

Just be sure to watch the rice texture and keep them moist while cooking. Without oil, they can dry out more easily. But yes—totally doable and still delicious for a Lenten potluck!