What Are The Best Spring Meals?
The first few weeks of spring are a time to kick off the new season with fresh, vibrant foods. Whether you’re looking for quick and easy dinners or a full-blown family feast, these spring meals are sure to impress!
Orange Chicken
Orange chicken is a staple at many Chinese restaurants. It is made with a delicious sweet and tangy sauce that is a great meal prep option. It is easy to make at home and tastes just as good as take out! Plus, you can save money and avoid the sodium. This recipe uses boneless skinless chicken thighs which are cheaper than breasts and stay juicy. They’re also the perfect size to serve with fried rice or fluffy white rice. You’ll want to be sure that the chicken pieces are soaked in cold water to remove any excess moisture before frying. Otherwise, they’ll steam instead of fry!
Chowder
Chowder is a seafood stew made by boiling fish chunks and vegetables in a stock pot. It originated in seafaring communities, where fishermen would throw fish samples into a large cauldron, then boil them with potatoes and other ingredients. Chefs use a mix of spices, including bay leaf, cayenne, thyme, and garlic, to flavor this creamy New England clam chowder. Cream and a small amount of flour thicken the soup. For a lightened take on this classic, television chef Carla Hall uses a can of creamed corn to add sweet corn flavor and to thicken the soup without using too much cream or flour. She also adds a tablespoon of anise-flavored liqueur, which gives this chowder an extra depth of flavor. Serve this delicious soup with a loaf of crusty bread and a simple green salad. Oyster crackers are also a good choice for topping your bowls of chowder.
Green Bean Pasta
Green bean pasta is a simple, healthy pasta dish that can be enjoyed all year round. The recipe is easy to make and it’s a great way to get kids to eat their greens! The pasta and beans are cooked together so that they are tender and have time to absorb the flavor of the tomato sauce. It is a traditional dish from Puglia and it is a perfect light meal for spring and summer. You can use any pasta shape for this recipe, but you may want to adjust the cooking time when adding the green beans. Try to choose short pasta like penne, ribbons or rigatoni. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti according to package directions, adding green beans during last two minutes of cooking time; drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water. Rinse spaghetti and green beans thoroughly; place in a large bowl; toss with thyme, lemon zest, and oil.
Sheet Pan Steak
Sheet pan steak is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love. It’s also super easy to clean up thanks to one-pan cooking! This is a great recipe to add to your spring meal prep plan. You can make it with a variety of vegetables and a few different cuts of steak, including flank steak and skirt steak. A side of roasted potatoes and green beans round out this meal. Parboil them first if you prefer them faster and don’t want to wait for them to cook in the oven (the time will depend on how thick your potatoes and green beans are). This sheet pan steak is a great meal to serve when you are entertaining a large group or need a fast and easy weeknight meal. Aside from being super delicious and flavorful, it’s also low carb and Whole30 compliant!