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  3. 12 Recipes for the Ultimate Spring Dinner Party

12 Recipes for the Ultimate Spring Dinner Party

By Maria Yagoda Updated April 23, 2018
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Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone
Credit: 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

Bruschetta with Mozzarella and Smashed Fresh Favas
Credit: © 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

Spinach-and-Green-Pea Empanadas
Credit: 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

Ginger Shandies
Credit: © 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

Buttermilk-Dressed Spring Greens
Credit: 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

Chilled Spring Pea Soup
Credit: 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

Farro Salad with Spring Peas, Onions and Feta
Credit: 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

Penne with Asparagus Sage and Peas
Credit: 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

Farfalle with Spring Vegetables
Credit: 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

Pizza with Garlic Cream and Nettles
Credit: 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

San Francisco based Andrew Green goes to Oregon to make his spicy Pinot Noir. He buys ingredients closer to home for his roasted pork shoulder with spring vegetables.
Credit: © 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

Spiced Rhubarb Soup with Vanilla Ice Cream
Credit: 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

Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone
Credit: Paul Costello
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This buttery, nutty cornmeal cake becomes extra decadent with a mascarpone-cream topping.

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    1 of 12 Bruschetta with Mozzarella and Smashed Fresh Favas
    2 of 12 Spinach-and-Green-Pea Empanadas
    3 of 12 Ginger Shandies
    4 of 12 Buttermilk-Dressed Spring Greens
    5 of 12 Chilled Spring Pea Soup
    6 of 12 Farro Salad with Spring Peas, Onions and Feta
    7 of 12 Penne with Asparagus Sage and Peas
    8 of 12 Farfalle with Spring Vegetables
    9 of 12 Pizza with Garlic Cream and Nettles
    10 of 12 Garlic-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with Spring Vegetables
    11 of 12 Spiced Rhubarb Soup with Vanilla Ice Cream
    12 of 12 Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone

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    12 Recipes for the Ultimate Spring Dinner Party
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