15 Fresh & Easy Spring Recipes to Try This Season
FOOD
Looking for easy and healthy spring recipes? In this collection, you'll find 15 fresh, seasonal dishes perfect for quick weeknight dinners, light lunches, and colorful meals to enjoy all spring long.
MAY 10, 2025
1. Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
PREP & COOK: 25 minutes total
MOOD: Nourishing lunch or relaxed dinner on the balcony.
This Teriyaki Salmon Bowl is our top pick for spring—effortless, vibrant, and bursting with fresh flavors. Tender salmon glazed in a homemade teriyaki sauce pairs beautifully with a fresh coriander mango salad, crunchy cucumbers, and fluffy rice, making it a light yet satisfying meal to welcome the season.
HACK: Swap white rice for brown rice for added fiber, or freeze cooked rice before reheating—it’s a simple trick that can lower its calorie impact.
EDITORS TIP: For a plant-based twist, swap salmon with marinated tofu or tempe
2. Grilled asparagus, Burrata & Bread
PREP & COOK: 20 minutes total
MOOD: Casual solo date.
If you’re skipping the fancy brunch spot and craving a peaceful solo date at home, this grilled asparagus with creamy burrata and tangy lemon-capers sauce is your new go-to. Quick to make, light yet indulgent, it’s a fresh springtime plate that feels like a little celebration—just for you.
HACK: Swap burrata for fresh ricotta or goat cheese to lighten the dish
EDITORS TIP: Read this article on Purposeful Solo Date Ideas (Summer Edition)
3. Haloumi salad with crispy chickpeas
PREP & COOK: 35 minutes total
MOOD: A light lunch or a nourishing picnic
This haloumi salad with crispy chickpeas is a grounding yet fresh ode to spring. With crisp romaine, golden-fried haloumi, and smoky paprika-roasted chickpeas, it’s nourishing without being heavy. A creamy caper dressing brings everything together—perfect for slow lunches in the sun or easy, wholesome weeknight dinners.
HACK: Use an air fryer to roast chickpeas with less oil.
EDITORS TIP: Replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-rich alternative.
4. Roasted cabbage with creamy yogurt sauce
PREP & COOK: 45 minutes total
MOOD: An elegant but easy dinner dish with friends.
This roasted cabbage with creamy yogurt-mustard sauce is a quietly elegant spring dish—simple, seasonal, and full of flavor. Tender wedges of cabbage are roasted to golden edges and finished with a zesty yogurt drizzle, making it a light yet satisfying option for warmer days. It’s a nourishing way to use humble ingredients while keeping preparation effortless and grounded in sustainability.
HACK: Bake on a reusable silicone mat instead of parchment to cut waste.
EDITORS TIP: Add a spoonful of tahini or lemon zest to the yogurt sauce for extra depth.
5. Green Goddess Quinoa Salad
PREP & COOK: 20 minutes total
MOOD: Energizing lunch that nourishes without weighing you down.
After a refreshing Pilates session, this Green Goddess Quinoa Salad is exactly what your body and soul crave—light, green, and bursting with fresh herbs and creamy avocado. Packed with nourishing quinoa and a tangy dressing, it’s a delicious way to refuel and celebrate spring’s vibrant flavors in every bite.
HACK: Keep chopped veggies like cucumbers, radishes, and green onions prepped in glass jars in the fridge — perfect for throwing this salad together in under 5 minutes.
EDITORS TIP: Sprinkle with toasted seeds or hemp hearts for added protein and texture.
6. Creamy Zucchini Lemon Pasta
PREP & COOK: 45 minutes total
MOOD: A light, plant-based lunch.
This creamy zucchini lemon pasta is a vibrant celebration of spring's bounty. Fresh zucchini and basil create a light, dairy-free sauce, while a hint of lemon adds brightness. Topped with roasted zucchini chips and Brazil nut parmesan, it's a nourishing dish perfect for the season.
HACK: Save a bit of the starchy pasta water to help emulsify and stretch the sauce, reducing the need for added fats.
EDITORS TIP: Add a sprinkle of red chili flakes for a subtle kick.
7. Grilled Peach Burrata Salad
PREP & COOK: 10 minutes total
MOOD: Side Dish idea for BBQ, brunch, dinner or garden parties
Fresh Peach Burrata Salad brings together juicy, ripe peaches, creamy burrata, and fragrant basil, gently finished with a balsamic glaze. This no-cook, seasonal dish celebrates spring’s bounty and is perfect for those craving a quick, elegant meal—or looking for a cool side dish idea for BBQs, brunches, or garden parties.
HACK: Use local, in-season fruits like nectarines or strawberries.
EDITORS TIP: Incorporate toasted nuts like almonds or hazelnuts for crunch and texture.
8. Lettuce Wrap Summer Rolls
PREP & COOK: 20 minutes total
MOOD: A relaxed lunch at home or to go.
Crisp, vibrant, and bursting with fresh flavors, these Lettuce Wrap Summer Rolls are a bright celebration of spring’s best produce. They’re quick to make, easy to customize, and perfect for enjoying light, wholesome meals that feel as good as they taste.
HACK: Add a protein like marinated tofu or shredded chicken for extra satiety.
EDITORS TIP: Toss in fresh herbs like mint or basil for a fragrant boost.
9. Mexican-Style Roasted Sweet Potatoes
PREP & COOK: 40 minutes total
MOOD: A weekend lunch or dinner if you don't want to clean up a lot.
Spring calls for easy, colorful meals, and these Mexican-Style Roasted Sweet Potatoes deliver just that — with smoky, zesty spices roasting right alongside naturally sweet, vibrant veggies. Light to prep and bursting with fresh flavors, this dish feels like sunshine on your plate, perfect for warming up longer days and eating seasonally.
HACK: Pierce sweet potato with a fork to speed up baking and ensure even cooking.
EDITORS TIP: Serve on a bed of quinoa or brown rice to turn it into a hearty, balanced meal.
10. Sheet Pan Salmon & Asparagus
PREP & COOK: 40 minutes total
MOOD: A nourishing, light meal after a day spent outdoors
This easy sheet pan salmon and asparagus is fresh, seasonal and a one-pan prep. Crisp smashed potatoes pair beautifully with tender salmon and bright green asparagus, making it a light yet satisfying meal perfect for welcoming longer, warmer days with ease and minimal cleanup.
HACK: Use leftover boiled potatoes to save cooking time and reduce food waste.
EDITORS TIP: Opt for wild-caught salmon when possible to support more sustainable fishing practices.
11. Coconut Lime Fish Curry
PREP & COOK: 30 minutes total
MOOD: Casual dinners if you neede a mini vacation.
After a long day, this Coconut Lime Fish Curry whisks you straight to a breezy Thai evening — creamy coconut, tangy lime, and tender fish wrapped in fragrant jasmine rice, all coming together in a bowl of pure calm and sunshine. It’s your quick escape to warm flavors and chill vibes, perfect for unwinding and tasting a little bit of paradise at home.
HACK: Use a rice cooker for perfect, hands-off jasmine rice every time — no guessing!
EDITORS TIP: Garnish with Thai basil and a squeeze of fresh lime to elevate authenticity.
12. Grilled Peach Burrata Salad
PREP & COOK: 35 minutes total
MOOD: A casual, elegant appetizer for spring gatherings
tender artichokes nestled atop light, whipped ricotta, finished with a vibrant herb gremolata that bursts with bright, garden-fresh flavors. This recipe is a gentle nod to the season’s renewal—easy to prepare, nourishing, and full of simple ingredients that bring sunshine to your table.
HACK: Prepare the gremolata in advance and store it chilled to let the flavors deepen, reducing prep stress on serving day.
EDITORS TIP: Serve the dish on toasted whole-grain bread or crisp crackers for added texture and a hearty contrast.
13. Guac From Scratch
PREP & COOK: 10 minutes total
MOOD: Post-yoga fuel for fresh energy.
Meet your new spring obsession: restaurant-worthy guac that’s insanely fresh, outrageously easy, and packed with all the zesty vibes you need to kick off sunny days. No fuss, just ripe avocados, a squeeze of lime, and a handful of garden-fresh goodness — basically, a bowl of pure green magic ready to make every snack or gathering a little brighter (and tastier).
HACK: Swap salt for smoked sea salt to add flavor without extra calories
EDITORS TIP: Serve with crunchy crudités or homemade lentil or sweet potato chips to up your snack cred.
14. Mediterranean Hummus Bowl
PREP & COOK: 20 minutes total
MOOD: An easy lunch or dinner on warm days.
This easy Mediterranean Hummus Bowl brings together fresh spring ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes, and chickpeas in a light and simple dish. Quick to prepare, it’s a seasonal, wholesome option perfect for a nourishing meal anytime.
HACK: Instead of adding extra oil or tahini, blend in a few tablespoons of the reserved chickpea cooking liquid (or the canned chickpea liquid) to create a silky texture while keeping it lighter.
EDITORS TIP: Ad a little bit of fresh mint. Meal-prep for tomorrow.
15. Tuna Avocado Crispy Rice Salad
PREP & COOK: 60 minutes total
MOOD: Sushi craving, lazy energy.
Craving sushi but way too chill to roll anything? This Tuna Avocado Crispy Rice Salad is your lower-effort, high-reward answer. With crispy rice, creamy avocado, tangy soy dressing, and that satisfying umami hit from tuna, it’s basically a deconstructed sushi bowl — fresh, fast, and friendly on your budget.
HACK: Make a double batch of the dressing to drizzle on other bowls, salads, or grain dishes all week
EDITORS TIP: Serve it in a wide bowl, add shredded nori or furikake on top and a drizzle of sriracha mayo for the full sushi-but-not experience. Try this Crispy Oil.