Catholic Feast Day Recipes: St Bartholomew, Apostle, August 24th

St. Bartholomew, celebrated on August 24 in the pre-1955 calendar, is one of the Twelve Apostles, often identified with Nathanael in John’s Gospel (John 1:45-51). Tradition holds he preached in India and Armenia, where he was martyred by flaying and beheading under King Astyages. His relics are venerated in Rome’s Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola. 

Enjoy recipes and stories of the saints like this for every feast from the pre-1955 traditional Roman Catholic Calendar as part of our ‘Feasting with the Saints‘ annual recipe collection.

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Armenian Lentil Patties

“Can anything good come from Nazareth? Come and see.” — St. Bartholomew (as Nathanael, John 1:46)

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Servings: 4 (8 patties)

Cuisine: Armenian

Dish: Lunch  

Ingredients:  

• 1 cup red lentils (rinsed)  
• 1 onion (finely chopped)  
• 1 garlic clove (minced)  
• ¼ cup parsley (chopped)  
• 1 tsp cumin  
• 1 tsp paprika  
• 2 tbsp olive oil  
• Salt, pepper to taste  
• Yogurt for serving

Instructions: In a pot, boil the red lentils in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes until soft, then drain and mash, creating a hearty base that mirrors Bartholomew’s enduring mission. In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic for 5 minutes until golden, their aroma evoking the ancient lands he evangelized.

Mix the lentils with the sautéed onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, forming a cohesive mixture as unified as his apostolic witness. Shape into 8 patties, each a testament to his steadfast faith, and heat the remaining oil in the skillet. Fry the patties for 3–4 minutes per side until crispy and golden, filling the kitchen with warmth. Serve hot with a dollop of yogurt.

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Find more new favourite feast day recipes to celebrate liturgical living for every feast day from the pre-1955 calendar (and discover the fascinating stories of the saints in the process) with our monthly recipe booklets.