www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Fast friendly "finger food"

Christ is risen!
Our hierodeacon will be ordained to the priesthood at the end of next month. Because of the limited size of our space we won't be able to have our usual sit down meal. Instead we're going to have a buffet and be standing to eat. This is during the upcoming Ss. Peter & Paul Fast. I'd welcome any suggestions for fast compatible foods that would be finger foods or easily adapted to that- easy to eat standing up and maybe not needing utensils.

steak fries of potatoes and/or sweet potatoes with a dipping sauce. Can be baked.

Slice into 0.5x1.5 chunks. bake or pan-fry; for fast, do either dry. Can be done with or without oil outside of fast. Mix of Potatoes and sweet potatoes goes well. Can be spiced before baking. Bake at (IIRC) 450°F until browned.


Veggie mini-pies in a bread-crust. mashed Potato with diced veggies in mini-tort sized large-bite servings...

Take a dollop of risen bread dough*, spread in baking pan's cups to form a thin shelled cup, then bake lightly; should be "barely done". remove from pan, place on cookie sheet.

Take stiff mashed potatoes, add diced veggies and spices to taste, and fold together, then spoon into shells, bake under broiler until potatoes start to crisp.

Note: traditionally, this is done with small bits of meat added

* bread can easily be made with just yeast, sugar, water, and flour. If your fasting tradition permits eggs, add a suitable amount of eggs.

Pseudo-buñelos
Take a flatbread (you'll need to make them, again, a fasting bread recipe, rolled thin, and baked into cracker-like sheets), and break into bits. drizzle with honey, sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake until golden (about 5-10m at 350°).

Honey-Rose treats
Take rosewater and honey, combine, reduce down to thick gel, adding arrowroot for a thicker gel if desired. Let cool somewhat.
Place small amount in bread-shells (as above); bake until shells crisp. Should be a very sticky, not-quite-solid. Very tasty. Make certain to use very small (mini-muffin) pan.

Medieval English in inspiration. Variation on a tart recipe.

Thanks much, aramis.

It is on a Sunday so for us fish, wine & oil allowed.

In which case, a more traditional pie-crust may be used, and the steak fries can be very lightly oiled prior to baking to make them brown & crisp easier.

And you can use vegetarian flour tortillas (which use a vegetable oil, rather than lard) and make proper buñelos! Slice them, then crisp them, then drizzle with cinamon and honey.

I have seen store bought dolma (stuffed grape leaves) at many a Lenten and fasting buffet table...

Hummus with crudites...

Spinach fillo triangles (the Lebanese make them without cheese)...

Falafel balls (small served like cocktail meatballs with toothpicks) and a hummus or tahini dip on the side...

Boiled Shrimp with cocktail dipping sauce...

Marinated and/or grilled jumbo shrimp...

Sea legs with some kind of dipping sauce like the shrimp cocktail sauce...

Garlic bread toasts...

Bruschetta with tomatoes...

Tortilla chips with tomato salsa ...

Tortilla chips with guacamole...

Taramosalata (delicious fish roe spread found in Greek and other specialty stores) on water crackers or mini toasts...

White bean and olive oil spread on water crackers or mini toasts...

Sliced or mini bagels with a bowl of peanut butter and a bowl of jelly or honey on the side to spread...

Smoked salmon...

Oreo cookies (original recipe) and/or dark chocolate pieces/rounds/squares for something sweet