18 Must-Try Spring Recipes That Keep It Light & Bright

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Spring has sprung, and so has your appetite for fresh, vibrant flavors! Start with a zesty Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette or a crisp Greek Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta—because leafy greens deserve a little flair. For something bold, the Jerk Cauliflower Tacos with Mango Hot Sauce will wake up your taste buds in the best way. Brunch lovers, rejoice! Buckwheat Pancakes and Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Soufflé are here to brighten your mornings. And of course, no spring feast is complete without something sweet—Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins or Brown Butter Pound Cake with Strawberry Compote will have you clearing room for dessert. Lighter, brighter, and packed with flavor—spring eating just got a whole lot tastier!

Jerk Cauliflower Tacos with Mango Hot Sauce

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A hand holding a taco filled with black beans, cheese, avocado, red onion, cilantro, and mango, garnished with fresh veggies.
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

Jerk Cauliflower Tacos with Mango Hot Sauce pack a fiery, tropical punch—bold Jamaican spice meets sweet-heat mango habanero for a vegan meal that feels like a fiesta!
Get the Recipe: Jerk Cauliflower Tacos with Mango Hot Sauce

Buckwheat Pancakes

Stack of fluffy pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and dripping with strawberry syrup, set against a light background.
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

Buckwheat Pancakes make mornings better—light, fluffy, and naturally nutty, they’re the perfect canvas for maple syrup or your favorite toppings!
Get the Recipe: Buckwheat Pancakes

Marinated Fresh Fig And Mozzarella Salad

A vibrant salad featuring sliced figs, prosciutto, and fresh arugula drizzled with a light dressing, served on a white platter.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Marinated Fresh Fig and Mozzarella Salad is peak summer flavor—sweet figs, creamy mozzarella, and zesty marinade, no oven required!

To learn more: Marinated Fresh Fig And Mozzarella Salad

Kale Caesar Salad

A fresh salad with kale, romaine, green apples, crunchy chickpeas, croutons, and shavings of Parmesan cheese, drizzled with dressing.
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

Kale Caesar Salad reinvents the classic—tender greens, garlicky crunch, and a creamy homemade dressing, with endless ways to make it your own!
Get the Recipe: Kale Caesar Salad

Hearty Penna Dutch Potato Salad

Creamy potato salad mixed with herbs, topped with black pepper, served in an ornate dish alongside cherry tomatoes.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Penna Dutch Potato Salad serves up Amish comfort with a tangy, creamy bite—its warm dressing and perfect crunch make it simply unforgettable!

To learn more: Hearty Penna Dutch Potato Salad

Almond Butter Cookies

Aromatic peanut butter cookies, lightly sprinkled with salt, arranged on a marble surface, showcasing their textured tops.
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

Almond Butter Cookies are effortlessly delicious—wholesome, rich, and tender, proving that simple ingredients make the best treats!
Get the Recipe: Almond Butter Cookies

Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

A vibrant salad featuring cherry tomatoes, blackberries, fresh basil, and mixed greens, topped with a sprinkle of cheese.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Strawberry Blueberry Salad is a vibrant mix of crisp greens, sweet berries, and creamy mozzarella—light, refreshing, and perfect for warm-weather dining!

To learn more: Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Okonomiyaki

A plate of okonomiyaki topped with green onions, seaweed, and drizzles of mayonnaise and sauce, served with chopsticks.
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

Okonomiyaki delivers Japanese street food vibes at home—savory, cabbage-packed pancakes loaded with flavor and your favorite toppings for a fun, satisfying meal!
Get the Recipe: Okonomiyaki

Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Souffle Recipe

A bowl of creamy polenta topped with wilted greens and feta cheese, served alongside two poached eggs.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Soufflé rises to the occasion—light, velvety, and packed with savory goodness, perfect for any breakfast spread!

To learn more: Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Souffle Recipe

Berry Spinach Salad

A colorful salad featuring spinach, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, red onion, pecans, and crumbled feta cheese.
Photo credit: Downshiftology

Berry Spinach Salad is a fresh, vibrant mix—juicy berries, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy pecans, all tied together with a tangy raspberry vinaigrette!
Get the Recipe: Berry Spinach Salad

A Classic Strawberry Panna Cotta Recipe

A vibrant pink gelatin dessert surrounded by fresh strawberries and blackberries on a decorative glass plate.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Strawberry Panna Cotta showcases spring’s sweetest berries—creamy, delicate, and effortlessly elegant for brunch or a stunning holiday dessert!

To learn more: A Classic Strawberry Panna Cotta Recipe

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Four almond-topped muffins on a cooling rack, with almond slices scattered around, showcasing a golden brown color and fluffy texture.
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins strike the perfect balance—bright, nutty, and irresistibly moist, thanks to almonds and yogurt. A must-have for breakfast or snacking!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Cream Puffs with Jasmine Custard

Plate of cream-filled pastries topped with shiny chocolate glaze, showcasing a golden-brown hollow texture.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Cream Puffs with Jasmine Custard are pure indulgence—delicate choux pastry bursting with silky, floral-kissed custard for an elegant, unforgettable treat!

To learn more: Cream Puffs with Jasmine Custard

Brown Butter Pound Cake with Strawberry Compote

Sliced homemade bread topped with vibrant strawberry jam, alongside a fresh strawberry and a spoon on parchment paper.
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Brown Butter Pound Cake with Strawberry Compote is pure decadence—rich, nutty cake meets vibrant, fresh berries for a dessert that shines at any gathering!
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Pound Cake with Strawberry Compote

Simple Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce Recipe

A serving of fluffy cake topped with sweet, glossy strawberry sauce and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on a white plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Simple Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce adds a sweet-tart twist—lusciously jammy and just right for spooning over cake, ice cream, or anything that needs a flavor boost!

To learn more: Simple Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce Recipe

Strawberry Arugula Salad

A vibrant salad featuring fresh arugula, strawberries, candied pecans, and sesame seeds in a white bowl on a pink background.
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

Strawberry Arugula Salad is summer on a plate—peppery greens, juicy berries, and crunchy pecans, all tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette for a refreshing bite!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Arugula Salad

Grapefruit Brûlée with Yogurt and Blueberry Sauce

Baked fruit topped with whipped cream and dark berry sauce, served in a white dish alongside silver spoons.
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

Grapefruit Brûlée with Yogurt and Blueberry Sauce is a bright, refreshing start—caramelized citrus, creamy yogurt, and sweet berry sauce for a perfectly balanced bite!
Get the Recipe: Grapefruit Brûlée with Yogurt and Blueberry Sauce

Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe with Marinated Feta

A colorful salad with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta cheese, served on a wooden platter.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Greek Cucumber Salad is refreshingly crisp and bursting with flavor—cool cucumbers, tangy dressing, and a dish so good, you’ll keep coming back for more!

To learn more: Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe with Marinated Feta

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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