10 Spring Recipes To Make ASAP

I’m currently sitting at my desk, and the view through my office window is strange and unfamiliar.

It’s sunny. A big tree I don’t know the name of is swaying in the breeze, and it has fluffy white FLOWERS all over it. I just saw a girl on the sidewalk wearing a blazer as outerwear. (Which is frankly batshit crazy because it’s still 41 degrees, but I respect her dedication to seasonal dressing.)

I don’t want to jinx myself here, but I think spring is finally here, peeps. HALLELUJAH.

In celebration, I have come down with a terrifying spring cold! Don’t worry about me, I’m just casually dying fine and am thrilled to ditch my abominable snowman gear, mainline vitamin D, and crush piles and piles of spring produce. (Asparagus! Favas! Arugula! Carrots!)! Just as soon as I can breathe/swallow again. And wash my hair.

It’s gonna be great.

Your weird blog lady has all kinds of sexy seasonal meals on deck over the next few weeks but until then, I thought I’d tide you over with some of my favorite spring recipes from years past. From transitional comfort food—don’t sleep on the Lemon Chicken Quinoa Bake—to my favorite springy #sassydesklunch and energy bites, I’ve got all your bases covered. May all of these offerings put a little extra spring in your step. (Just let me have that pun. I’m sick.)

10 Sassy Seasonal Recipes for Spring:

Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Arugula-Goat Cheese Pesto. I’m a sucker for anything with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto, so this pasta will forever hold a special place in my heart. It’s comforting but not heavy, which is ideal for these cooler spring nights. 

Spicy Mango Poke Lettuce Wraps. As soon as it really starts to warm up, this poke skips straight to the top of my to-make list. Sweet-tart mango brightens up this dish, and a good amount of sriracha kicks up the heat. With naked season rapidly approaching, I appreciate lettuce wraps that much more, but feel free to make this recipe bowl-style with brown rice or quinoa.

p.s. I know some people are intimidated by the thought of whipping up a recipe with raw fish at home, but I promise poke is laughably simple, and a lot of major markets now sell sushi-grade ahi. You got this. 

Curried Chicken Paillard with Mango and Cherry Tomato Relish. This easy chicken paillard with a bright fruity relish is my favorite way to reconnect with my grill(pan) after months of painful separation. It’s perfect with a simple side salad, but I also love to slice the chicken and serve it with warm tortillas. Just throwing that out there.

Moroccan Chickpea and Carrot Salad. This vegan wonder is a super versatile spring staple, friends. I like it as a light meal with some hummus and/or greens, but it’s also great as a side or bowl base. And since it’s equally delicious at room temperature and travels well, I highly recommend working it into your #sassydesklunch rotation. 

Spring Vegetable Soup with Farro and Chicken Sausage. Given my current state, this veggie-loaded soup with nutty whole-grain farro and savory sausage speaks to me. Make a double batch and freeze leftovers for future busy nights (and spring colds).

Greek Yogurt Curried Chicken Salad. As soon as the temp exceeds 65, I’m all about the cold #sassydesklunch, and this curried chicken salad becomes one of my go-tos. It’s perfect over salad or lettuce wrapped, on toast, or simply eaten on its own. Oh, and it gets its creamy tang from high protein Greek yogurt not the devil’s condiment mayo. You’re welcome.

Lettuce Wraps with Five Spice Flank Steak and Peanut Sauce. Another festive lettuce wrap for your spring feasting pleasure! This spiced steak version comes together in about 30 minutes, is loaded with veggies, and gets drizzled with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce that may just change your life. 

Lemon Chicken Quinoa Bake with Asparagus and Fontina. I feel like this beautiful bake often gets pushed aside in favor of her deliciously trashy siblings (Cheeseburger! Buffalo Chicken! Stuffed Poblano!), which is a shame because SHE IS DELIGHTFUL. Packed with chicken, asparagus, melty fontina, and plenty of lemon, this quinoa bake is the perfect weeknight meal but is also showstopping enough to serve to guests. Make it. Make it now.

Carrot Cake Energy Bites. These tiny bites of heaven have all the beloved flavors of carrot cake, but they’re made with nothing more than carrots, oats, dates, walnuts and spices (no buttery fatness or refined sugar in sight). It’s a damn miracle. 

Less Fruit, Not Gross Berry Green Smoothie. Cold breakfast season is officially upon us!! We can once again drink smoothies without getting the shivers! Let’s do it, and do it a little bit healthier because we’re still doing our best in 2018. It still tastes good, promise.