Cooking Techniques How To 12 Recipes for the Ultimate Spring Dinner Party By Maria Yagoda Maria Yagoda Instagram Twitter Maria Yagoda is a senior editor at Food & Wine, where she has worked for five years, specializing in restaurant and travel coverage.Her writing on food, culture, travel, and health issues have been published in People Magazine, the Atlantic, Glamour Magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and more print and digital publications.She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her chihuahua, Bucatina. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 23, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Paul Costello We thought it might never happen, but it’s finally starting to feel like spring. To celebrate the season, we're cooking bright, lively meals that we can share with friends over a bottle (or three) of rosé. We’ve rounded up the essential spring dinner party recipes that you should add to your repertoire, too. 01 of 12 Bruschetta with Mozzarella and Smashed Fresh Favas © John Kernick Fresh lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil add a bright creaminess to puréed favas, best enjoyed on crispy baguette slices (with buffalo mozzarella, of course.) Go to recipe 02 of 12 Spinach-and-Green-Pea Empanadas Fredrika Stjärne Another excellent use of favas? Mauricio Couly’s mint-flecked empanadas, which are easy to make with store-bought wrappers. (You can use frozen lima beans here, too.) Go to recipe 03 of 12 Ginger Shandies © Tina Rupp There’s no better way to start an evening than with a few refreshing pitcher cocktails. This ginger shandy has just four ingredients—lemon, ginger beer, beer, and mint for garnish. Go to recipe 04 of 12 Buttermilk-Dressed Spring Greens Abby Hocking Chef Eli Dahlin of Dame in Portland, Oregon, blends cottage cheese into this fantastic buttermilk dressing. Go to recipe 05 of 12 Chilled Spring Pea Soup Quentin Bacon Daniel Boulud’s velvety pea soup goes perfectly with a brisk Austrian Grüner Veltliner. Go to recipe 06 of 12 Farro Salad with Spring Peas, Onions and Feta Christina Holmes This light, nutty grain salad is delicious at any temperature. Go to recipe 07 of 12 Penne with Asparagus Sage and Peas Tina Rupp This simple and creamy pasta dish celebrates the long-awaited arrival asparagus, with sage adding a welcome earthiness. Go to recipe 08 of 12 Farfalle with Spring Vegetables Stephanie Foley For something lighter, try this bright, lemony pasta salad that’s packed with spring vegetables and fresh herbs. Make extra to have for lunch the next day. Go to recipe 09 of 12 Pizza with Garlic Cream and Nettles Fredrika Stjärne Once cooked, the nettles lose their sting and offer a deep, earthy flavor that’s delicious with the green garlic cream. Go to recipe 10 of 12 Garlic-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with Spring Vegetables © Tina Rupp Garlic and herbs make a super-flavorful rub for this pork shoulder, which comes out juicy and crusty after a long slow-roasting. Go to recipe 11 of 12 Spiced Rhubarb Soup with Vanilla Ice Cream Lucy Schaeffer Make sure to only barely cook the rhubarb, so that it retains its crispness and tangy flavor in this silky fruit dessert. Go to recipe 12 of 12 Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone Paul Costello This buttery, nutty cornmeal cake becomes extra decadent with a mascarpone-cream topping. Go to recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit