Spring Farmers' Market Recipes

By Southern Living
Helene Dujardin
Welcome spring with recipes using the tastiest farmers' market finds of the season.
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Strawberry Salad with Warm Goat Cheese Croutons

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Strawberry Salad with Warm Goat Cheese Croutons

To prepare the goat cheese croutons, cut a goat cheese log into rounds. Press each round to 1/2-inch thickness on a baking sheet and freeze for 20 minutes. this process will help the rounds keep their shape and not ooze out of their breading while frying. Serve the salad with Strawberry-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette.

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Lemony Green Bean Pasta Salad

Helene Dujardin

Recipe: Lemony Green Bean Pasta Salad

Lemon and shallots marry for a bright taste that's ideal for a ladies' lunch or light supper. If you can't find haricots verts, use regular green beans instead. Opt for penne pasta, instead of casarecce, if you already have it on hand. We love how quickly this recipe comes together—just 30 minutes! You'll love the bright citrusy flavor paired with the perfect amount of crunch from the green beans.

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Georgia Shrimp and Radish Salad

Photo: Helene Dujardin

Recipe: Georgia Shrimp and Radish Salad

Radishes at the farmers' market can seem as varied and abundant as the colors of Easter eggs. Two different varieties give this salad vibrant color, texture, and flavor: watermelon radishes and D'avignon (French breakfast) radishes. If you're looking for a quick-fix try this salad, hands on time for this recipe is only 20 minutes.

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Spring Pea Orzo

Photo: Helene Dujardin

Recipe: Spring Pea Orzo

Fresh or frozen peas and sugar snap peas are paired with the season's brightest, citrusy flavor. Add the dressing to the orzo while it's still warm, which allows the flavor to soak fully into the pasta. This salad tastes even beter the next day, so make it ahead. Trust us, this will become your new go-to side dish.

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Green Bean Potato Salad with Lemon-Soy Vinaigrette

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Green Bean Potato Salad with Lemon-Soy Vinaigrette

Potato salad gets a fresh and crunchy twist with bright flavors and lots of yummy texture. Make the Lemon-Soy Vinaigrette ahead of time for an easier assembly.

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Spring Polenta with Radishes and Garlic Scapes

Jack Mathews

Recipe: Spring Polenta with Radishes and Garlic Scapes

If you’re looking for something light, healthy, and easy, look no further. This simple, luscious main uses chickpeas in place of a more traditional protein. It’s perfect for a warm spring day, and we have to admit that the results are delicious.

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Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Feta Quiche

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Feta Quiche

This elegant breakfast classic is full of fresh spring ingredients. Garnish with flat leaf parsley for a winning presentation.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

Fettuccine Alfredo probably isn’t the first dish you think of for a springtime supper or healthy eating. But this version, made with fresh, seasonal asparagus, is much lighter than the classic and just as delicious. With a bit of lemon to give it a citrus kick, it’s perfect for the warmer weather.

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Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Baked pasta gets a spring spin with baby sweet peas and ham. We love the crunchy, savory topping made with croutons and Parmesan cheese.

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Spinach-and-Romaine Salad with Cucumbers, Radishes, and Creamy Mint Dressing

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Spinach-and-Romaine Salad with Cucumbers, Radishes, and Creamy Mint Dressing

This cool and creamy salad is the perfect side for any spring or summer meal. Dress it up for Easter brunch, but keep the recipe on file for a quick summertime side to bring to a last-minute cookout.

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Golden Potato-and-Smoked Sausage Hash

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Golden Potato-and-Smoked Sausage Hash

Make this hash even heartier by adding a fried egg on top. Speed up cooking time by using parboiled potatoes from your grocer's freezer section. Add them in at Step 3.

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Deviled Potatoes

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Deviled Potatoes

Two Southern classics, deviled eggs and potato salad, join forces to create these two-bite wonders. Scooping out the middle of the potato, filling it with flavor, and it stuffing it back in make it reminiscent of a deviled egg, but it taste just a like a scoop of bite-sized potato salad goodness. The pulp is mixed with sour cream, capers, mustard and a few other key ingredients that will not leave guests missing a traditional potato salad. Make them a day before your get-together, and chill until you head out. When you arrive, they'll be the right serving temperature and little clean up will be required once the party is over.

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Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

Our one-pot primavera brings together seasonal favorites: fresh herbs, crunchy sugar snap peas, and sweet peas. Combining ricotta cheese with the salty water left over from boiling the pasta makes a super-easy, creamy sauce.

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Sugar Snap – Snow Pea Salad

Recipe: Sugar Snap – Snow Pea Salad

Light and brightly flavored with fresh ginger, this Asian-inspired medley of fresh and frozen peas takes just minutes to toss together.

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Mango-Spinach Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mango-Spinach Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette

This is a delicious partner for grilled fish. Don't forget fresh crusty bread to soak up every bit of the warm vinaigrette.

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Grilled Artichokes and Asparagus

Recipe: Grilled Artichokes and Asparagus

This five-ingredient recipe is simple to prepare but packs lots of savory smoky flavor.

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Sautéed Baby Squash and Leeks

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Sautéed Baby Squash and Leeks

Recipe: Garden-Fresh Baby Vegetables

Try this combination of sautéed baby squash and leeks for a colorful side for your next meal.

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Spring Onion Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Heather Chadduck, Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Spring Onion Pie

Take advantage of fresh spring onions to create a delicious vegetarian supper.

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Strawberry Caprese Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad

Serve over fresh arugula or as an appetizer with toasted French bread baguette slices. Garnish with fresh basil.

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Lemon Veggies and Pasta

Recipe: Lemon Veggies and Pasta

We loved the combo of crunchy snow peas, carrots, and fresh herb in Lemon Veggies and Pasta.

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Grilled Shrimp-and-Green Bean Salad

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lydia Pursell

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp-and-Green Bean Salad

Freshly picked summer green beans have great texture that creates the perfect snap in each bite of this shrimp salad. Parmesan and bacon add a rich saltiness that flavors the beans and the shrimp. Serve over hot, crusty cornbread.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Hand Pies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Hand Pies

Crisp rhubarb has a tart flavor that teams up perfectly with sweet strawberries.

How to Make Fried Strawberry Pies

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Grilled Romaine Salad with Buttermilk-Chive Dressing

Recipe: Grilled Romaine Salad with Buttermilk-Chive Dressing

Lettuce on the grill? Enhance the flavor of grilled romaine with crunchy red onion, nutty Parmesan cheese, and our simple Buttermilk-Chive Dressing.

Fresh Spring Salads

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Spring-on-a-Plate Salads

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spring-on-a-Plate Salads

Look for tender, fresh baby greens and microgreens at your local farmers’ market; they should be abundant this time of year. Soaking vegetables in ice water crisps them up.

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Asparagus Pesto

Recipe: Asparagus Pesto

Need a new idea for asparagus? Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, and lemon in this pesto make the veggie into a tasty coating for pasta or crostini.

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Spring Garden Strawberry Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spring Garden Strawberry Salad

Wow your guests with this refreshing spring salad. The Sweet Basil Vinaigrette gives it the perfect finishing touch.

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Green Peas with Crispy Bacon

Recipe: Green Peas with Crispy Bacon

The addition of mint and orange brightens this often-underrated legume, while bacon lends a smoky flavor.

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Strawberry-Pineapple Iceberg Wedges

Recipe: Strawberry-Pineapple Iceberg Wedges

If you can't find frisée in your local grocery store, feel free to substitute your favorite gourmet greens mix in this hearty salad. Look for seeded melon halves in the produce department to save a little time.

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Goat Cheese and Strawberry Grilled Cheese

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Goat Cheese and Strawberry Grilled Cheese

Make a healthier version of grilled cheese by substituting flavorful goat cheese and strawberries.

More Strawberry Recipes

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Banana Pudding

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding

These make great individual party desserts. We love it with extra wafers.

See more Sweet & Creamy Banana Pudding Recipes

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Arugula-Pear-Blue Cheese Salad

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Arugula-Pear-Blue Cheese Salad

For a more pungent flavor in this classic salad, use gorgonzola cheese.

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Balsamic Onion Stacks

Recipe: Balsamic Onion Stacks

Grilled and marinated sweet onions take this classic insalata caprese to the next level.

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Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts rule the roost in this fast weeknight meal, topped with savory Parmesan cheese slivers.

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