🌱 Hello March: Embrace the Season with Fresh Produce & Lively Recipes 🌞
Thank goodness March has arrived! After a lengthy winter filled with snow days and sniffles, the arrival of March feels like a breath of fresh air. The days are stretching longer, birds are chirping again, and the golden spring sunshine is starting to warm our homes—especially in the kitchen, where the enchantment of seasonal cooking commences.
As the initial signs of spring appear, so too do the fresh fruits and vegetables we’ve been yearning for all winter long. March signifies the return of crunchy asparagus, tender greens, and juicy citrus fruits, making it the ideal moment to revitalize your meal plans with lively, nutrient-rich dishes.
Let’s explore some of the finest seasonal produce that March has to offer, along with delectable, wholesome recipes that emphasize their natural flavors.
🥬 March’s Seasonal Highlights & Must-Try Recipes
1. Asparagus
One of the earliest vegetables to emerge in spring, asparagus is tender, grassy, and exquisite for stir-fries, pastas, and curries.
Try This: Thai Green Curry with Spring Vegetables
This aromatic curry celebrates spring produce, featuring asparagus, carrots, and peas in a rich, flavorful green curry sauce. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and surpasses takeout—just ask Ashley, who called it “the best green curry I have ever had.”
2. Avocado
Creamy, adaptable, and loaded with healthy fats, avocados are essential for quick meals and snacks.
Try This: Avocado Toast (Plus Tips & Variations)
Whether you prefer it simple or adorned with poached eggs, tomatoes, or balsamic drizzle, avocado toast is a go-to breakfast or lunch. Tracy suggests adding chili flakes and poached eggs for a spicy, protein-packed twist.
3. Broccoli
This cruciferous vegetable is at its peak and perfect for roasting, sautéing, or incorporating into salads.
Try This: Greek Broccoli Salad
A fresh, zesty salad with feta, red onion, and a vibrant dressing. Anna brought it to a potluck and said it was a hit—easy to make and bursting with flavor.
4. Brussels Sprouts
Roasted or sautéed, Brussels sprouts are a cold-weather favorite that transition beautifully into early spring meals.
Try This: Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Baked Tofu with Honey-Sesame Glaze
This sweet and savory dish is a hit even among picky eaters. Tali’s daughter, who typically questions vegan meals, gave it a thumbs up!
5. Cabbage
Crunchy and colorful, cabbage is perfect for slaws, stir-fries, and soups.
Try This: Hot Pink Coconut Slaw
Vibrant, tangy, and slightly sweet, this slaw is a visual and flavorful delight. Amanda’s 3-year-old even said it was “num, num!”
6. Cauliflower
With its mild flavor, cauliflower serves as a great base for bold sauces and seasonings.
Try This: Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables
This comforting pasta bake features roasted cauliflower and other veggies, all drenched in savory tomato sauce. Diane loved how the cauliflower absorbed all the flavors.
7. Citrus Fruits
Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are still in season, bringing brightness to salads, dressings, and desserts.
Try This: Vibrant Orange & Arugula Salad
This salad is as stunning as it is delicious. Lily presented it at a dinner gathering using a mix of cara cara, navel, and blood oranges. The outcome? A striking, refreshing dish that impressed her guests.
8. Greens (Arugula, Spinach)
Tender spring greens are ideal for salads, grain bowls, and smoothies.
Try This: Lemony Roasted Broccoli, Arugula & Lentil Salad
This hearty salad is loaded with fiber and protein, making it a fulfilling lunch or light dinner.
9. Mushrooms
Earthy and umami-rich, mushrooms bring depth to soups, pastas, and stir-fries.
Try This: Vegetarian Pho
This soothing Vietnamese-inspired soup is teeming with flavor and aroma. Emily enjoys how it fills her home with delightful scents—and it’s vegan-friendly too!
10. Peas
Sweet, tender peas are a springtime favorite, perfect for pastas and risottos.
Try This: Spring Pea and Asparagus Pasta
This light pasta dish is overflowing with green goodness. Loni loved the bright lemon flavor and learned the difference between scallions and shallots in the process!
11. Radishes
Crunchy and peppery, radishes provide crunch and color to salads and sandwiches.
Try This: Fresh Herbed Avocado Salad
This refreshing salad combines creamy avocado with crisp radishes and a tangy dressing. Jen T. noted that even her avocado-