10 recipes to make you feel like spring is here
Celebrate spring with our all-time top 10 recipes, featuring seasonal ingredients such as wild garlic, rhubarb, asparagus, roast lamb and plenty more.
There’s nothing like delicious dishes and fresh ingredients to celebrate the turn of the season. Take a look at our seasonality table to find out which foods are at their best this month, then read on for our favourite recipes to get in the spirit for spring.
For more like this, discover our top spring recipes, plus healthy spring recipes and budget spring recipes. Read our seasonal guides to discover which ingredients are at their best in March, April and May, plus find lots of ideas for spring ingredients in our recipe guides, from how to use wild garlic to our top rhubarb recipes.
10 recipes to get you in the mood for spring
1. Forager’s ravioli
Parcels of fresh pasta are filled with foraged wild nettles in this elegant vegetarian dish, dressed with butter and crunchy hazelnuts. For those who aren’t fans of foraging, you can swap the nettles for baby spinach leaves for an equally tasty meal.
Try the recipe: Forager's ravioli
For more tips and advice, read our guide to foraging.
More like this
2. Easy rhubarb fool
This simple yet indulgent dessert is a perfectly light finish to a spring dinner party. Swirl a sweet and tangy rhubarb compote through light-as-air whipped cream, and serve with buttery homemade pistachio shortbreads.
Try the recipe: Easy rhubarb fool
Make use of this vibrant pink veg in more of our rhubarb recipes.
3. Red wine poached halibut with bacon & mushrooms
White-fleshed halibut comes into season in March, and poaching is the perfect way to make the most of its firm, meaty texture. The red wine in this recipe keeps the fish succulent and reduces down into a flavourful sauce, spooned over buttery mushrooms and spinach, and finished with a rasher of crispy bacon.
Try the recipe: Red wine poached halibut with bacon & mushrooms
From seafood stew to ceviche, delve into more of out halibut recipes.
4. Wild garlic & nettle soup
Vibrant, healthy and packed with greens – what more could you want from a spring soup? This is the ultimate dish to show off those foraging finds, incorporating young nettle and wild garlic leaves with finely diced vegetables, blitzed into a silky blend that’s as pleasing to the palate as it is to the eye.
Try the recipe: Wild garlic & nettle soup
Looking for more ways to use up your foraged goods? See our wild garlic recipes and nettle recipes. Also get more foraging and recipe tips with our guide on how to use wild garlic.
5. Easy roast leg of lamb
A classic Easter favourite, this simple roast leg of lamb is the perfect centrepiece for any roast dinner. For an easy flavour hack, make small incisions into the lamb and fill with rosemary sprigs, garlic and anchovies (omit these if you wish). The result will be succulent, fall-apart meat full of punchy flavour, it's sure to be a crowdpleaser!
Try the recipe: Easy roast leg of lamb
Find more seasonal centrepieces with our collection of roast lamb recipes.
6. Elderflower & herb cooler
This light, gin-based cocktail is given a picture perfect finish with ice cubes made from edible flowers and sprigs of rosemary and thyme. Elderflower liqueur and rhubarb cordial lend a sophisticated touch of sweetness to this refreshing blend.
Try the recipe: Elderflower & herb cooler
Raise a toast to the season with more spring cocktail recipes.
7. Next level hot cross buns
Hot cross buns have to be one of the season’s greatest pleasures. We’ve given this classic bake a lift with the addition of more dried fruits and spices to make them extra fragrant. Brush with an apricot glaze for a professional-looking finish.
Try the recipe: Next level hot cross buns
Get your baking hat on with more of our heavenly hot cross bun recipes.
8. Spring greens carbonara
Give this classic spaghetti dish a seasonal twist with asparagus, sweet peas and long-stemmed broccoli. These fresh spring greens act as the perfect balance for salty, crisp pancetta and rich egg yolks.
Try the recipe: Spring greens carbonara
Find more wonderful ways with spring greens.
9. Crab fritters with cheat’s chilli & crab mayonnaise
Crab comes into season in April and May, and this recipe puts the shellfish centrestage. Mix white crabmeat with Gruyère and fry until crisp and golden, then dip into sriracha mayo enriched with brown crabmeat and zingy lemon juice. The perfect snack to share with friends over a glass of white.
Try the recipe: Crab fritters with cheat's chilli & crab mayonnaise
We've got plenty more crab recipes to try, from classic crab linguine to a creamy crab & saffron risotto.
10. Jersey Royal, wild garlic & watercress tart with pink pickled onions
This veg-packed tart is a true celebration of spring and makes for a stunning seasonal showstopper. Jersey Royal potatoes take centre stage, complemented by a wild garlic, watercress and cream purée filling and zingy pickled onion garnish.
Try the recipe: Jersey Royal, wild garlic & watercress tart with pink pickled onions
Discover many more Jersey Royal recipes.
More on spring...
Healthy spring recipes
Top 20 spring recipes
How to use wild garlic
10 ways to spring clean your kitchen
How to cook with broad beans
11 ideas for serving asparagus
How to serve watercress
Rhubarb recipes
Elderflower recipes
Spring greens recipes
What's your favourite recipe for spring? Let us know in the comments below!