12 Recipes for the Ultimate Spring Dinner Party

By Maria Yagoda
Updated April 23, 2018
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.
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Bruschetta with Mozzarella and Smashed Fresh Favas

John Kernick
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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.)

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Spinach-and-Green-Pea Empanadas

Fredrika Stjärne
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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.)

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Ginger Shandies

Tina Rupp
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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.

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Buttermilk-Dressed Spring Greens

Abby Hocking
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Chef Eli Dahlin of Dame in Portland, Oregon, blends cottage cheese into this fantastic buttermilk dressing.

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Chilled Spring Pea Soup

Quentin Bacon
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Daniel Boulud’s velvety pea soup goes perfectly with a brisk Austrian Grüner Veltliner.

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Farro Salad with Spring Peas, Onions and Feta

Christina Holmes
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This light, nutty grain salad is delicious at any temperature.

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Penne with Asparagus Sage and Peas

Tina Rupp
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This simple and creamy pasta dish celebrates the long-awaited arrival asparagus, with sage adding a welcome earthiness.

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Farfalle with Spring Vegetables

Stephanie Foley
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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.

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Pizza with Garlic Cream and Nettles

Fredrika Stjärne
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Once cooked, the nettles lose their sting and offer a deep, earthy flavor that’s delicious with the green garlic cream.

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Garlic-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with Spring Vegetables

Tina Rupp
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Garlic and herbs make a super-flavorful rub for this pork shoulder, which comes out juicy and crusty after a long slow-roasting.

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Spiced Rhubarb Soup with Vanilla Ice Cream

Lucy Schaeffer
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Make sure to only barely cook the rhubarb, so that it retains its crispness and tangy flavor in this silky fruit dessert.

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Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone

Paul Costello
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This buttery, nutty cornmeal cake becomes extra decadent with a mascarpone-cream topping.

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By Maria Yagoda