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Cooking is a learned art, and for the amateur chef, spring recipes are the perfect opportunity to experiment with seasonal produce and herbs while mastering a few new techniques.
From sweet to savory, there are plenty of meal ideas for you to try during the warmer, sunnier days and months ahead – and those with busy lives and little time to spare in the kitchen will appreciate the fresh simplicity of springtime cuisine.
Here are six delicious spring recipes for the amateur chef.
Crunchy Chili Lime Shrimp
A crunchy chili lime shrimp recipe might be in order if you only have about 30 minutes to whip up a quick and healthy meal.
Place uncooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp, minced garlic, paprika, chile pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper on a lined or greased sheet pan. Zest and squeeze a lime over the shrimp and toss to coat. Then, crush tortilla chips and stir with cilantro and oil in a bowl and sprinkle the mixture over the shrimp.
Bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink. When finished, add halved cherry tomatoes and avocado before serving. You can also garnish with more lime wedges and cilantro.
White Vegetable Pizza
A packaged pizza crust is convenient, but nothing quite compares to making dough at home. While most chefs know that pizza dough takes a long time to prepare, there’s a more straightforward method that only takes about 30 minutes.
Dissolve yeast in water at 110°F, allowing it to rise for a few minutes. Add salt, sugar, olive oil, and flour, stirring until it thickens. Knead the dough for 5 minutes and place it in a bowl covered with plastic wrap for 10-15 minutes. Then, prepare the toppings.
Ricotta cheese and thinly shaved green vegetables – zucchini, leaks, peas, and asparagus – are the perfect vegetarian white pizza ingredients for spring.
After rolling out the dough, bake it in the oven at 450°F for 10-15 minutes. Finally, add watercress, basil, olive oil, shaved Pecorino, and pistachios before serving.
Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
Pasta dishes are an excellent source of fiber if you’re trying to lose weight or heal digestive issues – and it doesn’t get tastier or healthier than baked spinach and feta pasta.
In a 9×13 casserole dish, bake feta for 15 minutes at 400°F until it softens and starts browning. While it’s in the oven, mix spinach, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl; stir in penne.
Add the pasta and spinach mixture to the casserole dish, pour 2 cups of boiling water over it, and mix the ingredients. Cover with foil and bake another 18 minutes.
Strawberry Mint Chicken
Strawberries are a sweet ingredient for spring sauce recipes – and ideal for grill-pan chicken.
Boil cornstarch, sugar, nutmeg, pepper, and water in a saucepan; then add strawberries and wine or white grape juice. Simmer on low for 3-5 minutes until it thickens, stirring in fresh mint.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook in a grill pan on medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Brush strawberry mint sauce onto the chicken during the last few minutes of cooking. Serve with the rest of the sauce and garnish with sliced scallions.
Honey Garlic Salmon
An easy honey garlic salmon dish is the perfect spring recipe for the amateur chef. Preheat your oven to broil or grill, then season salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and paprika.
In a skillet, saute butter, garlic, honey, water, and soy sauce, then add lemon juice. Sear the salmon fillets skin-side down for 3-4 minutes and baste with the pan juices. Adding lemon wedges around the salmon will enhance the flavors further.
Transfer the fillets to an oven-safe dish and broil for 5-6 minutes or until they’re charred to your liking. Then serve with the honey garlic sauce and a lemon wedge over rice or a fresh garden salad.
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Thai chicken lettuce wraps are so bold and flavorful that you’ll never even realize you’re eating healthy.
In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat and add chopped chicken, garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss so the chicken cooks all the way through before throwing in carrots, cabbage, and scallions for another couple of minutes.
Mix sweet chili sauce, ginger, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, and peanut butter in a bowl until smooth, then add the sauce to the pan. Gently combine the ingredients and sprinkle fresh cilantro.
Once hot, you may spoon the chicken into lettuce leaves and garnish with more cilantro. Chopped cashews are also a way to give your Thai chicken lettuce wraps a crunchier texture.
Healthy Spring Recipes Anyone Can Make
Beginner chefs and those with a little more experience in the kitchen will love chowing down on these spring recipes. Using the freshest ingredients, you can make many colorful and flavorful meals for yourself and your family.
About The Author:
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded, where he writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Check out @TModded for regular updates!
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