Make the most of spring with this collection of light and healthy spring recipes! Each celebrates the season’s sunny fruits and vegetables, like artichokes, peas, spinach, arugula, radishes, and asparagus. From spring salads to soups, sides, and spring dinner ideas, you’ll find 30 recipes filled with color and flavor.
I’m notoriously averse to rules, but I do have three Mediterranean Diet principles: Eat with the seasons, use mostly whole foods, and above all else, share. To me, seasonality comes first—whether it’s these spring recipes, summer favorites, or winter soups and stews. It is such an essential part of living the Mediterranean way, and honestly a non-negotiable in Egypt where I grew up.
When you patiently wait for spring fruits and vegetables to reach their peak, you’re rewarded with the sweetest and most tender asparagus, perfect for making the creamiest Asparagus Risotto. Strawberries are firm yet beautifully ripe and juicy, just begging to become a crowd-pleasing Fruit Salad on a sunny Sunday barbeque. You don’t have to fret or fuss: you can keep things simple and let their natural vibrancy do all the talking.
So, to help you take full advantage of the season’s bounty, I’ve rounded up a list of my most popular recipes where spring’s vegetables and fruits shine. Don’t let these fleeting, precious months pass without taking advantage!
What Are Spring Vegetables?
Exactly what peaks in which month will depend on where you live, but quintessential springtime vegetables are:
- Asparagus
- Peas (including snap peas, snow peas, and garden peas)
- Artichokes
- Radishes
- Greens: Spinach, arugula, dandelion greens, watercress
- Carrots (late spring/early fall)
- Spring onions (scallions)
- Fava beans
- Ramps
- Rhubarb
- Leeks
What Are Spring Fruits?
Same deal with spring fruits: it depends on where you live, and what’s at your local farmer’s market is the best way to find out. But these all scream spring in most areas:
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Strawberries
- Mango
- Blueberries
- Late-season citrus: Grapefruit, lemons, limes
Spring Salad Recipes
Now that the cold winter months are over, I find myself craving fresh salads jam-packed with ripe, juicy fruits and vegetables! Fresh seasonal fruits lend themselves well to greens like spinach and arugula, along with spring vegetable salads with savory flavor-makers like feta cheese and Dijon dressing.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Serve this beautiful salad on a sunny spring day when you’re craving loads of fresh flavors! Juicy, sweet strawberries and fresh spinach are tossed with feta cheese, fresh mint, and a lemony balsamic dressing. Enjoy this salad on its own or alongside Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers and Grilled Chicken Kabobs.
Pea Salad with Feta and Mint
Welcome springtime with a bright, green pea salad tossed with thinly sliced radishes, fresh herbs, and feta cheese. This lightened-up version of the traditional English pea salad doesn’t contain mayo, sour cream, or cheddar cheese. Instead, it lets the sweetness of the peas and fresh seasonal flavors shine! Served with Lemon Rosemary Chicken or Lemon Garlic Salmon.
Asparagus Salad
There’s no better way to take advantage of seasonal spring produce than with this healthy asparagus, pea, and radish salad. This is a big salad meant to be shared, and it keeps particularly well, making it perfect for preparing in advance. It’s great with just about anything, but I especially love this spring salad with lighter mains, such as Simple Poached Salmon or Pan-Seared Sea Bass.
Fruit Salad with Citrus Honey Dressing
This gorgeous fruit salad is made with a medley of fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, all married with a sweet-meets-tart dressing with lime and honey. A splash of rose water (or orange blossom water) gives it a distinctly Mediterranean flair (you can stock up on both at our shop). You could even make this fruit-forward spring salad for breakfast!
Cucumber Radish Salad
My go-to side dish, this produce-packed salad is ready in just 20 minutes and loaded with fresh veggies, including thinly sliced radishes and chopped cucumber. Then, we finish it off with crumbly goat cheese, giving it a slightly creamy touch and tangy flavor. The naturally cooling qualities pair perfectly with a spicy main dish, such as Grilled Harissa Chicken.
Roasted Asparagus Salad with Tomato and Basil
One of my favorite late spring salad recipes once the tomatoes start singing! Tender, roasted asparagus spears are topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and a light sherry vinaigrette. Fried halloumi provides a savory, indulgent twist, but you can skip the cheese entirely for a vegan option. It’s crave-worthy with or without!
Loaded Spinach Tortellini Salad
You need just 20 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make this quick and easy vegetarian tortellini salad. Ricotta-filled pasta combines with baby spinach, fresh herbs, mozzarella cheese, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. Then, I toss it with my homemade Italian dressing. It’s perfect as-is, but you can stir in Grilled Chicken Breast for an added protein-boost.
Simple Lemony Arugula Salad With Avocado
This simple arugula salad is anything but boring! Even with just a handful of ingredients, it’s full of peppery, lemony, and bright flavors. You can serve this versatile spring salad with just about any main dish, but it pairs particularly well with Baked Greek Chicken and Mediterranean-Style Roasted Leg Of Lamb.
Mediterranean Strawberry Orzo Pasta Salad
Featuring feta cheese, fresh strawberries, and peppery arugula, this orzo pasta salad is the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. It’s made in just 25 minutes thanks to the quick-cooking orzo and a super simple lemon vinaigrette. This is my spring salad recipe for potlucks and when I’m serving my easy Baked Trout with Lemon, Garlic, and Fresh Herbs.
Niçoise Salad with Tuna and Artichoke Hearts
Hearty, healthy, and slightly untraditional, this Nicoise salad is my take on a French classic. I add sliced radishes, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, tomatoes, and loads of fresh greens. It’s best in the late spring through summer when tomatoes are at their best. This filling salad is a meal in itself, but a side of homemade Focaccia certainly won’t hurt!
Spring Soups and Sides
There’s no better way to start your meal than with a produce-packed soup or side. Peas and asparagus blend into absolutely beautiful, vibrant green soups elegant enough for a special occasion. While spring vegetables like leeks are tasty enough to serve whole. Here are some of my favorite soups and sides made with spring vegetables:
Whole Braised Leeks with Fresh Herbs and Feta
This simple recipe finally gives leeks the attention they deserve! The veggies are pan-seared and simmered in a lemony white wine sauce. It’s an excellent side dish for Broiled Salmon or Grilled Skirt Steak. Or, for a vegetarian spring dinner, it pairs fabulously with a Bean Salad, Lebanese Rice, or Taboon Flatbread.
Watercress Soup with Peas and Mint
I like to describe this soup as springtime in a bowl! You’ll notice a mild sweetness from the peas, a peppery bite, and a refreshing minty flavor. Not to mention it’s a gorgeous bright green color! And best of all, it’s delicious warm, or chilled so it's great for leftovers and make-ahead lunches.
Asparagus Soup
You only need about 30 minutes to make this vegan asparagus soup with spring peas and leeks. The vegetables are the star of the show here, blending into a velvety, creamy soup, elegant enough to be served as a first course.
Creamed Spinach
This spring side dish is ready in about 20 minutes and made in one skillet using just a handful of ingredients! We swap heavy cream for whole milk ricotta, making this creamed spinach recipe lighter than the traditional version. Pop my Easy Baked Fish in the oven while you’re preparing the spinach for a super simple weeknight dinner.
Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Dukkah, Garlicky Yogurt and Mint
In this elegant side dish, sweet spring carrots are roasted until slightly charred, then coated in nutty, crunchy, Egyptian Dukkah and served over a creamy garlicky yogurt.
Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice)
Spanakorizo features piles of fresh spinach and is similar in flavor to Spanakopita. However, it’s less complicated to prepare. It's perfect for a busy weeknight when all you want to do is get outside and enjoy the beautiful spring weather! Even though this is a classic Greek comfort food, it’s made with healthy ingredients that won’t weigh you down.
Stuffed Artichokes
Globe artichokes are stuffed with a savory combination of bread crumbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese. If you’ve always been intimidated by whole artichokes, this is the recipe for you! I include everything you need to know about choosing, prepping, and stuffing fresh artichokes.
Mediterranean Roasted Artichokes
Globe artichokes are roasted until tender, then generously drizzled with a garlic and dill vinaigrette and topped with shallots, capers, and crumbled feta cheese. This recipe is best saved for spring when fresh artichokes are in season. It’s so delicious, you’ll find yourself craving it year-round! I especially love this artichoke recipe as a starter before Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon.
Lemon-Garlic Sautéed Asparagus
Made in just 10 minutes, this easy and healthy vegetarian side dish is versatile and complements almost any chicken or fish dinner. I’ve also been known to mix it into grain bowls or toss it into pasta for an extra boost of fiber and nutrition. Roasted red peppers, feta cheese, and my favorite spices add a Mediterranean twist!
Easy Blanched Asparagus
One of the simplest ways to prepare asparagus, this fuss-free cooking method takes less than 10 minutes! Fresh asparagus is blanched until tender-crisp and bright green, then finished with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. This Mediterranean-Style Salsa is an easy way to elevate the dish, adding fresh, bright flavors!
Mediterranean-Style Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
Spinach and arugula are all you need to transform roasted Brussels sprouts into a fresh spring side dish. Shallots, cranberries, and a homemade honey-lemon vinaigrette add flavor, while feta cheese gives it a Mediterranean twist! This salad is gluten-free and can easily be vegan if you omit the feta. (While Brussels Sprouts aren't a spring vegetable, you can always leave them out or swap them for Roasted Artichoke Hearts.)
Turkish-Style Leeks Recipe (Zeytinyağlı Pırasa)
Made in just under 30 minutes, this vibrant vegan salad is so full of warm, zesty flavor you might just forget about the main course! Pair it with slices of crusty bread, Pita or Gözleme (Spinach And Feta Stuffed Flatbread).
Easy Spring Dinner Ideas
Whether you’re looking for a healthy 30-minute dinner, a one-pan wonder, or a flatbread pizza recipe, I’ve got a spring dinner recipe for you! Asparagus, artichokes, spinach, and peas fit right into savory Mediterranean dinner recipes, sometimes as the star of the show, like in this Asparagus Risotto, and sometimes as the flavor-maker, like in this Stuffed Salmon with Spinach. Here is a list of easy spring dinner ideas:
Asparagus Risotto
Creamy, citrusy, and hearty, this vegetarian main dish requires a little time and patience, but it pays off in big flavors! Tender stalks of asparagus marry seamlessly with fresh lemon juice and a touch of parmesan cheese. Fresh herbs add the perfect finishing touch. I’ve also been known to serve Asparagus Risotto as a side dish with Oven Roasted Chicken.
Stuffed Salmon with Spinach, Capers, and Greek Yogurt
Easy, healthy, and full of flavor, this spinach-stuffed salmon is what spring dinner recipes are made of—weeknight friendly and ready in about 30 minutes! Greek yogurt adds a creamy texture without making the stuffing overly rich, and roasted red peppers, capers, and Aleppo pepper give the dish plenty of Mediterranean flavor. Stock up on Aleppo pepper at our spice shop (or substitute with standard red chili flakes), and complete the meal with a springy Roasted Asparagus Salad.
Chicken and Asparagus Skillet Dinner
Juicy, tender chicken breast and perfectly cooked asparagus are made in just 30 minutes in the same skillet. A rich and savory white wine sauce infuses the chicken and asparagus with flavor, while lemon juice lightens and brightens the dish. Once spring arrives, I start to crave satisfying and flavorful low-carb dinners like this one. But if I’m feeling extra hungry, some Homemade Ciabatta Garlic Bread complements this meal perfectly.
Asparagus Quiche
This spring vegetable quiche is made slightly healthier using 2% milk and a whole wheat flour crust, but it’s just as rich and decadent. All you need is a crisp Lemon Parmesan Lettuce Salad, Radicchio Salad, or Fruit Salad on the side!
Savory Mushrooms and Leeks Galette
This savory galette is comfort food at its finest! Flaky dough wraps around an herbaceous leek, mushroom, and pea filling. Baked until golden and crisp, it looks so impressive you’d never guess it’s ready in just 40 minutes. Serve this galette as a complete spring dinner meal with your favorite salad. Or, enjoy it as an appetizer with any main course.
Za'atar Garlic Spinach Pasta
When it comes to spring dinner ideas, this 30-minute meal is top of mind. Piles of baby spinach are tossed with a garlicky olive oil sauce, za’atar, and a sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese. I skip the butter and heavy cream, making this pasta recipe a light, Mediterranean Diet-friendly dish, perfect for a warm spring evening. If you’re not familiar with the Middle Eastern spice blend za’atar, you’re in for a treat! Read all about it in our guide, What is Za'atar and How to Use It, and try it for yourself at our spice shop.
15-Minute Artichoke Garden Flatbread Pizza
This flatbread pizza might only take 15 minutes to make, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on flavor! Garden fresh vegetables, marinated artichokes, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese will have you going back for seconds. Feel free to get creative with your toppings and add more seasonal veggies, such as chopped asparagus and fresh arugula.
Mediterranean Potato Hash with Asparagus, Chickpeas and Poached Eggs
Serve this potato, asparagus, and egg hash for breakfast, brunch, or dinner! Made in just 25 minutes, it’s a quick and seriously flavorful all-in-one meal that’s perfect for a Sunday morning treat. It's gluten-free, fiber-filled, and easily dairy-free by omitting the feta cheese.
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Thank you so much for this great Spring season roundup! I frequently shop my local farmer's market for fresh produce and use what is in season for my meals. This was helpful for my Spring meal planning! I'd love to see a recipe category by "season" here. Thank you for all you do, Suzy and team!
Thanks for the suggestion, Amy! I agree, "by season" category would be great!!