Fast and Fresh Spring Dinners

Go green with three superfood veggies—collard greens, asparagus, and peas. It's delicious as a meat-free meal, but if you like, add some ham for extra flavor and protein.

Baking halibut with lemon, thyme and fennel in a parchment parcel yields effortlessly perfect texture and flavor. And as a fringe benefit, you get to open dinner like a present.

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Keep it simple. Roast your entire dinner in one pan, then clear a little space in the corner of the pan to mix up a simple dressing.

Brothy rice with mushrooms, tender asparagus, chives and Parmesan make this risotto truly luxurious. Be sure to sop up leftover sauce with a chunk of crusty bread.

Related: Asparagus Recipes to Brighten Your Meals

Thickened with a little potato and flavored with leeks, shallot, white wine and the faintly anise-y herb tarragon, this sleeper hit of a soup is subtle, springy and unexpectedly special.

Made with a tube of crescent roll dough, herby cream cheese and fresh vegetables, this is a fancied-up version of a classic Midwest party app. Cut it into slim wedges for a crowd, or try it as an easy dinner that won't weigh you down.

Satisfy sweet and salty lovers alike with this kicky bacon-topped quiche. It's one of the signature recipes at Maya-Camille Broussard's Chicago bakery, Justice of the Pies.

Related: Quiche Recipes For Any Meal

In addition to slathering the bird in butter, herbs, shallots and lemon zest, you'll stuff a lemon and a bunch of thyme in the cavity. The result? Bronzed skin and huge flavor.

Related: Favorite Chicken Recipes

Sit down on a weeknight to a bowl of hearty whole-grain farro, seared salmon, and fresh spinach, cucumber and radish. The carrot-flecked dressing riffs off one that's a standby at Japanese restaurants.

Related: 20 Great Salmon Recipes

This simple, fresh frittata recipe is ideal for a make-ahead brunch, though it can also be served as a healthy lunch or dinner. Serve it at room temperature so the salad on top won't wilt (and the cooking is complete before the guests come knocking).

Related: Easy Frittata Recipes 

Cream cheese, mango, prosciutto and honey star in this easy toast recipe. Whip it up for a quick work-from-home lunch or light dinner. 

Trade flavorful boneless thighs for breasts in this twist on a beloved Japanese comfort food, and you'll have super crispy, juicy chicken to serve over a bed of rice with sweet-and-savory mango sauce. 

Related: Fresh Recipe Ideas for Chicken

Classic chorizo-potato tacos get a nutrition boost from hearty chopped collard greens in this weeknight-easy recipe.

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Our shortcut chilaquiles use corn chips to avoid frying tortillas. The sauce is a quick puree of canned fire-roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic and chipotle peppers. Serve with fried eggs, quick-pickled radishes, and an appetite for adventure.

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This comforting, spiced soup will warm you up on those chilly spring evenings. Our recipe echoes pho (pronounced "fuh") but has a shorter simmer time thanks to boxed broth and flank steak.

Wisconsin blogger Erin Clarke gives cauliflower "steaks" the chicken Parm treatment in her book, The Well Plated Cookbook.

Related: Creative Cauliflower Recipes

Since no one wants the soggy middle piece of a square tart, we cut a sheet of puff pastry in half to make two small ones: crisp edges for everyone! Eat as a meal with a salad or slice into petite wedges for a grab-and-go party app.

Related: Try Our Carrot Fritters with Tahini-Lemon Yogurt

Inspired by Nebraska's Runzas and Michigan's pasties, these pocket pies hold beef, sausage, onion, and shredded greens. The crust is like a buttery, flaky Cheez-It, but pastry-phobes can use purchased pie crust and add cheddar to the filling.

Collard greens take the place of rice paper wraps for heartier and more nutritious spring rolls.

Related: 17 Delicious Sandwich Wrap Recipes for Super-Easy Meals

Italian salsa verde—no relation to the Mexican one—is a classic herb sauce made with parsley, garlic and capers. Our version includes carrot tops, too. The bold, tangy flavor is a perfect match for steak (or any protein or roasted vegetable).

Related: Good-For-You Carrot Recipes

This lightly sweet potato salad is a great way to use up leftover Easter ham.

Wisconsin blogger Alice Choi (Hip Foodie Mom) says this weeknight-easy recipe is the perfect gateway into cooking Korean at home. All the ingredients can be found at a large urban supermarket, or at Asian grocery stores.

These garlicky, lemony shrimp come together in just 15 minutes for a speedy weeknight dinner. Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the luscious butter sauce. 

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Toss linguini with a rich sauce of morels, ramps (or leeks), peas, ham and cream. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, if you like. Can't find morels? Substitute the same amount of stemmed shiitake, cremini and/or button mushrooms in the recipe. Or check online for dried morels.

Brushed with mustard and coated with garlicky breadcrumbs, these petite chops are a quick alternative to a classic leg of lamb. The recipe comes from Michigan chef Andy Schudlich.

This recipe for a classic pasta carbonara comes from the cookbook Michael Symon's 5 in 5 ($19.99), a fantastic source for weeknight dinner ideas. Plan to prep the ingredients (grate cheese, chop parsley) before you begin.

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Lean and tender steaks crown a bright, lemony salad made with asparagus, peas and couscous. The recipe comes from chef Michael Ollier of Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio. He calls for generous 8-ounce steaks; for budget or dietary reasons, you may want to use a more modest 4-ounce steak. Just reduce the grilling time accordingly.

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Marinated chicken, sweet onion, mushrooms, snap peas and feta top an oiled crust in this recipe from the Stone Barn in Nelson, Wisconsin. 

Related: 20 Recipes for Mushroom Lovers

Chicken, potatoes and veggies cook together for a nutritious dinner that's missing only one ingredient—a bottle of white wine.

Lemon, basil and olive oil form a pestolike sauce to complement the linguine and kidney beans. From start to finish, this five-ingredient dinner takes only 25 minutes.