Lucky enough to have just returned from a jaunt to your local farmers’ market or another favorite local food market? I hope your baskets and totes are brimming with fresh spring favorites like these. And, if you are looking for quick, easy ways to highlight their deliciousness, I have gathered a few . . . or maybe a little more than a few . . . ways to do just that.
SIMPLE BUT DELICIOUS WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR SPRING PRODUCE
Because fresh produce tastes perfectly wonderful all on its own (in fact, sometimes who can wait to even get it home before sampling it), I typically choose simple ways to prepare it. That way, it keeps that natural, fresh flavor up front. Thus, most of these links all are easy and quick and pretty much fuss-free:
1/2. If you have fresh spring onions, garlic scapes and herbs in your basket, you may want to try these main dishes to combine them:
3/4. If you have chosen some young, beautiful asparagus stalks, you must try these ways to use it up:
- raw asparagus Caesar salad (I would use organic Greek yogurt instead of mayo.)
- asparagus, curry soup
5/6/7. Fresh strawberries are a favorite of most. If you have brought some home with a stalk or two of rhubarb, try these refreshing ways to combine the flavors:
8. If you were lucky enough to nail down some baby artichokes, you can’t get any more simple than this: grilled baby artichokes.
9/10. Those smaller zucchinis are always more tender and flavorful. You must try this with your next windfall:
- raw carrot and zucchini ribbons with a cilantro, pepita pesto
- zucchini agrodoice (a salad of types)
11/12/13. If you spotted fresh peas, mint and a few lovely radishes, well . . . who doesn’t love toast? And, those fritters are pretty adorable, too:
14/15. The fresh apricot season seems to be a short one where I live, so I grab them when I can. How about these two ways to highlight them:
16/17. Watercress is at the very tippy-top of the nutrient-dense vegetables so throw some in your bag and make these recipes:
18/19. Lots of greens peeking out of your basket? Those nutrient-dense vegetables would do beautifully with these:
20/21. If blueberries are included in your bundle from the market, here are two great ways to use them to start your day:
NEED MORE?
- The farmers’ markets are a great way to choose local produce and support your area farmers. Here are tips to ask the right questions when you get there.
- Loads of other healthy ways to prepare vegetables: my healthy vegetables Pinterest board.
- Why not add some fresh salmon for healthy fats like omega 3s to your diet along with all those amazing spring veggies! This guide on cooking salmon covers it all – what to buy, how to cook it perfectly, easy recipes, what NOT to do, etc.
Spring produce is the absolute best. I will have to try these recipes out. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Let me know if you have a favorite, Jenny!
What a great post, thanks for linking up to Tips and Tricks this week
Hope you get to try a spring recipe or two, Karissa.
I love the change to spring and all the produce and fresh food that is in season! These are great ideas and tips!
Spring is one of my favorites, too, Sarah!
Oooh I've been looking for recipes for in season produce, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Perfect timing then, Annamarie!
Great list of Springtime Veggie ideas. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
Hope you get to try a few new ones, Kathy!
This is inspiring, since my veggie box always gets random veggies every week! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Thanks, Gingi! Have fun with your goodie box!
I have been waiting for Spring hit here in Nova Scotia so I start going to the Farmer's Market here. I love local produce and I want to support or farmers. Half my grocery bill is vegetables and fruit 🙂 ♡
Impressive, Launna! I know those farmers appreciate your business and I bet the taste (and of course, superior nutrition) that produce provides is worth every penny.