Recipe Roundup

63 Fresh and Lively Spring Side Dish Recipes

These bright sides are a great excuse to stock up on the season's best flavors—and possibly even take dinnertime outdoors.
Blistered asparagus on a plate.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
  • A bowl of braised leeks peas and lettuce.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
    1/63

    Braised Leeks, Peas, and Lettuce

    When you warm lettuce in butter and wine it gets velvety and rich—a perfect foil to the sweet peas. Serve this spooned over slices of quiche for brunch or alongside your favorite spring roast for dinner.

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  • Shaved radish salad with walnuts and mint on a white plate.
    Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    2/63

    Shaved Radish Salad With Walnuts And Mint

    Mandolines were made for recipes like this; even slices will make this simple salad look like the work of a pro.

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  • Plastic deli container with smashed cucumber and radish salad.
    Photo by Alex Lau
    5/63

    Smashed Cucumbers and Radishes in Yogurt Sauce

    Wheels of cucumbers and radishes are nice and all, but smashing them into ragged pieces is way more fun.

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  • Blistered asparagus on a plate.
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    6/63

    Blistered Asparagus

    Sauté asparagus hot and fast in a skillet to soften and slightly char, then toss in a soy dressing with crushed peanuts and shredded coconut to add fantastic crunch.

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  • Pea and prosciutto salad on a white platter.
    Photo by Laura Murray
    7/63

    Pea and Prosciutto Salad

    Toss blanched snap peas and English peas with arugula and a mustardy vinaigrette, then drape with prosciutto for an elegant spring salad.

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  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal and Plant
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    8/63

    Ramp Fritters

    These crispy little fritters taste like a three-way cross between onion tempura, blooming onion, and onion rings. If you can't find ramps, use thin scallions.

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  • Shaved fennel salad with croutons and walnuts on a white plate with a woodhandled fork.
    Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    11/63

    Shaved Fennel Salad

    This is an antidote to every side salad that ever was. Instead of meh greens, it's got shavings of fennel that bend and twist but keep their refreshing crunch. It's got a lean dressing and nuggets of deeply toasted croutons, meaty walnuts, and shards of Parmesan. It has acidity and zing—lemon juice, the zest, vinegar, mint, and red pepper flakes—just in case you were worried about palate fatigue.

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  • Roasted asparagus on an oval platter with shaved Parmesan a great Easter side dish
    Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell
    12/63

    Roasted Asparagus

    Because sometimes the simplest side dishes are the best side dishes.

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  • Oyster mushrooms with barnaise yogurt on a white oval plate.
    Photo by Christopher Testani
    13/63

    Mushrooms with Béarnaise Yogurt

    A classic steakhouse-inspired rub and sauce turn grilled mushrooms into a decadent, meaty meal or side.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Sprout Dish and Meal
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    14/63

    Sugar Snap Pea Salad

    Come springtime, sugar snap peas are so tender and fresh it's almost a shame to cook them. We prefer slicing them thinly and eating them raw with a simple dressing, like this creamy, tangy buttermilk one.

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44 Artichoke Recipes That Are Pure Art
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44 Artichoke Recipes That Are Pure Art
The artichoke is a beautiful vegetable: let it shine with these recipes, from simply grilled to decadently stuffed.
These Asparagus Ribbons Are Our Springtime Dinner Goals
These Asparagus Ribbons Are Our Springtime Dinner Goals
They're not just pretty—they're tender, grassy, and delicious.

Anna Stockwell

Modern Inspiration From a Vintage Cookbook
Modern Inspiration From a Vintage Cookbook
What's old is new again.

Paula Forbes

Nuoc Cham Chicken Salad
Nuoc Cham Chicken Salad
A spicy-funky upgrade for lettuce cups, sandwiches, and more.
Crunchy Veg Salad With Dates and Fried Shallots
Crunchy Veg Salad With Dates and Fried Shallots
Elegant enough for a dinner party centerpiece, sturdy enough to take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
No-Mayo Tuna Salad
No-Mayo Tuna Salad
Riff on the lunchbox staple. Mayo-haters deserve tuna, too.
Cheeseburger Fried Rice
Cheeseburger Fried Rice
An immediately familiar and comforting dish from Agnes and Sherman in Houston.
Green Goddess Harvest Salad
Green Goddess Harvest Salad
So much more affordable than ordering from those fast casual salad chains.
Cold Silken Tofu With Chili Crisp Dressing
Cold Silken Tofu With Chili Crisp Dressing
A cool, custardy treat for the hottest days and beyond.
Korean Street Toast Breakfast Sandwich
Korean Street Toast Breakfast Sandwich
Veggie-packed eggs, gooey cheese, and don't skip the sprinkle of sugar.
Glazed Apple Pie Fritters
Glazed Apple Pie Fritters
Apple pie in doughnut hole form? We’re in love.
Giant Garlic Knot
Giant Garlic Knot
This savory babka is braided with a whole head of garlic, fresh parsley, and salty Parmesan.