961 spring recipes

Velvety mushroom barley soup with a clever trick: half the barley gets pureed with sauteed mushrooms for extra body. Lightened up with skim evaporated milk and a splash of dry vermouth.

Salsa Bandera is a fresh Mexican salsa with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, cilantro, and a vinegar-lemon dressing. No cooking required, just chop, mix, and serve with chips.

Thin-sliced zucchini baked in a light custard of egg, Swiss cheese, mustard, and nutmeg. A low-calorie, diabetic-friendly side dish with just 7 simple ingredients.

To the delight of clam lovers on the East Coast and Pacific Northwest, clams are available year round. OK, let's make some clams.

Nutty brown rice and chewy wheat berries simmered together and tossed with sauteed scallions for a wholesome whole grain side dish. Just 5 ingredients and zero fuss.

Quick hot potato salad with red potatoes, scallions, and creamy ranch dressing. Toss warm spuds with ranch, dust with paprika, garnish with chives for easy summer sides.

Canadian Atlantic salmon brushed with mayo for moisture, baked or grilled, then topped with a sake-flambeed black bean and scallion sauce. East meets East Coast in this 30-minute seafood dinner.

Mock guacamole made with steamed asparagus and picante sauce instead of avocado. A low-fat, avocado-free dip with the same creamy green look and tangy flavor.

Cucumber leek sauce made from fresh juiced cucumbers, thickened with a slurry and finished with lime, white wine, dill, and a touch of butter. Light, bright, and elegant.

Grilled green onion tarts on puff pastry with swirled new potatoes, melted provolone, and crispy bacon. Individual savory tarts that combine grilling and baking for smoky, cheesy bites.

Creamy curry dip made with mayonnaise, curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped scallions. A quick no-cook party dip for fresh vegetables that improves after chilling.

Turkey mole empanadas wrapped in flaky puff pastry with cilantro and scallions. Baked golden in 10 minutes for an easy Mexican-inspired appetizer with rich, spiced filling.

Miso sauce for pasta made with yellow miso, sauteed scallions, garlic, and vegetable stock. A savory, umami-rich vegetarian pasta sauce ready in minutes with just six ingredients.

Molded borsch with diced beets set in a jewel-toned consomme gelatin ring, served cold with sour cream. A retro chilled appetizer that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Phoenix rolls wrap thin chicken breast around ham and a lemongrass-shrimp paste, dipped in cornstarch and fried golden. A Vietnamese-inspired appetizer or main dish.

Fresh cranberry salsa with jalapenos, mint, lime juice, and ginger. A tart, spicy no-cook condiment that needs 24 hours to chill and keeps for up to 4 days.