Midwest Living Spring 2023 Recipes

three asparagus ricotta toasts with prosciutto
Photo: Carson Downing

With that first breath of warmth, our fancies turn to fresh herbs and delicate young vegetables. These spring recipes feature in-season produce and zesty flavors in comforting, unexpected ways.

01 of 13

Asparagus Ricotta Toasts with Crispy Prosciutto

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Carson Downing

When you're feeling lazy at suppertime or want an inventive lunch or brunch dish, these simple toasts are ready in 15 minutes.

02 of 13

Crepes

crepes with berries and lemon curd
Carson Downing

Ready to make crepes at home? It's easier than you'd think (we promise). This recipe and its filling variations comes from Chef Kate Bryan, owner of Seven Swans Creperie in Kansas City, Missouri, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

03 of 13

Spring Fattoush

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Carson Downing

Popular in Lebanon and Israel, fattoush is a crunchy, lemony salad of toasted pita, herbs and vegetables. This delicious and quick version showcases spring vegetables like snap peas and radishes. It's seasoned with sumac, which has a distinctly sour, earthy flavor, unlike anything else. Find it in Middle Eastern markets or online.

04 of 13

Raspberry-Lemon Cakelets

Raspberry-Lemon Cakelets
Carson Downing

Tender from cake flour and bright with citrus, this butter cake—baked, creatively, in a single sheet pan—will surprise you. It's delicious and begs for pairing with tea or a glass of bubbly.

05 of 13

Asparagus, Morel and Walleye Soup with Rye Croutons

Asparagus, Morel and Walleye Soup with Rye Croutons
Carson Downing

This recipe (with its totally addictive miso-butter croutons) is adapted from one served at Larder, a Jewish deli in Cleveland. (Chef Jeremy Umansky is also an expert in Asian fermentation.) The recipe is easily adapted to be vegetarian—just skip the fish for a light spring meal.

06 of 13

Blintzes with Cheese and Jam

Blintzes with Cheese and Jam
Carson Downing

The owners of Masa Madre in Chicago share this version of blintzes, a favorite Jewish brunch dish. Make the beautifully pink sweet-tart Hibiscus Jam to go with them, or use any jam or fruit compote you like.

07 of 13

French Herb Omelets with New Potatoes

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Carson Downing

Make breakfast for dinner (or any meal) with this traditional herb-filled omelet and buttery steamed potatoes.

08 of 13

Sour Cream and Onion Knishes

Sour Cream and Onion Knishes
Sour Cream and Onion Knishes: If dairy and carbs spell happiness to you, read on. At Little Brother in Des Moines, the menu often features a Jewish pastry called knish. (The k is not silent.) This one is filled with scallion-and-cheddar mashed potatoes and topped with sour cream, pickled onions, chives, and a savory crumble of canned fried onions and potato chips (sour cream and onion, naturally). Kelsey Hansen

Filled with cheesy potatoes and topped with sour cream and potato chips (really!), this modern take on traditional knishes comes from Little Brother in Des Moines. The process is a bit of a labor of love, but the payoff is pure comfort food.

09 of 13

Black-and-White Cookies

Black-and-White Cookies
A cakey sugar cookie iced in two colors, the black-and-white has been a standby of New York City’s Jewish bakeries and delis since the postwar era. Allie La Valle-Umansky makes hers extra-large, as a wink to hearty Midwest appetites. They’re thick, fragrant with vanilla—and less of a fuss to frost than you might think. Carson Downing

These soft, vanilla-scented cookies — a Jewish deli and bakery staple — are delicious, and less fussy to frost than you might think. The recipe for these super-sized ones comes from Larder in Cleveland.

10 of 13

Spring Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Crust

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Carson Downing

Frozen puff pastry and a rotisserie chicken are your cheats to this fast and utterly delicious pot pie filled with fresh veggies and seasoned with dill and Dijon.

11 of 13

Slow-Cooked Chickpeas with Saffron

Slow-Cooked Chickpeas with Saffron
Carson Downing

This delicious stew appears in the cookbook On the Curry Trail, by Raghavan Iyer, $26, Amazon. It includes a recipe for the Moroccan spice blend ras al hanout, but you can also purchase ras al hanout at specialty stores or online.

12 of 13

Smoked Whitefish Salad

Smoked Whitefish Salad
Carson Downing

Serve this Jewish deli classic from Little Brother in Des Moines with crackers or on toast. It doesn't really need a garnish, but if you're feeling fancy, top with hard-cooked egg yolk (passed through a sieve), pickled onions or more fresh dill.

13 of 13

Chicken with Apricots

Chicken with Apricots
Carson Downing

Tamar Fasja Unikel, co-owner of Masa Madre in Chicago, recalls her Syrian grandmother making this sweet, saucy dish. Forty minutes may seem like a long time to brown the chicken, but this method gently renders out the chicken fat with delicious results.

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