Spring: Recipes in Season : Candied Sweet Potatoes, Asparagi alla Parmigiana, etc.

Arni me Patates sto Fourno

(Greek roast lamb with potatoes)

A whole spit-roasted lamb is the classic Easter feast for most Greeks. But this recipe for roast leg of lamb with potatoes is popular too. It is just as tasty, yet simpler to prepare and more suitable for smaller gatherings. The variation with artichokes makes the dish a full meal. Read more »

Agua Fresca

(Mexican fresh fruit beverage)

Aguas frescas are fresh fruit drinks that are very popular all over Mexico. These refreshing beverages are typically served from large barrel-shaped glass containers. Some of the more traditional varieties are watermelon, cantaloupe and strawberry.Read more »

Anginares à la Polita

(Greek artichoke hearts and potatoes with dill)

Anginares à la polita means "artichokes city-style." The city in this case is Constantinople, now Istanbul. This wonderful dish is a harbinger of spring and makes good use of artichokes, of one of the first spring vegetables in the market after a long winter.Read more »

Asparagi alla Parmigiana

(Italian asparagus gratin)

Roasting is an excellent way to prepare asparagus. This simple dish with a tasty Parmesan crust is a snap to throw together. Asparagi alla parmigiana is a springtime favorite in northern Italy. Read more »

Bärkräm

(Swedish berry cream dessert)

Enjoy this spring and summer dessert, so refreshing in its simplicity. Bärkräm is a creamy berry pudding from Sweden that can be made with blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, or any berries in season. Read more »

Candied Sweet Potatoes

(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)

Also called sweet potato casserole, candied sweet potatoes are a favorite dish in many American households at Thanksgiving and Easter, especially children. They are an extra treat when a layer of marshmallows is baked and browned on top. At Easter, chick- or rabbit-shaped and colored marshmallows called "Peeps" are sometimes used.Read more »

Clafouti

(French cherry flan)

This sweet cherry flan originated in the Limousin region of France and is often served as a breakfast dish. Clafouti is classically made with fresh cherries in early summer, but you can substitute all kinds of seasonal fruits. Cherry clafouti is traditionally made without first pitting the cherries. Read more »

Corned Beef and Cabbage

(Irish-American braised brisket with vegetables)

Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patricks Day dish for Irish Americans, but not for the Irish themselves. The meal became popular with immigrants from Ireland in the 19th century. The word "corned" comes from the Old English for "grain" or "pellets," and pellets of salt were originally used to cure the beef for this dish.Read more »

Ga Xao Sa

(Vietnamese lemongrass chicken)

Ga xao sa, or lemongrass chicken, is one of the better known Vietnamese dishes, often on the menu of Vietnamese restaurants. It is a wonderfully light, refreshing and easy chicken recipe, with all of the bright flavors of that Southeast Asian nation.Read more »

Gefüllte Eier

(German deviled, stuffed eggs appetizer)

Stuffed eggs are easy to throw together, and they make great finger food at family get-togethers, parties and celebrations. You can make them up ahead, giving you plenty of time to tend to other duties. They also make a simple yet elegant supper or brunch when paired with a side salad. Gefüllte Eier are also a tasty way to use up leftover Easter eggs. Read more »

Habas con Chorizo

(Spanish fava beans simmered with spicy sausage)

Simple and straightforward, this dish of fresh fava beans simmered with chorizo makes a whole meal if you pair it with a few slices of crusty bread. Try substituting serrano ham for the chorizo, or experiment with different seasonings according to what you have on hand. Read more »

Hamantaschen

(Israeli Jewish filled tricorner Purim pastries)

Purim is a spring holiday on the Jewish calendar commemorating Queen Esther's rescue of Persian Jews from mass slaughter at the hands of the evil Haman. Ashkenazi Jews traditionally celebrated the two-day holiday with mohntaschen, "poppyseed pockets," a simple pastry sweet. Over time this three-cornered confection took on the name of the nemesis in the Torah story. The three sides are said to represent the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Read more »

Irish Stew

(Irish lamb and potato stew)

Even though this dish — known as ballymaloe, orstobhach gaelach in the Irish language — started out as a meal for hard times, its delicious flavor belies its humble origins. In the old days, this hearty stew was made with simple mutton neck bones and meat scraps for flavor. Sometimes actual mutton or young goat meat was used. In the last few decades it has become much more common to use milder flavored lamb. Read more »