Salt & Wind Travel

35 Of The Best Spring Recipes To Cook

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This, friends. is the moment we’ve been waiting for.

Spring is finally here, and all the holidays – from Easter to Passover to the first of our Spring birthdays and Mother’s Day – mean there will be a lot of food. Because the produce is bringing it right now, we’re going heavy-handed on all things Spring. 

What Produce Is In Season In Spring?

Seeing as we’re based in California, we’re highly focused on what grows in California. As you know, we grow the majority of the nation’s produce and there are many ingredients that are always in season.

However, a few are at their best once spring starts. Be on the lookout for these seasonal spring ingredients to come into the stores and farmers markets from March through June: 

  • Asparagus
  • Avocados
  • Berries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cherries
  • Cucumbers
  • Figs
  • Peas
  • Raspberries
  • Tomatoes

35 Seasonal Recipes To Cook In Spring

Here are the dishes inspiring us right now, so, whether you’re planning brunch, dinner, or a fancy cocktail party, we’ve got you covered with recipes that will have you celebrating in style.

Brunch

Whether you like to go sweet or savory with your brunch choices, here are six easy seasonal recipes to cook up:

{Kaiserschmarren} Austrian Rum-Raisin Shredded Pancake

As if a pancake studded with rum-soaked raisins wasn’t already awesome, this pancake puffs up like a Dutch pancake but gets shredded and caramelized.

Baked Eggs with Wilted Spinach and Salmon 

Baked eggs are a classic for feeding a crowd because they’re low on effort but highly impressive. Serve them in mini cast irons and they’ll be even more adorable. 

Asparagus and Tarragon Puff Pastry Tart 

One of the most requested recipes on the site, this asparagus tart is a standout with cheese, herbs, and crispy puff pastry.

Persian Kuku with Saffron Potatoes and Herbs 

All our favorite Spring flavors – new potatoes, herbs, eggs – combine with saffron and spices for a decidedly Middle Eastern flavor. 

Breakfast Naan Skillet Pizza with Greens and Paneer from A Brown Table

Speaking of worldly flavors, the idea of a naan pizza has us totally intrigued. 

Creamed Spinach Toasts with Eggs and Fennel from The Pig + Quill 

Eggs and toast are a fan favorite around here but top it with creamed spinach and fennel and we’ll take two, please!

Appetizers

From delicious spring produce piled on toasts to a modern twist on Deviled Eggs, these five appetizer recipes will keep your spring entertaining interesting:

Spicy Smashed Pea Toasts with Avocado 

Spicy smashed peas get together with some avocado, pickled radishes, and mint and hop on toast – need we say more?

Shaved Asparagus Tahini Avocado Toast

Because we can never get enough avo toast, this version could be made on small toasts as an app or on big toasts (maybe topped with an egg or some prosciutto?) for a main.

Dukkah Deviled Eggs — from Bojon Gourmet

It’s not quite Spring until you’ve had a deviled egg (or 12), you know? The North African spice combo of dukkah gives these deviled eggs a modern slant. 

Fried Goat Cheese with Honey and Black Pepper —  from Food 52

As cheese fanatics, we feel very strongly that this appetizer should be at each and every party from now until eternity.

Zucchini, Honey, and Gorgonzola Tarts from Donna Hay 

Puff pastry tarts are always in our entertaining grab bag and this sweet-savory combo is our pick for this Easter. 

Sides & Salads

Where you consider them sides, salads, or light mains, these six recipes deserve a spot on your spring entertaining table:

Fava Bean and Spring Pea Panzanella with Herbs and Goat Cheese 

It’s a salad with bread so what’s not to like, right? Ok, there’s also a bunch of gorgeous spring produce too.

Pea Asparagus Pancetta Farro Risotto 

Farro risotto is hearty enough to be a main but here it’s studded with Spring produce and pancetta, making it a pretty perfect pairing to anything from lamb to ham to Osso Bucco. 

Crispy Black Lentils with Asparagus and Crisp Jamon

The ingredients we CANNOT wait for once Spring arrives? Asparagus. Always asparagus. So this dish is what we turn to for a simple side.

Vegan Lemon and Asparagus Risotto — from Food52

Another risotto, yes, but this one’s vegan. Don’t let that deter you because there’s no chance you’ll miss the cheese in this recipe.

Roasted Radishes —from Spoon Fork Bacon

We like to keep it simple around here, so these roasted radishes fit in perfectly with our philosophy!

Leek Bread Pudding —from Smitten Kitchen

When our former editor, Casey, worked at Cru Cafe in Charleston, SC, their adaptation of this Ad Hoc recipe was on heavy dinner rotation – trust us, it’s a winner.

Mains

Be it pasta with a decadent saffron cream, tri tip you can grill at the first sign of warm weather, or a classic glazed ham, these seasonal main dishes will make a statement:

Spring Green Pasta with Saffron Cream Sauce

Pasta for Easter because why not? Especially when it’s topped with decadent saffron cream.

Lamb Chops with Green Harissa Sauce 

I’m currently obsessed with this sauce – I say make it for Easter lamb then use it with everything else afterward.

Rack of Lamb with Mint Salsa Verde —from Bon Appetit

Alternatively, you could go with the traditional lamb + mint pairing – we like that Bon Appetit’s recipe peppers things up with a hint of cilantro.

Grilled Tri-Tip with Green Garlic Salsa Verdefrom Kitchen Konfidence

We know, Easter is all about lamb but if the weather cooperates, why not break out the grill and make this tri-tip?

Easy Glazed Easter Ham —from Martha Stewart

Making a “real” Easter ham (read: not the pre-sliced kind) is easier than you think, which means you can get a super-impressive dish on the table without a super-human effort.

Baked Fish Fillets with Butter and Sherryfrom Food52

Five simple ingredients quietly turn this fish dish into a buttery, boozy star.

Desserts

We love chocolate desserts for Easter but bring on the spring berries and fruit for everything else from a birthday to Passover or a Mother’s Day celebration:

Chocolate Almond Butter Eggs 

If you hear “chocolate” whenever someone says the word “Easter,” then allow us to introduce you to these almond butter-filled eggs.

Cacao Raspberry Ripple Rochers 

This recipe was created for Passover (as in, it’s totally kosher)

Classic Carrot Cake —from Saveur

A carrot cake probably makes the most sense at Easter, right? Also: making these Marzipan Carrots along with it is highly recommended!

Strawberry Basil Goat Cheese Tart -— from Tasty Yummies

What’s amazing about this tart is not just that it’s gorgeous and sounds amazing but that it’s also grain-free.

Classic Panna Cotta

Poor panna cotta, it never gets the attention it deserves! But we’re here to change that. This classic Italian dessert is make-ahead and it’s very easy to mix it up be it by adding a different sauce (say chocolate or berry coulis, topping it with crushed cookies and toasted nuts and a flavored whipped cream, or even steeping the base mixture with anything from cardamom to cinnamond. 

Mixed Berry Pavlova With Lemon Curd

Yes, this takes a bit of preparation but we promise it’s so worth the effort. Seasonal berries top giant meringues that are stacked with berry coulis and a meyer lemon meringue. 

Drinks & Cocktails

From make-ahead non-alcoholic drinks you can serve by the pitcher to sophisticated cocktails, here are drinks to whip up right now:

Lavender Citron Presse

Nothing makes us feel like we’re people-watching at a sidewalk cafe in Paris more than a the classic French lemonade known as citron pressé!

Lavender Bellini 

A gorgeous, feminine twist on the classic bellini that’s so popular, it’s one of the most requested recipes on the site. 

Cucumber Basil Gimlet 

If you can’t get enough green at the start of Spring, then shake up one of these cucumber juice basil concoctions. 

Ginger Mint Coolers — from ¡Hola! Jalapeño 

And if you want something green sans booze, then these coolers should do the trick. 

Cardamom Coffee — from Honestly Yum 

Morning coffee gets a welcome twist thanks to the addition of cardamom. 

Raspberry Chamomile Cream Sodas —from With Food + Love 

Our love for cream sodas is never-ending but these Raspberry Chamomile sodas may be our favorites yet.

What are you most excited to cook this spring? Let us know in the comments below.


Opening photo by Maja Topcagic

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