This Lent, go beyond the fish fry with these Indy meals

• Catholic rules disallow meat from warm-blooded animals (think chicken, cows, etc.), but cold-blooded animals (fish and other seafood) are OK.
• This practice gave rise to the fish fry, a delicious tradition.

Yes, but: There are more (and more interesting) ways to abstain from meat.

Here are seven of my favorite meat-free meals in the city:

🍤 Orange shrimp from Asian Harbor

• The shrimp come lightly breaded, à la orange chicken, in the same tangy sauce and with a bit of broccoli.
• It scratches the itch for Chinese takeout and reheats well.

🍗 "Chicken" tenders from Baby's

• The fake chicken is so perfectly breaded and fried, I did a double-take, making sure it wasn't the real thing. They're crispy, juicy and so, so good.
• The fries they come with don't hurt, either.
• Plus: Baby's offers an Impossible patty option for its beloved burgers and a very enticing chili mac with vegan chili.

🍛 Mapo Tofu from Modita

• Firm, slightly chewy cubes of tofu and tender half moons of lotus root are tossed in a sauce made from fermented beans and chili paste. You wouldn't necessarily know that's what it's made from, though — no beans in sight.
• It's saucy, spicy and delicious.

🍣 Poke bowl from Moar Tea

• It's sushi, but for when you're really hungry.
• And, since it's totally customizable, there's something for everyone.

• My favorite has spicy tuna, brown rice, avocado, edamame and eel sauce.

🥦 Broccolini taco from Julieta Taco Shop

• Perfectly roasted broccolini is tossed in a chipotle sauce and tucked into a soft tortilla with onions and herbs.
• It is one of the best things I've eaten. I think about it all the time.

🥘 Chipotle seitan from La Margarita

• Succulent seitan strips are cooked with tender cactus in a creamy, dreamy chipotle sauce that steals the show.
• It's served with rice, beans, guac and tortillas.

🥪 The Gander from Goose the Market

• The vegan take on Goose's popular Batali (and its three kinds of meat) fills sub-style bread with a spicy tomato sauce, shredded vegan mozzarella and mayo, pickled onions and spicy giardiniera.
• It's spicy and tangy and probably what Aristotle was talking about when he coined the phrase "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts."