Food

Panzanella is an Italian bread salad that’s typically made with summer tomatoes. Mom’s version is simplified with a spring green update. Grain-free goodness Swap the bread in this salad with the same measure of cooked gigante or white beans if you’re looking for more protein.

Slice, drizzle, and squeeze—there’s little more to this refreshing, flavour-packed sweet-meets-heat melon salad. Mad for melon Any juicy, ripe melon can be used in this dish. Try a variety for a multicoloured dish or heirloom melons for a unique taste and look.

Easy to transport and eat, these juicy chicken parcels are reminiscent of a fresh spring roll, thanks to herbs, carrot, and fish sauce. Gleaned cuisine Glean from mom’s most-loved cuisine to make these chicken patties her favourite. Try Greek-inspired with feta, dill, lemon zest, and yogurt; Korean-inspired with gochujang paste and kimchi; or Indian-inspired with garam masala and mango chutney.

Hokkaido scallops have a meaty texture and sweet flavour that make them particularly suitable for this raw preparation in which the lime juice does the “cooking.” Classic Mexican flavours of red onion, cilantro, and just a dash of heat from serrano pepper make this a fresh and scrumptious way to get a party started. Sustainability status Hokkaido sea scallops, so called because of their origins in the Hokkaido region of Japan, are farm-raised and have earned both Ocean Wise and Marine Stewardship Council certification. Ceviche savvy Choose commercially frozen scallops that are frozen quickly at a very low temperature. Thaw them overnight before using by removing them from the original packaging and placing them in one layer in a glass container with a cover. Drain off any liquid as it thaws. When you add lime juice to your ceviche, the acid in the lime juice works to change the protein structure of the scallops, resulting in a firmer texture. You can see it working as the colour of the scallop changes from very pale pink to milky white. Note: Consuming raw shellfish may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions. It’s recommended that pregnant and immunocompromised people avoid raw seafood.

One giant berry-and-oat crumb bar, jooshed up with rich vanilla yogurt. There’s no rolling of pastry here, making this minimalist dessert a cinch to whip up. Chocolate, please! If mom just can’t get enough chocolate, add 2 to 3 Tbsp (30 to 45 mL) cocoa powder, sifted, to yogurt mixture plus an additional 1 Tbsp (15 mL) honey, and top each slice with grated dark chocolate.

These special-occasion devilled eggs naturally pickle and dye the exterior of the whites with beets for an eye-catching pop of hot pink on the tablescape. Colour your world Many common pantry items can lend a vibrant hue to the brine used to create these colourful devilled eggs, including turmeric root and red cabbage.

Roasted cauliflower gets snacky in this luxurious, plant-based cauliflower dip. You can make the dip and store sliced veggies submerged in water for a couple of days ahead of the potluck. Make it a meal Serve this dip with Herbed Chicken and Carrot Patty Lettuce Cups and wraps or flatbreads for a DIY sandwich option at your gathering.

Perhaps nothing signals the arrival of spring better than delicious rhubarb. The tart vegetable (yes, you read that right) that we think of as a fruit lends itself to gentle poaching to coax out its flavour. It’s just waiting to be combined with a host of herbs and aromatics to make it even more luscious. Tip: Serve your poached rhubarb with a flourish by adding a dried orange slice on top. To dry orange slices, simply place thin slices on baking sheet in a 300 F (150 C) oven for about 2 hours, until dried. Sustainability cred Rhubarb is a cool-season crop that is often available close to home. Selecting seasonal fruit reduces the need for heating, refrigeration, artificial lighting, pesticides, and increased transport. While rhubarb’s season may be short, the plant is a perennial that can produce for years.

In this fresh spring salad, spicy radishes and crisp snap peas work together perfectly with a miso tahini dressing that dishes plenty of umami flavour. Full of colour, not only is this salad appealing to the eye, but its fresh crunchy texture and bright flavours will keep you coming back for more. Sustainability cred Organic peas and radishes can be grown sustainably without soil-depleting fertilizers. Peas fix nitrogen in the soil, and radishes can aerate soil. That means that, when rotated correctly, radishes can enhance soil health. The way we choose to eat these vegetables can also have an impact on reducing food waste. Radish tops rule! Don’t let radish tops languish in the fridge. Radish leaves can be blitzed into a spicy pesto with nuts, garlic, lemon juice, and a bit of Parmesan. Endless versatility After you’ve tried out a pesto, try wilting peppery-flavoured radish tops in a stir-fry. Likewise, young pea shoots and young leaves are also edible. Eating these vegetables when they’re in season means they take fewer resources to produce and, if sourced locally, can contribute to local economies.

A snack worthy of being called a meal, this delicious cauliflower combo will certainly satisfy your movie-night nacho craving! Say cheez Not a fan of cilantro? Try this vegan cheez dip instead. In medium bowl, soak 1 cup (250 mL) raw cashews in boiling water for 20 minutes. Drain cashews and add them to food processor with the following: 3 Tbsp (45 mL) nutritional yeast 1/4 tsp (1 mL) turmeric 1/4 tsp (1 mL) smoked paprika 1 tsp (5 mL) Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp (2 mL) garlic powder 1/4 tsp (1 mL) onion powder 3/4 cup (180 mL) unflavoured, unsweetened almond milk, more to thin 2 tsp (10 mL) preferred hot sauce Blend until smooth and serve! Makes approximately 1 cup (250 mL) dip. Each serving contains: 239 calories; 10 g protein; 17 g total fat (3 g sat. fat); 15 g total carbohydrates (2 g sugar, 3 g fibre); 282 mg sodium

Creamy pinto beans and earthy black beans stand in for kidney beans and help make a hearty chili along with some smoky poblano peppers. A pinch of cacao in this chili enhances the slightly sweet flavour of lean bison. If you prefer a less spicy chili, feel free to reduce the amount of powder, or add it in stages. Sustainability cred Like grass-fed beef, bison is considered a more sustainable meat. Much of it comes down to the way they’re ranched. While grazing, bison move across large tracts of land quickly, causing less trampling than if they stayed in one spot. Because they eat only grass and avoid other plants in the grasslands, they play a key role in grassland ecosystems, aiding in biodiversity by stirring up seeds with their hooves and fertilizing the earth as they pass by. The meat itself is lean and healthy and can be used interchangeably with beef. Roasting those peppers It’s an extra step, although fairly simple, but roasting the peppers first brings out their smoky flavour.

Colourful, crisp, and packed with flavour, these wraps make a perfect light snack and are a great way to use up leftover salmon.  In a pinch In place of fresh salmon, these wraps also work well with canned salmon.

Small black beluga lentils, so called because of their resemblance to caviar, hold their shape well, making them perfect for salads. If you can’t find beluga lentils, use French Puy lentils, which have similar properties. With lentils, young spinach, spring peas, and herby dressing, this salad welcomes spring. Sustainability cred Symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobium invade the roots of lentils and legumes such as peas and beans, allowing them to “fix,” or use, nitrogen. This also improves the quality of the soil they grow in. When grown as part of a crop rotation system, they make the soil suitable to grow other plants, including grains, that require nitrogen. Be picky Packaged lentils may contain small stones or other debris which, for safety, should be removed. To pick over lentils, take small amounts of lentils and spread them on a flat surface such as a cutting board. Using a bench scraper or palette knife, or simply your hands, review the contents and move from one end of the board to the other, removing any debris you find on the way. Fun fact: The word lentil is derived from the word for lens. You might want to get a pair to complete this task! What to look for: When choosing lentils, look for organic lentils to avoid glyphosate residues that can be found in conventionally grown varieties.

To snack or not to snack? Smoothies are often considered part of a morning routine, but they also make the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. This creamy, lush green smoothie is a delicious combination of earthy matcha balanced with tropical hints of coconut and banana, finished off with the warmth of ginger! Time-saver tip Peel, quarter, and freeze several bananas on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet for 24 hours. Transfer frozen bananas to sealed bag and immediately return to the freezer. Easy to grab and ready to use!

Choose your favourite hearty grain bread and pile it high with this savoury mixture of mushrooms and leeks. Bright green watercress adds a peppery snap to this quick, light lunch or snack. Sustainability cred Watercress is relatively disease and pest resistant, so it doesn’t require pesticides. It’s easy to grow, and it’s packed with nutrition: just 1 cup (250 mL) contains 106 percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin K and twice as much vitamin C as an apple. To peel or not to peel? While some (myself included) prefer to peel mushrooms versus washing or brushing them, this is, at least in my case, admittedly more habit than anything else. There is more nutrition in the skin, and fresh mushrooms generally only need a good dry brush to clean them. If you choose to wash, make sure it’s not too far in advance and that they’re dry when you begin cooking. Some say that a peeled mushroom imparts more flavour. If you do peel, be sure to compost the skins.

Low in sugar and packed with fibre and good fats, these bites are great for a quick on-the-go snack that will keep you satisfied until your next meal! Drink plenty of water—oats and flaxseed can get sticky! Nut free Make these snack balls nut free by substituting sun butter (from sunflower seeds) for almond butter and unsweetened coconut milk for almond milk.

Lime, vanilla, and soothing honey turn Greek yogurt into a special occasion-worthy dessert. This treat is akin to a fruit-topped no-bake cheesecake, but comes together so much faster. Beauty fruit focus: Lime, kiwi, mango, blueberry, and cherry Power fruits Explore a wide range of beautifying fruits to top your dessert including vitamin C-packed kiwis and mangos, crunchy pomegranate seeds, ripe blueberries, and fibre-rich raspberries. Anything tender with a hint of acidity will work well with the creamy whipped yogurt.

A friendly side dish, but with its unexpected sparkle, you’ll be tempted to put it into regular dinner rotation. Resist the urge to stir the green beans often—that’s the key to getting a nice amount of char. Nutrition bonus Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin K, a nutrient linked to lower risk for heart disease. Thrill of the grill To cook and fleck green beans with some nice char, you can also toss them on the grill. Spread them out on the grill grate and heat over medium until tender and darkened in a few places, turning once. Or place them in a vegetable grill basket, which helps prevent any from slipping through the grill grates. Try the same technique with asparagus.

Who doesn’t love a one-dish dinner? This family favourite featuring crowd-pleasing chicken and potatoes gets a lift from lemon—in the oven and in the yogurt sauce—briny olives, garlic, and onion. This weekday wonder can be enjoyed as is or with a simple side salad. Beauty fruit focus: Lemon Pucker up Lemon brightens up this dish but can be replaced with any citrus you love. Try mandarins, yuzu, or lime.

This frittata seems complex, yet it has a decided simplicity that makes for an exciting meal even on a busy weeknight. Whether store-bought or foraged from your lawn or local park, dandelion greens lend pesto a pleasant earthy bitterness. Spring arugula would serve well as a green substitution. Smoked salmon is a good stand-in for trout, or you can use previously cooked fresh trout or salmon. Nutrition bonus Dandelion greens are a standout source of beta carotene, a plant nutrient that may help lower the risk for developing type 2 diabetes when consumed consistently in high amounts. Pesto, everywhere You’ll have more pesto than you’ll need to use in this recipe. Consider that a good problem to have! You can use it as a sandwich spread, a lively addition to salad dressing, a healthy way to dress up roasted potatoes, or stirred into a pot of cooked grains.

Chilled noodles are the base of this nourishing, detox-friendly bowl loaded with good-for-you greens and a creamy tahini-orange dressing. Build your bowl in a container for lunch to go, dressing right before you plan to enjoy. Beauty fruit focus: Orange and avocado Grain bowl remix Bowls are all about versatility—turn yours into a grain bowl by swapping out noodles for cooked farro or short-grain brown rice.

These saucy noodles will bring a fiery kick to your spring menu and show that delicious plant-based eating can spill over into different cuisines of the world. Dandelion greens or tender spring spinach are good stand-ins for watercress. Place the bottle of chili sauce on the table for anyone who wants to really bring the heat. Nutrition bonus Watercress is an often-overlooked early season leafy green that packs a powerful nutrient punch, including notable amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, and beta carotene. Rinse away As opposed to regular pasta, Asian-style noodles, such as rice and soba, should be rinsed after cooking to remove excess starch that can cause them to clump and taste pasty.

A riot of textures and flavours, this salad offers something new in every bite. Crunchy fennel, bitter radicchio, and spicy arugula partner with tart grapefruit, rich in skin-supportive vitamin C. And don’t forget creamy avocado, chock full of healthy fats for skin radiance. Beauty fruit focus: Grapefruit and avocado Cheese, please If you don’t have cooked chicken on hand, or feel like keeping things vegetarian, replace it with crumbled feta or fresh goat cheese, either dairy or plant based.

As one of spring’s first crops, peppery arugula signals that longer, sweeter, more colourful days are afoot. It serves as an anchor to this virtuous salad that makes you feel younger with each forkful. When roasted, radishes transform from pungent to surprisingly sweet. Nutrition bonus Arugula is chockablock with nitrite, a compound that can help lower blood pressure numbers into the healthy range.  Fresh obsessed One of the keys to making a great salad is ensuring that your leafy greens are fresh and crisp. Nobody says yum to limp lettuce. The most effective way to keep greens at their best is to line a storage container with a few paper towels and then scatter your greens on top. Seal shut with a lid and refrigerate. Be sure there is some room in the container for the air to circulate, and the paper towels will absorb any excess moisture.