Don’t be intimidated by the new vegetables you see at the grocery store or in your CSA box this Spring. Here are 4 Spring Vegetables to try and some recipe suggestions!
Hi Friends!
Let’s talk vegetables, shall we? Specifically Spring vegetables. Spring is an exciting time of year. The weather gets warmer. You might be getting ready to plant the first seeds in your garden. Perhaps you signed up for a CSA and in a few weeks you’ll start enjoying lots of farm-fresh veggies. Or maybe you just get excited about seeing some new produce in the grocery store aisles.
Whatever the case may be, I bet there’s a few veggies out that there that you’re not sure what to do with. Here are 4 Spring Vegetables To Try and some ideas for using them! Several of these are veggies I don’t eat enough of myself. I had some fun taking pictures of them this weekend and now I’m challenging myself to eat more of them this Spring.
Asparagus
A great source of Vitamins C & K, folate and fiber, asparagus is also packed with antioxidants! It’s a fairy common spring veggie and is super verstatile. You can roast it whole, steam it, chop it an add to stirfries or shave it to add to salads or pizza! Be sure to snap off the ends and discard them before cooking the remainder of the stalks. To keep it fresh, store it standing up in a mason jar in the fridge in a little bit of water!
Not sure what to make with it? Try these recipes:
Coconut Ginger Braised Asparagus via Teaspoon of Spice
Basil Lemon Chicken Quinoa Salad via The Adventures of MJ & Hungryman
Balsamic Roasted Asparagus via The Lean Green Bean
Asparagus Egg & Bacon Salad via Skinnytaste
Bacon Wrapped Caramelized Sesame Asparagus via How Sweet Eats
Artichokes
Fun fact – Fresh artichokes are one of my favorite vegetables to look at, but I rarely eat them and I almost never cook them. When I do cook with them, they come from a jar or can, never fresh. My goal is to change that this year! They’re a great source of fiber and folate and Vitamins C and K. If you’ve never prepared fresh ones yourself, here’s a great article on How To Cook and Eat An Artichoke with step by step directions!
If you’re ready to step up your game and cook with fresh artichokes, here are some recipes to try:
Italian Stuffed Artichokes via An Avocado A Day
Crockpot Artichokes via Family Fresh Meals
Grilled Artichokes via Proud Italian Cook
Stuffed Artichokes via Eatin On The Cheap
Braised Chicken with Artichokes via Feasting At Home
Snap Peas
Peas are one of my favorite veggies but I admittedly often forget to use them. I almost always have a bag of frozen green peas in the freezer to add to things like casseroles, but I especially love spring when snap peas are in season. Such a great, crunchy snack!
I usually just eat mine plain but here are some recipes you could use them in:
Roasted Sugar Snap Peas with Sesame Dipping Sauce via Edible Perspective
Sugar Snap Peas and Carrot Soba Noodles via Cookie and Kate
Confetti Quinoa with Snap Peas via Cooking Treaty
Sugar Snap Pea Slaw via Better Homes & Gardens
Minty Grilled Snap Peas via The Wimpy Vegetarian
Radishes
Pretty much the only memory I have of radishes is that my dad used to eat them when I was growing up. My mom would always have some floating in a bowl of water in the fridge for him to munch on. But yet again, here I am almost 30 years old and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve eaten radishes. But I’m already taking strides to change that! After I took the above photo, I cut up this bunch of beautiful radishes. I added some to my tuna salad and sliced some to use to scoop up my Greek Hummus Plate! I’m loving their crunchy, peppery flavor!
Here are some other ways you can enjoy them:
Ginger Carrot Radish Salad via Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Cinnamon & Sugar Radish Chips via Pinch of Yum
Taco Pickles via Eva Kolenko Photography
Bacon Radish Salad via Nellie Bellie
Radish Avocado Salad via Best Recipe Box
Like these recipe ideas? Pin the image above to remind you to make them later!
[Tweet “Spring veggies are coming! Here are 4 to try, plus recipe ideas, from @Leangrnbeanblog!”]
Let’s chat:
What’s your favorite spring veggie?
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola says
Oh gosh, I had an *awful* experience trying to cook artichokes when I was in my early 20s. I had no idea what I was doing, I stabbed myself a bunch and the dish wasn’t even good. That was back before google was popular, of course. I have never touched a fresh artichoke since then 🙂
Janelle @ Wholly Healthy says
I’m the same with artichokes – I’ve always bought the hearts but never a full artichoke. I’ve been meaning to try cooking with them, so this spring will be the perfect time!
Hollie says
Asparagus and Artichokes are my absolute favorite vegetables. I’m glad they are coming back into season!
Taca @ A Side Of Dessert says
These are some of my favourite veggies! I absolutely cannot get enough of artichokes!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
I love artichokes but cooking one that’s not in a jar scares me. Seriously I have no idea how or where to begin with it.
lindsay Cotter says
oh man, i gotta try those taco pickles! genius! and yes, i love artichoke
Dietitian Jess says
I’m with you on the artichokes, I’ve always eaten them from a jar also- great challenge for the spring, pinning some of these recipes now!!
Kris says
Thanks for posting this – I’ve always been very intimidated to use radishes, hopefully this gives me the confidence to go for it! 🙂
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
Love this! I cooked with artichoke for the first time a few weeks ago, but I really need to try snap peas!
Joanna @Makingmine says
I think artichokes are the prettiest vegetables, but I have no clue how to use them – thanks for the ideas!
Jennifer FIsher says
Love all of these, especially the snap peas!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
i LOVE snap peas!!! raw or cooked!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
I love peas and radishes! Yum!
Courtney Bentley says
I LOVE Radishes because I can make radish chips with cinnamon and coconut which is the BEST snack ever!! More veggies and TASTY too 🙂 I love CSA boxes, we used to have them here in Bangkok but it didn’t work well I guess because they closed down 🙁 Thanks for sharing xo C
Rachel {the avid appetite} says
love this round up! asparagus is definitely my favorite vegetable. i’ve never cooked with fresh asparagus or radishes, but you are inspiring me to change that!
Deanna Segrave-Daly says
Thanks for the asparagus recipe include (loving those photos!) I never know what to do with radishes (love the chips idea) and I need to cook more with artichokes – they are so good but always a bit intimidating to me 🙂
She Rocks Fitness says
I don’t know why but I am totally intimidated by radishes…I think I’m afraid they’re going to upset my stomach. I will branch out and give them a try! 🙂
Alysia @ Slim Sanity says
I like radishes, but don’t buy them often enough! I’ve sauteed them for salad before – so good!
Stephanie @ My Freckled Life says
Love this!! Asparagus and Artichokes are 2 of my favorite veggies, but I’ll admit that I’ve never actually had a radish in my whole life! Apparently I need to be a little bit more brave and test them out!
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says
I bought an artichoke last year and then I never made it and had to throw it away. Maybe this year I will actually be able to make it!
Lindsay says
be brave!! 🙂
Therese says
amazing post! I am so interested and amazed by the artichoke! I have never tried a fresh artichoke as it’s not common in the shops here- I would love to try it one day though!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
I will be having grilled asparagus as a side to my dinner tonight! 🙂
Jody - Fit at 57 says
OK, I must check out all the recipes!!!!!!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Thank you for this!! I never know what to do with all the radishes I get in my CSA box.
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona says
One of my jobs requires me to help my boss at farmer’s markets over the summer. I almost always pick up some snap peas when I’m there – they’re so sweet!
Lindsay says
so good! i can’t stop snacking on them!
Kristen says
I love asparagus, artichoke and snap peas! I’m like you in that my artichoke is almost always from a can, so thanks for the link on how to cook’m fresh! Looking forward to giving it a try.
Lindsay says
hope you like them!
Sarah @ RunningChickago.com says
Thanks for the post! I feel like I tend to go towards the same veggies at the grocery store.
My favorite spring veggie is asparagus! Had it for dinner last night – so delish 🙂
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
I can’t wait for asparagus! My boyfriend’s family has a farm and I saw asparagus being grown for the first time last year. It’s like giant grass stalks!