10 light recipes to get you in the mood for spring
The days are longer, the weather warmer. Get lost winter, we're ready for spring and the light, fresh flavours that come with it.

Photo: Roberto Caruso
Easy Asparagus and Goat Cheese Tarts
You’re the boss of dinner with these fancy tarts. Puff pastry does all the legwork, but you still have to scoop on the goat cheese, artfully arrange the asparagus and gently lay the onion on top. So you are still doing something brag-worthy. Get the recipe: Easy Asparagus and Goat Cheese Tarts

Ham and Cheese Muffaletta
Picnics are within your grasp. Practice for the season of outdoor feasts with this multi-layer sandwich. Nestled within that doughy bread is cheese, ham, apples, crisp lettuce, green beans, mayo and mustard. It’s loaded with flavour and crunch. Get the recipe: Ham and Cheese Muffaletta

Grilled Veggie Pizza
Stack sturdy naan bread with all of your favourite seasonal veg. You can even get creative with the cheeses you use. This pizza is your oyster. Get the recipe: Grilled Veggie Pizza

Primavera Pasta Salad
Perfect as a main or a side, teeny-tiny orzo pasta is paired with seasonal veg, like broccoli, peas and red pepper, then tossed with olive oil and the perfect amount of cheese. Get the recipe: Primavera Pasta Salad

Vietnamese Roast Chicken and Salad Rolls
You won’t be met with groans when you enlist the help of the kids to fill and roll these yummy salad rolls. A rotisserie chicken from the deli helps this come together in a flash. Get the recipe: Vietnamese Roast Chicken and Salad Rolls

Cauliflower Tacos
Cumin-roasted cauliflower makes the perfect filler for these light tacos. Stuff them up with your fave toppings; we used coleslaw, feta and avocado. Get the recipe: Cauliflower Tacos

Green Pea And White Bean Soup
Psst, peas are in-season. Swirl them up with a can of navy beans and chicken broth to make this simple soup. Garnish it with a sour cream swirl and bacon bits. Get the recipe: Green Pea And White Bean Soup

Cold Sesame Soba Noodle Dish
The days are warmer and longer, and a simple cold noodle dish is exactly what’s in order. Kick this recipe up a notch by adding shrimp or leftover chicken. Get the recipe: Cold Sesame Soba Noodle Dish

Rhubarb-Strawberry Compote
Spring signals rhubarb season so stock your freezer with this oh-so-simple compote. Swirl it into oatmeal or slather it on pancakes and waffles. It’s great alongside pork chops, too. Get the recipe: Rhubarb-Strawberry Compote

Parsnip Chips
A cousin to carrots, parsnips are sweet and mild. Crisped up into chip-form they are irresistable. Get the recipe: Parsnip Chips

Read more:
6 best rhubarb recipes
11 tasty tofu recipes
9 easy noodle recipes
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Amy is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can also be found in publications like Chatelaine, Toronto Life and The Globe and Mail.
