Food and Recipes Kitchen Assistant 29 Spring Farmers' Market Recipes Full Of Seasonal Flavor By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience in food, lifestyle, health, and nutrition content. She has been published in Southern Living, Real Simple, Allrecipes, EatingWell, Cooking Light, and other publications. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 24, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Heather Chadduck There's something about the first bright, sweet fruits and veggies of the spring season. They lend themselves to the most delicate of presentations where their full flavor can truly shine. Creamy risottos, earthy frittatas, and salad upon salad, these spring vegetable recipes are more than just side dishes. Here you'll find spring dinner recipes for weeknights and special occasions alike. Each recipe features the beautiful flavors of the season presented in fresh, decadent ways that will keep everyone around your table coming back for more. We've dreamed up plenty of ways to put the season's beautiful bounty to use, so hop on over to the farmers' market this weekend and prepare for a full week of fresh-from-the-garden cooking. It'll be just the shake up your mealtime is after. 01 of 29 Cast-Iron Salmon With Baby Kale Salad Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Let fresh kale be the star of dinner tonight with this salmon and kale salad dish. This quick and healthy meal comes together in less than 30 minutes and is bursting with fresh flavors. Get the Recipe 02 of 29 Swamp Cabbage Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This Florida favorite is a simple, hearty meal filled with spring veggies. Cooked with cabbage, celery, onions, and sausage, this old-school recipe comes together in 35 minutes and makes for comforting dish this season. Get the Recipe 03 of 29 Lemon Chicken Pasta Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Take advantage of lemons in their prime with this delicious dinner. Crispy panko-crusted chicken sits on a bed of tender linguine that's tossed with a luscious lemon-cream sauce to make a bright, zesty weeknight meal. Get the Recipe 04 of 29 Creamy Mushroom Soup Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Make those rainy spring days better with this creamy mushroom soup. Porchini mushrooms offer a delectable umami flavor and homemade crutons create the perfect crunch to top it off. 05 of 29 Crispy Chicken Thighs With Roasted Radishes Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Spring is the perfect time to incorporate radishes into your recipes, and this hearty fried chicken thigh and roasted radish dish is a great option. Bursting with beautiful flavor and color, this recipe is sure to be in your springtime rotation. Get the Recipe 06 of 29 Kale Pasta Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster The spotlight is on fresh kale in this wholesome, simple dish. Caramelized fennel and onion combine to make a light yet luscious sauce for an easy kale pasta recipe perfect for a weeknight. Get the Recipe 07 of 29 Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood If the phrase "cabbage roll" brings you back to your childhood, this recipe will transport you to dinners at Grandma's house. This humble dish features tender cabbage leaves enveloping a savory mixture of meat, onion, celery, and rice. Get the Recipe 08 of 29 Pineapple Pie Micah A. Leal A popular dessert in Mexico, this baked pineapple pie is a deliciously unexpected treat that is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Homemade pie dough is filled with pineapple, cinnamon, and star anise to create a blend of flavors that is perfect for for the springtime when pineapples are especially sweet. Get the Recipe 09 of 29 Peas And Ramps With Mushrooms And Semolina Gnocchi Andrew Thomas Lee From James Beard winner Steven Satterfield comes this fresh and filling gnocchi with peas and mushrooms. The semolina gnocchi is the perfect vessel for a sauté of spring peas, ramps, and mushrooms and fit for the role of main dish. Get the Recipe 10 of 29 Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke A plate of this asparagus-stuffed chicken is easy enough for a weeknight, but elegant enough for company. Asparagus-stuffed chicken is tender and juicy and makes for a beautiful meal thanks to the vibrant colors of green and red from the veggies—plus, all that cheese oozing out. Get the Recipe 11 of 29 Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus Greg DuPree Fettuccine Alfredo probably isn't the first dish you think of for a springtime supper or healthy eating. But this version, made with fresh, seasonal asparagus, is much lighter than the classic and just as delicious. With a bit of lemon to give it a citrus kick, it's perfect for the warmer weather. Get the Recipe 12 of 29 Caramelized Onion-And-Mushroom Quiche Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Quiches and farmer's markets go hand-in-hand, and this one is perfect for using up fresh onions and mushrooms. Get the Recipe 13 of 29 Classic Waldorf Salad Southern Living This side dish is a classic at a Southern get-together and highlights the peak season of the simple ingredients. Made with chopped apples, celery, and grapes, this Waldorf salad will be a wonderful and fresh addition to any spring meal. Get the Recipe 14 of 29 Strawberry-Rhubarb Pretzel Pie Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff The nostalgic strawberry-pretzel salad just got a major upgrade. Meet the strawberry-rhubarb pretzel pie: a salty and sweet treat filled with fresh fruit and baked in a delectable pretzel crust. Get the Recipe 15 of 29 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Serve over fresh arugula or as an appetizer with toasted French bread baguette slices. Garnish with fresh basil. Get the Recipe 16 of 29 Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Now tell us this isn't the most colorful slaw you've ever seen. It calls on radishes, carrots, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, and an herby Greek-yogurt-based dressing. Get the Recipe 17 of 29 Creamy Spring Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Baked pasta gets a spring spin with baby sweet peas and ham. We love the crunchy, savory topping made with croutons and Parmesan cheese. Get the Recipe 18 of 29 Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We dressed up an already good-for-you bowl of greens with a few nutritious and flavorful additions to the tune of asparagus, sugar snap peas, sweet peas, and radishes. Now, we couldn't help but add a little indulgent flavor with a goat cheese log rolled in fresh herbs like dill, tarragon, and chives. Get the Recipe 19 of 29 Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Hold the mayo for this recipe that's the freshened up take on potato salad we'll be craving this spring. Delicate French green beans, baby red potatoes, and a hefty dose of dill are the stars here. Get the Recipe 20 of 29 Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox For the freshest flavor, opt for store-bought refrigerated pesto rather than the shelf-stable version. Get the Recipe 21 of 29 Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Call this a weeknight risotto. Oh, you didn't know such a thing existed? Just try our oven-baked version. Crisped ham, leeks, garlic, thyme, and a bit of white wine create a complex and flavorful dish that will dress up any occasion—even the average Wednesday night. Get the Recipe 22 of 29 Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall And here we thought green beans couldn't get any brighter. Orange zest, Creole seasoning, and a ¼ cup of orange juice create the dish you'll be pairing with just about everything from March through May. Get the Recipe 23 of 29 Spring Vegetable Frittata Photo: Jennifer Causey Crumbled feta gives a salty bite that makes every single forkful absolutely decadent. Cremini mushrooms, yellow onion, and fresh asparagus make this one omelet that can easily stamd in as a hearty, seasonal dinner. Get the Recipe 24 of 29 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners A flavorful vinaigrette coats a pasta salad mixed up with peas, cherry tomatoes, and herbs. It's perfect for a vibrant side dish or a light lunch that plays off the flavors of the season. Get the Recipe 25 of 29 Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables Jennifer Davick If you're looking for a hands-off recipe, this isn't it. It takes a bit of babysitting, but the payoff will be well worth it the minute that creamy risotto and fresh-from-the-garden spring veggie flavor hits your tastebuds. Get the Recipe 26 of 29 Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables Alison Miksch Pasta gets a spring update with a creamy ricotta addition. Pea tendrils, fresh mint, and zippy lemon zest create a dish packed with flavor. Get the Recipe 27 of 29 Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables Photo: Hector Sanchez A whole bunch of fresh ingredients go into these fish foil packet dinners including asparagus, potatoes, okra, onion, herbs, and mini peppers. The best part? Cleanup is a breeze. Get the Recipe 28 of 29 Banana Pudding Jennifer Davick These make great individual party desserts. We love it with extra wafers. Get the Recipe Aunt Brenda's Sour Cream Banana Pudding 29 of 29 Deviled Potatoes Hector Manuel Sanchez Two Southern classics, deviled eggs and potato salad, join forces to create these two-bite wonders. Scooping out the middle of the potato, filling it with flavor, and stuffing it back in make it reminiscent of a deviled egg, but it taste just a like a scoop of bite-sized potato salad goodness. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit