Posted on 03/02/2024 4:42:22 PM PST by nickcarraway
During Lent, alligators may change from reptiles to seafood, depending on where you live.
Looking for dishes you can still enjoy over Lent? May we suggest some tasty alligator recipes? Don’t worry. It’s been approved by some religious authorities.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the parameters of Lent, here’s a quick breakdown: Lent is the 40-day period prior to Easter that many of the Christian faith use as a time of reflection and prayer. In 2024, Lent runs between February 14 to March 28. During that time, those who observe may also abstain from luxuries (this is why so many of your friends may be saying “no thanks” to chocolate right now) or personal habits, and also refrain from eating meat on Fridays. However, “meat” is somewhat of a tricky term. So, in 2010, one inquisitive Catholic in Louisiana wrote a letter to his local archbishop to ask for clarification. Specifically, if he could continue to enjoy alligator meat on Fridays.
"Concerning the question if alligator is acceptable to eat during the Lenten season ... yes, the alligator is considered in the fish family," Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond wrote in his return letter. Aymond also noted his agreement with the letter sender's love for alligators, adding, “I agree with you, God has created a magnificent creature that is important to the state of Louisiana and it is considered seafood.”
Can Catholics Have Meat on St. Patrick's Day? It Depends Where They Live Other Catholic resources agree, including the Holy Spirit Parish, a Christian community located in the Almaden Valley of San Jose, California.
“Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep, or pigs — all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat,” the community’s website explained (pulling information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website). The site further noted that salt and freshwater species of fish and shellfish, including amphibians and reptiles — like alligators — are permitted throughout Lent. But the community does note that these same shellfish (aka that all-you-can-eat lobster) can also be considered a “luxury,” which, as you read above, is a no-go.
However, the Holy Spirit Parish's website noted that there are other loopholes to the meat rule, saying, “Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, bouillon cubes, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat, are technically not forbidden.”
This leads to other technical questions, and of course, restrictions vary by region and diocese, so if you have any concerns, please check with your local church authorities. But as the Catholic News Agency explained, turtles, snakes, iguanas, and tortoises should be fair game too. And, according to Scientific America, in the 17th century, the Bishop of Quebec told everyone they could eat beaver meat on Fridays too, since they swim a lot in rivers (along with capybara for those living in South America). And snails fall under the same shellfish category as above, so here’s an escargot recipe that will get you through the Lenten season. Apologies, as we don’t have a beaver recipe on Food & Wine … yet.
Additionally, and most importantly, there are no biblical restrictions on what you can eat during Lent.
And Lent is a man-made event while we're at it. If one feels led to participate one can but it is not an obligation.
I’ll stick to eggs and hash browns on Fridays......
Beaver?! Hmm.....
Beavers need wood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knobmUd-r5E
When/if you find out, spread the word.
Didn’t Michael Douglas blame his throat cancer on that?
I stick to bottle-nosed dolphin and manatee during Lent.
I’ve never seen alligator on any US restaurant menu. i have had crocodile in Austrailia. is there much difference in taste?
I’ve seen gator on the menu in a number of restaurants in the Deep South along the water.
Heh. Did not know that. Looked it up. He sure did.
Who the hell would eat a Capybara?
As a native south Floridian that hunted wild boar and gators growing up, all I can say is gator tail/meat is Nasty!😡
You’re right though, the only way you can make the meat acceptable is by drowning it in bbq sauce!
People like to brag about eating gator but I don’t think I have ever met someone who actually tried it that actually liked it!😟
My uncle who I use to hunt with on his airboat in the glades wouldn’t touch the stuff, hunted it for boots only!🤣
Taste like the Swamp it came from!🤨
If you’re ever near Scranton, PA stop for dinner at Coopers restaurant. You’ll find alligator on the menu there. At least it was about 30 years ago when I was last there.
Piranhas, if I recall right.
Or others like Exodus 24:18; 34:28 and Deuteronomy 9.
A buddy down in FL just sent me a pic of the 200# boar he took - with .25 caliber air rifle! Dang thing looks like something from a Science Fiction movie.
The air rifle, not the boar, to be clear.
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