Food traditions are fun, and finding ways to sneak gorgeous green foods into your St. Patrick’s Day menu is a great way to celebrate. But this year do yourself a favor and skip the Shamrock Shake ~ try some of these naturally vibrant green recipes instead!
I love colorful food!
Vibrant colorful recipes are my trademark and I’ll jump at any excuse to celebrate color in my kitchen. The more shades of green I can fit into my menu, the better. But I’m not so sure about those dyed bagels and muffins in the supermarkets right now. I prefer to keep it natural with the bounty of beautiful greens from Mother Nature herself.
it’s all about chlorophyll
If I had to choose only one color to have on my plate, it would definitely be green. And the green in our food comes from the natural pigments in chlorophyll (it makes the grass green, too.) It’s is a powerful antioxidant that helps our bodies fight off all kinds of nasty stuff from bacteria to cancer. Some studies link eating daily greens to a lower risk of developing dementia. Can your Shamrock Shake do all that for you?
Irish leek and potato soup
It doesn’t get more Irish than a classic leek and potato soup in a stunning shade of pastel green that’s perfect for the season. Leeks give the soup a gentle onion flavor while the potatoes make it nice and hearty. I love this with a warm slice of Irish soda bread!
simple asparagus puff pastry tart
When asparagus starts to show up in the stores, I’m always looking for ways to show it off. With store-bought puff pastry, this tart is so easy to throw together and can be served hot or room temp.
green goddess dressing
My version of this classic dressing is even more vibrantly green thanks to extra herbs. It improves just about anything from leafy greens, pasta salads, potato salads, and more.
guacamole deviled eggs
The retro deviled egg gets a modern twist with fresh guacamole folded right into the mixture. Avocados are so healthy, and when paired with the protein of hard boiled eggs, you’ve got a great combo.
homemade falafel
Beneath that crunchy golden exterior lies a heart of pure vivid green! You’ll also get garlic, with lots of warm spices like cumin and coriander, and has the perfect fluffy texture.
chive and parsley pesto
This recipe exploits the earliest spring herbs – chives and parsley – for a new take on the traditional basil pesto. It’s punchy and delicious served simply with pasta and parmesan cheese.
smokey spinach artichoke dip
I use smoked mozzarella in my version of this comfort food classic. It gives it such an amazing layer of flavor to this already crowd-pleasing dish.
Japanese cucumber salad
This healthy salad goes well with so many Asian-inspired dishes. The dressing is so delicious you could almost make a meal out of this salad alone!
green goddess soup
This nourishing soup is the cold weather equivalent to your power smoothie. It’s a vibrant soup packed with everything you need to get through cold and flu season without so much as a sniffle.
sheet pan frittata with spring greens
This recipe is a true celebration of the fresh green produce of early springtime. I love to show off what I found in the farmer’s markets or grocery stores on top of a fluffy egg frittata.
avocado and herb salad
It’s hard to believe that something so decadently silky and rich can be so healthy, but it’s true. Creamy avocados add lots of substance to this herb-forward salad tossed with capers and green onion for extra zing.
fresh basil hummus
The basil comes through with a really fresh clean flavor, and it reminds me of the huge difference between homemade and store bought hummus.
homemade pasta with fresh greens
Making homemade pasta is SO much fun, and this recipe requires no special equipment at all. Adding fresh spring greens like spinach, pea shoots, watercress, or arugula, gives it absolutely amazing color and flavor!
crunchy Chinese cole slaw
This is probably my favorite way to eat a big old bowl of crunchy green vegetables ever. The crunchy toppings and delicious dressing make eating your veggies feel like a treat!
spicy basil pesto
Serrano pepper takes the world’s freshest sauce from simple to sassy in one fell swoop ~ stir it into freshly boiled pasta, spread it over grilled fish, spoon it on a baked potato, or soak it up with a torn piece of bread, it makes all other sauces obsolete.
broccoli Stilton soup
A luxurious but easy classic British soup, traditionally made with leftover holiday Stilton. It’s a comforting weeknight meal ready in about 30 minutes ~ pair it with some crusty bread and cultured butter for a mid winter feast.
spring green risotto with peas, asparagus, and fennel
For me, this is one of those recipes I just CRAVE at the beginning of each spring. Cozy comforting risotto is still appropriate for the last cool days of winter, but the fresh seasonal peas and asparagus are so welcome this time of year!
chimichurri sauce
Fish, steak, chicken, roasted veggies, there’s nothing that homemade chimichurri sauce can’t make delicious! I particularly love it with shrimp.
simple melon salad
This Galia melon salad is a symphony in green, with accents of kiwi, basil, and Serrano pepper. Honeydew is a good substitute for the Galia melon in this unexpected salad.
cream of jalapeno soup
Fresh cilantro and lime enliven this creamy and spicy soup. It’s great starter or lunch served alongside some warm buttery cornbread.
frozen mint lemonade (limonana)
This is possibly the most refreshing drink on the planet, with herbaceous mint and tangy lemons blended together with ice.
What a great post. I’m definitely making some of these recipes! Thanks for all the inspiration.
Love you easy resipies