The Coptic Orthodox Nativity Fast runs from 25 November to Christmas on 7 January, and fish and seafood are allowed, as long as the dish contains no butter, cheese, cream, eggs or mayonnaise. Here are 10 fasting-friendly recipes with fish, shrimp and salmon, all made with olive oil, tahini and lemon, easy enough for weeknights and special enough for gatherings.
Before you start: fasting kitchen rules
- Swap butter for olive oil or sunflower oil.
- Swap cream and cheese for tahini or coconut milk.
- Read the label on ready-made and breaded products, as some contain milk or egg.
- Best for fasting: fresh and frozen fish, raw shrimp, salmon fillet, squid and mussels.
Fasting-friendly products
Whole Cleaned Octopus
Price range: 519 EGP through 829 EGP
Freshly Frozen Tilapia Fish (Bolty Fish)
Price range: 170 EGP through 180 EGP
10 fasting seafood recipes
1. Baked salmon with lemon and dill
Place the fillet on baking paper with olive oil, garlic, lemon slices and dill; bake at 200°C for 12–15 minutes.
2. Garlic tomato shrimp
Sauté garlic in olive oil, add chopped tomatoes and chilli, then the peeled shrimp for 3–4 minutes until pink.
3. Sea bass or mullet sayadeya
Lightly fry the fish in oil, cook rice with caramelised onions and cumin, then bake together for 20 minutes.
4. Shrimp pasta in tomato sauce
Tomato sauce with olive oil and basil; add the shrimp for the last 3 minutes and toss with pasta.
5. Fish and vegetable tray with tahini
Layer potatoes, onions and peppers, top with Nile perch or sea bream fillets, bake 25 minutes and serve with lemon tahini.
6. Rice-stuffed squid
Fill squid tubes with rice seasoned with cumin and parsley and simmer in tomato sauce for 40–45 minutes.
7. Fasting seafood soup
Onion, garlic, tomatoes and fish stock, then mixed seafood for the last 4 minutes, finished with lemon and coriander.
8. Asian-style shrimp fried rice
Day-old rice stir-fried on high heat with vegetables, shrimp and soy sauce, without egg.
9. Smoked salmon salad with lemon
Smoked salmon with rocket, cucumber and red onion, dressed with olive oil and lemon (no cream cheese).
10. Grilled fish with tahini sauce
Sea bream or soldier bream grilled with cumin and lemon, served with garlic and parsley tahini.
Frequently asked questions
Is fish allowed during the Nativity Fast?
Yes. Fish and seafood are allowed during the Coptic Orthodox Nativity Fast, while dairy and eggs are avoided.
Is smoked salmon suitable for fasting?
Smoked salmon itself is salted and smoked fish, but check the pack ingredients and avoid serving it with cream cheese while fasting.
Are crab sticks and breaded products fasting-friendly?
Some contain egg or milk, so check the ingredients on the pack before buying.
When does the Nativity Fast start?
It starts on 25 November and ends with Christmas on 7 January.