The spring bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, like peas, herbs, and strawberries, can feel overwhelming. To help you make the most of the season without the stress, we rounded up 15 fantastic recipes that prominently feature spring produce. From a sweet Dutch baby to savory bakes, these recipes are perfect for any day, time, or occasion!
Spring Niçoise Salad
It’s hard to improve upon a classic Niçoise salad. The combination of juicy tomatoes, oil-packed tuna, haricots verts, and briny olives is so simple, yet so fresh and delicious. Serve with a chilled bottle of white wine and a crusty baguette to complete the meal!
Braised Chicken Thighs with Artichokes and Spring Peas
In this springy one-pot recipe, we like to sear the chicken thighs and then cook them a little slower in the oven so they become tender, juicy, and shreddable. Because we never like to waste any flavor, may we suggest saving that artichoke marinade to make a vinaigrette for a simple green salad to serve alongside?
Goat Cheese with Edible Flowers and Honey
Edible flowers are an elegant and colorful upgrade to any cheese plate. In case you don’t grow your own edible flowers, you can sometimes find them at the grocery store near the fresh herbs. Alternatively, visit your local nursery and ask for food-safe blooms that are organic and have not been treated with any pesticides.
Green Goddess Grand Aioli
Whether you’re looking for a showstopping party bite or an effortless grazing dinner on a steamy night, this classic Provençal meal is one of our favorites. Serve it with a platter of vibrant peak-season produce, steamed room-temperature seafood like mussels or plump shrimp, and a few ever-so-undercooked hard-boiled eggs.
Asparagus Fettuccine Carbonara
Take basic pasta up a notch with shaved spring vegetables like asparagus, which adds brightness to this fast and easy recipe from Food Network. You can also try peas or shaved summer squash, like zucchini, in place of the asparagus.
Lemon Dutch Baby with Roasted Strawberries
Dutch babies make for a dramatic but simple breakfast (or bunch, lunch, or dessert!). Here, the homemade roasted strawberry topping helps concentrate the fruit’s color and sweetness when it’s still early in the season.
Spring Salad Pizza
This bright and springy sheet pan pizza is lightened up with a garlicky olive oil base, gooey cheese, lemon zest, and marinated artichokes, plus a fresh topping of peppery arugula and tender green herbs piled on before serving. It’s a pizza and a salad all in one bite!
Spring Pea Toasts with Lemony Ricotta
There’s nothing quite as sweet, vibrant, and indicative of spring as the first English peas. If you have early-season peas, you might not have to blanch them as instructed in this recipe. However, as peas get starchier toward summer, it helps to cook them briefly in boiling water for a softer bite and to intensify their color.
Savory Galette with Leeks and Kale
Earthy rye flour perfectly complements the creamy leek and kale filling in this rustic galette from Feasting at Home. Consider prepping your dough a few days in advance for quicker assembly.
Strawberry Gin Spritzer
Make this refreshing cocktail when strawberries are abundant and a deep, juicy red. The combination of herbal gin and bitter Campari calls to mind the profile of a classic Negroni, but if these spirits are not for you, feel free to skip the Campari altogether or swap out the gin for vodka or a light golden rum.
Upside-Down Strawberry Snack Cake
This gorgeous upside-down strawberry cake makes for an excellent sidekick to your afternoon tea (or morning coffee) and is an ideal spring baking project. Plus, you can easily up the dessert factor by serving it with a dollop of whipped cream or melty vanilla ice cream.
Aperol Spritz Cupcakes
An Aperol Spritz is a low-alcohol, effervescent cocktail made with the aperitif Aperol (Campari’s more accessible cousin). The drink is sweet, herbal, and scented with citrus. These lovely cupcakes check all of the boxes of your favorite summer drink, plus they’re insanely easy to make!
Spring Soup
A squeeze of lemon juice helps lighten up the savory flavor of this hearty spring soup from A Couple Cooks. You can also halve the amount of cumin and coriander for an earthier, more herbal flavor.
Grapefruit and Sage Gin Fizz
A gin fizz is similar to a classic Tom Collins, but with a creamy egg white top. In this version, we use juicy, in-season ruby red grapefruit juice for a blush tint and a beyond-easy homemade sage syrup. A cocktail shaker is a must for this recipe, as it’s the only way to get that frothy top.
Layered Picnic Salad with Yogurt Ranch Dressing
For the produce in this salad, use super-crunchy, sturdy vegetables like broccoli, radish, and shredded cabbage that stand up to the dressing over time. But feel free to use this recipe as a template and experiment with whatever seasonal vegetables you have on hand.
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