Easy recipes with spring veggies

With all the delicious veggies this spring, you’ll be in beach-body shape in no time! Here are a few easy recipes to try out. You might even want to experiment and put your own twist on a few of them.

Roasted asparagus

Truth is, you can roast just about any vegetable. A little olive oil, a little garlic, your favorite seasonings, and – voila – you’ve got a tasty side dish. For a touch of protein, sprinkle on some feta cheese and chopped pistachios. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 12-17 minutes. Bulkier veggies, such as cauliflower or Brussels sprouts, can roast for about 20 minutes at 425 degrees. Just check every few minutes to make sure you don’t overcook them.

Grilled artichoke

It’s a fact: Not all artichokes come in a jar. At only 60 calories, an artichoke makes a perfect side dish or snack. Plus, you’ve got to work for it: Each leaf is pulled off and eaten separately (just scrape the bottom, fleshy part with your teeth), and then you need to clean the “choke” (fuzzy stuff) before you get to the prize: the heart. In this recipe, you slice two artichokes lengthwise, remove the chokes ahead of time, and season with:

• 3 T olive oil
• 2 T lemon juice
• 1 T chopped fresh basil
• 2 cloves garlic (or 1 large)

To soften the artichokes, boil or steam them first before grilling. Grill a couple minutes on each side.

Spring vegetable risotto

Remember, we said easy. So we suggest buying a packaged risotto mix and adding a variety of spring veggies, such as trimmed asparagus spears and green beans, freshly shelled peas, and broccoli florets.

Spring salads

With so many spring veggies to choose from, you can skip the spring mix! Just toss together some vegetables (either fresh or roasted and cooled), balsamic dressing, and you’ve got yourself a satisfying salad.

Anything cauliflower

Cauliflower is your go-to veggie. Steam it and mash it up with skim milk and garlic for a quick mashed potatoes substitute. Rice it for a low-cal substitute for (you guessed it) rice. Form mashed cauliflower into patties (add eggs, flour and seasoning) and sauté for fantastic fritters.

Omelets and more

From fritters to frittata… dice your favorite spring veggies and add to an omelet or frittata. For extra protein, add grated cheese and diced ham.