THE BEST ITALIAN SPRING RECIPES (2024)

Springtime cooking and eating feels extra special with bright, clean flavors and plenty of in-season vegetables. There are so many delicious recipes you’ll want to try before summer rolls around. These recipes feature some of our favorite green veggies (hello, sweet peas!), crisp textures and bold toppings to help you celebrate the new season in the best way possible… with the best Italian sping recipes!

Recipe: Three Greens Orecchiette with Pesto

Springtime eating is all about the greens! This green pasta dish combines sweet peas, broccoli rabe, chopped green onions and our beloved basil pesto for a tasty sauté that’s perfect for springtime cooking.

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Recipe: Spring Green Goddess Pizza

This pizza by Broma Bakery has everything you want in a spring pie. Start with a base of our traditional basil pesto, add thinly sliced zucchini and mozzarella and bake it until it’s a crispy, cheesy masterpiece. Then, add sweet and clean spring flavors from fresh watercress and crunchy snap peas.

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Fresh citrus, sweet peas and baby spinach perfectly complement lush potato gnocchi in this hearty, flavorful meal. Bonus: This dish is simple to prepare and so delicious you’ll put it in your regular rotation.

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Pizza flatbread is a perfect happy hour snack or a fun weekend dinner. We transformed a simple flatbread into an explosion of Greek-inspired flavors with hummus, our Greek Feta Salad antipasto and fresh spring greens.

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Recipe: Mushroom and Asparagus Grain Bowl

With Italian orzo, crunchy asparagus and silky sautéed mushrooms, this grain bowl is bursting with flavor and texture. It’s perfect for a healthy lunch or light dinner, so add it to your menu this spring!

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Recipe: Asparagus Cacio E Pepe

In our opinion, asparagus is one of the best parts about spring. This crisp, earthy veggie comes into season in late March, making this the ideal time for a greener take on Cacio E Pepe. Asparagus adds the perfect amount of crunch and flavor to this popular classic—not to mention an extra dose of nutrients.

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Recipe: Niçoise Salad

A classic Niçoise salad is best made in the spring when gardens are bursting with fresh greens. Start with a base of salad greens, add crisp-tender veggies, hardboiled eggs and delicious Niçoise olives for a fresh and filling dinner salad.

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Recipe: Pesto Asparagus Noodles

We turn versatile asparagus into the base of this “pasta” dish for a lighter take on noodles. Top thin tendrils of asparagus with crumbled bacon and fresh ground pepper for a bold dinner or side dish.

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Recipe: Spring Mushroom Ramen Noodle Bowl with Asparagus

Loaded with asparagus, dandelion greens and earthy-sweet mushrooms, this weeknight-ready ramen recipe is one to keep.

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Recipe: Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Butter

This simple side dish of grilled fresh asparagus topped with balsamic butter is a triple threat: It’s fresh, healthy and incredibly delicious. Asparagus is a great stalky green for this homemade balsamic butter, but try other veggies, too: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots… every vegetable will shine in this recipe!

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Recipe: Squash Blossom Pizza with Burrata

Squash blossoms are only available for a short time in late spring, so don’t miss the chance to make this to-die-for pizza! Top your pie with these beauties along with a healthy dose of burrata for the most gorgeous slice you’ve ever made.

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Recipe: Capellini Pasta with Tuna and Garlic Oil Sauce

Keep it quick, easy and insanely delicious with this satisfying weeknight tuna pasta. Canned tuna, capers and crushed red pepper add loads of flavor without much effort. Dinner’s ready in less than 30 minutes!

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Recipe: Shells with Broccoli

This classic pasta dish comes together in a pinch for a delicious Italian meal on the fly. We combine tender broccoli with anchovy, garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes to create a hearty, flavorful sauce. The end result tastes so good you won’t believe it only takes a few minutes to prepare!

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Recipe: Orzo, Chicken, Chickpeas and Avocado Grain Bowl

This fresh and healthy grain bowl is a protein powerhouse thanks to shredded chicken, roasted chickpeas and toasted pine nuts. Add in crunchy fresh cucumbers and chewy orzo pasta for a burst of textures and flavors.

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Pesto for breakfast? Yes, please! These easy vegetarian breakfast burritos are filled with soft-scrambled eggs, cheese, roasted broccoli, mushrooms, potatoes and a drizzle of pesto for bold flavor.

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THE BEST ITALIAN SPRING RECIPES (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic Italian dish? ›

A land rich in art, history, Italy is alsoworld-renowned for its extraordinary culinary charm. Food derived from Italy offers recipes known and loved around the world for their uniqueness and flavor. Who doesn't love classic Italian dishes such as spaghetti, risotto, tiramisu, and pizza?

What is just enough in Italian cooking? ›

It usually consists of carrots, onions, and celery that is cooked in olive oil on low for a good deal of time. Quanto Basta: This phrase roughly translates to “just enough.” It is used to describe how much of an ingredient should be added. It is essentially the Italian version of “to taste.”

What is the number 1 food in Italy? ›

Number one on our list of the best traditional foods in Italy has to be pizza. Everyone knows what pizza is, it needs no introduction, but what you probably know as pizza isn't quite the same as in Italy.

What's the hardest Italian dish to make? ›

Challenging
  • Cacio e pepe 'en vessie' ...
  • 'Prints' – chocolate and coffee dessert. ...
  • Shapes, tastes and textures of chocolate. ...
  • Pineapple ravioli with ricotta and coffee caviar. ...
  • Tuna, tomato and frisella. ...
  • Braised octopus with sour cherries, sour cream and rosemary smoke. ...
  • Strawberries and violets.

What is the most sold food in Italy? ›

Pizza, considered the most important dish in Italy, plays a big role in the country's cuisine, even though it is known as fast food in the world. The most frequently preferred pizza recipe in Italy is Margarita, and it is consumed all over the world with its light structure and taste that appeals to every taste.

What is the national dish of Italy? ›

Commonly known around the world as spaghetti bolognese, in its authentic form 'Ragu alla Bolognese' is recognised as the national dish of Italy.

What is the oldest Italian dish? ›

Testaroli is an ancient pasta that originated from the Etruscan civilization, a civilization of ancient Italy. The book Rustico: Regional Italian Country Cooking states that testaroli is "a direct descendant of the porridges of the Neolithic age that were poured over hot stones to cook".

What should you say to everyone before you start to eat in Italian? ›

Wait for the “Buon appetito!

What is something Italians always say? ›

Formal and informal translation of daily Italian phrases
ENGLISH PHRASEFORMAL ITALIANINFORMAL ITALIAN
Hello / Good morningBuongiornoCiao
Hello / Good eveningBuonaseraCiao
Excuse meScusaScusi
How can I help you?Mi dicaDimmi

What are 3 famous Italian dishes? ›

  • Pizza. Kicking things off with the big daddy of Italian cuisine, forget anything you once thought about pizza: here in Italy, pizza making is a form of art. ...
  • Pasta. ...
  • Risotto. ...
  • Polenta and cured meats. ...
  • Seafood. ...
  • Gelato and Dolce. ...
  • Coffee and famous tipples.

What are the top five Italian dishes? ›

Top 10 Most Iconic Foods to Eat in Italy
  • Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Standing tall at the first position in the list of Italian foods that you must try is Spaghetti alla Carbonara. ...
  • Napoletana Pizza. ...
  • Risotto. ...
  • Fiorentina Steak. ...
  • Polenta. ...
  • Truffles. ...
  • Lasagne. ...
  • Gelato.
Aug 21, 2021

What vegetables do Italians eat for dinner? ›

  • Whatever is seasonal. ...
  • Asparagus (carbonara with asparagus)
  • Chard (tortelli stuffed with ricotta, cheese, and chard)
  • Artichokes (penne with artichokes and pancetta)
  • Spring onions (spaghettoni with spring onions and chilli)
  • Green beans (trofie with pesto, potatoes and green beans)
Mar 30, 2021

What are 3 major food dishes in Italy? ›

  • Pizza. Kicking things off with the big daddy of Italian cuisine, forget anything you once thought about pizza: here in Italy, pizza making is a form of art. ...
  • Pasta. ...
  • Risotto. ...
  • Polenta and cured meats. ...
  • Seafood. ...
  • Gelato and Dolce. ...
  • Coffee and famous tipples.

What is the quintessential dish of Italy? ›

National Dish: Risotto - Creamy rice dish often flavored with ingredients like saffron, mushrooms, or seafood. Popular Dishes: Ossobuco (braised veal shanks), Polenta (cornmeal porridge), Gorgonzola cheese, and Milanese-style dishes like Cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded and fried veal cutlet).

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