There’s nothing like delicious spring recipes that can get you excited for the season. The winter cold is finally behind us and spring vegetables are finally ready to harvest. There’s more opportunity to cook what you want as the season brings more options for ingredients.
The Best Spring Recipes After the Winter
What spring recipes should you prepare for yourself and your family? Here are some of the tastiest ones you can try this season.
1. Spring Mix Salad
What better way to start the season than by whipping up a simple spring salad? This recipe uses delicious springtime vegetables and yummy superfoods like onions to make a delectable green salad.
Ingredients:
- For the Dressing:
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- For the Salad:
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 5 oz spring mix
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2-3 small radishes, sliced
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
- 1 medium-size cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or sliced almonds
Directions:
- Take a bowl and mix the salad dressing ingredients together.
- Place a sliced red onion in a bowl of hot water. Let it sit for a few minutes and then drain.
- Get a large bowl and add the cherry tomatoes, spring mix, red onion slices, and cucumber slices. Drizzle the dressing on top and give it a toss to coat.
- Top off with crumbled cheese and sunflower seeds (or other nuts). Serve.
2. Asparagus Waffles
At first glance, waffles and asparagus don’t seem to mix, but they’re surprisingly delicious when mixed together. It’s one of the best spring dishes you need to add to your repertoire as a home cook. You can even impress some friends at the next community cooking session!
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch of green onions, chopped finely
- 3/4 tsp salt, divided
- 1 cup gruyere cheese, melted
- 16 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into quarter-inch pieces
- 12 ounces of fully cooked boneless ham steak, cubed
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 9 large eggs at room temperature, divided use
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 6 tbsp of butter, melted
- 1 and 1/2 cups of 2% mill
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Get a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan and arrange the asparagus and onions on top. Toss with pepper and 1/4 tsp. of salt. Roast in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly and reserve 1/4 cup of the veggie mix for the topping.
- Grease a waffle iron and preheat it. Separate 3 eggs. Whisk baking powder, flour, cayenne pepper, and the leftover salt together. Add 3 egg yolks, milk, and melted butter. Mix thoroughly but gently. Stir in the asparagus and onion mixture. Add the 3/4 cup shredded cheese.
- Beat 3 egg whites in a bowl on high until it forms soft peaks. Fold into the waffle batter. Bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook the ham until it heats through. Keep warm. Use the skillet to fry eggs until the yolks are set. Top the waffle with one egg and ham to serve. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese, reserved onion, and asparagus.
3. Prosciutto Dutch Baby
Eager for some spring dinner ideas that are quick to make? This prosciutto dish packs a punchy flavor that you and everyone in the home will love.
Ingredients:
- 5 thin slices of prosciutto
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/3 cup asiago cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh arugula
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 tbsp creamy garlic salad dressing
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 425º. Heat a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook the prosciutto for 2-3 minutes or until crispy. Remove and set aside. Put the skillet into the oven.
- Whisk cornmeal, salt, flour, and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the cheese and milk. Get the skillet and add butter to it. Swirl the butter until it melts. Pour the batter from the bowl into the skillet. Sprinkle the prosciutto on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Toss the arugula, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and oil.
- Remove from the oven and serve with dressing and the arugula mixture.
4. Springtime Berries and Beignets
Berries are vibrant and juicy — perfect for a spring dessert. Add in some delicious beignets, and you’ve got yourself a tasty treat for dessert or even breakfast!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 ounce of quick-rise years
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp of warm water, divided
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 3 and 1/4 to 3 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Oil for deep-fat frying
- Berries and whipped topping
Directions:
- Beat the sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt until crumbly. Afterward, beat in the evaporated milk and 1/2 cup of water. Dissolve the yeast and the 2 tbsp of water in another bowl. Add this to the milk mixture and beat the egg until blended.
- Add 2 cups of flour. Mix until blended well. Stir in enough flour to create a soft, sticky dough. Grease a bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Turn it once to grease the top. Cover and let it refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Bring the dough to room temperature. Roll the dough into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Cut the dough into 2-inch squares. Heat oil on a deep-fat fryer or deep cast-iron skillet to 375°. Drop the beignets a few at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for 1 minute on each side. Drain them on paper towels and dust them with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with whipped topping and assorted berries.
5. Cheesy Vegetable Garden Tart
Nothing says spring like a delicious cheesy vegetable garden tart. It’s sure to steal the show at any family gathering!
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 5.2 oz Boursin garlic and fine herbs cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- Assorted fresh herbs and vegetables like sliced red onions, olives, sliced mini sweet peppers, and rosemary
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Directions:
- Pre-heat the oven to 400°. Mash the Boursin cheese using a fork in a large bowl. Add sour cream, Parmesan, and zest. Beat until creamy and smooth.
- Unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry into a 13×11-inch rectangle. Transfer to a baking sheet with parchment lining. Use a fork to pick the pastry several times. Afterward, use a sharp knife to score a half-inch border around the edges (not cutting through). Spread the mashed Boursin mix evenly on the middle area of the pastry.
- Arrange the herbs and vegetables over the cheese spread. Brush the vegetables with olive oil and brush the edges of the pastry with egg. Sprinkle the pastry with sesame seeds.
- Bake the pastry in the oven for 15-20 minutes (or until golden brown). Cool the pastry for 10 minutes then serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Fresh Recipes for a Fresh Start
The spring brings with it a new beginning. Flowers bloom, vegetables are ready for harvest, and the cold weather is finally no more. It’s the perfect time to try new spring recipes to stretch your cooking skills!
You Can Also Read These:
- How To Start A Community Garden In Your HOA Community
- 6 Best Hearty Stew Recipes For Any Season
- 9 Community Block Party Ideas The Neighborhood Can Enjoy
