What does the spring season make you think of? If you’re trying to cook by using seasonal ingredients, spring items can give you the freshness you desire.
Your ideal of spring foods might have to do with your Easter celebration, but there are many more items that should be on your list. As the buds begin and the trees get their lives, many incredible fruits and vegetables begin to come into the season. You can easily work them into your spring menu and enjoy the fresh and wonderful flavors offered during spring.
What makes seasonal cooking better for you?
Seasonal produce that’s locally grown and harvested can often be much more affordable than choosing produce out of season at a large chain grocery store. In addition to the cost savings, seasonal produce is better for the planet. The shorter travel distance and lowered processing cost make it easier to enjoy the wonderful flavors available in locally grown produce.
Spring into fruits and veggies
When the spring season breaks, many amazing foods become available. If you want to cook with seasonal ingredients, it’s much easier to do during spring than any other time of the year. Between March and May, you should be able to enjoy:
- Apricots
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Cabbage
- Green beans
- Honeydew
- Pineapples
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Onions
The seasonally available items will vary by location and climate, but your local farmer and farmer’s market stand will have more information regarding what you can enjoy and what you’ll have to choose from.
Add some spring herbs to your dishes
Some of the best seasonal ingredients you can enjoy are the herbs that you’ll add to your dishes to make them even more flavorful. During the spring season, you’ll find many herbs that you can enjoy fresh instead of dried and jarred. Some of these are:
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Lemongrass
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Tarragon
- Thyme
Great spring recipes to enjoy
Armed with lists of spring produce and herbs, it could be time to head to the farmer’s market, but shouldn’t you know what you want to prepare first? Here are some great recipes that are sure to give your dinner the spring flavors you crave.
Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad
A salad fille with superfoods could be perfect when you want to enjoy some amazing seasonal ingredients. This Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad has a nutty flavor and can satisfy your taste for something that goes along with the springtime. The lemon zest, almonds, dill, scallions, and feta cheese go along great with the main ingredients.
Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Carrots
If you’d love to have a wonderful side dish to your main course, this Mediterranean-inspired dish is a great choice. Even kids who don’t like carrots will enjoy this dish and experience the textures and flavors of Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Carrots. In addition to being tasty, these roasted carrots are quick and easy to make, only taking thirty minutes to be ready to eat.
Purple Kale and Pansy Salad
Pansies are edible flowers, which can make them great in your salads to add color and flavor to the dishes. When you want to use seasonal ingredients and offer a bit of color to the mix, choose this Purple Kale and Pansy Salad and let your family enjoy the amazing spring flavors you’ve got for them. This dish can be one of the best additions to your meal, making it easy to enjoy your dinner with a tasty treat.
Roasted Spiced Rhubarb with Dates and Yogurt
If your grandmother ever baked with rhubarb, and you enjoyed the wonderful flavors, you’ll certainly love this recipe. The flavors remind you the reminder of rhubarb crumble and you can enjoy a nutritious way to start your day with the added benefits of dates and yogurt. This Roasted Spiced Rhubarb with Dates and Yogurt could be a huge hit on your home.
The Ultimate Spring Quiche
When you want to cool with seasonal ingredients, this could be the ideal spring dish for you. This quiche has fresh spring produce along with goat cheese and bacon to give it the full breakfast flavor sensation you desire. Your whole family will enjoy The Ultimate Spring Quiche and might ask for it to be a regular item that you make during spring weekends.
These are just a few of the delicious recipes you can make when you’re ready to use some seasonal ingredients that are in season right now. What will you serve from the spring harvest that you find at your local farmer’s market?
