This is the beginning of a new series I’m excited about – a collection of recipes at the end of each month featuring seasonal recipe inspiration for the upcoming month. In this case, I’m sharing 15 vegetarian dinner ideas for April. Broccoli, peas, hardier greens (like rucola and some lettuce), carrots, beets, leeks, wild garlic, and oranges are in season in April.
Soon we’ll have more variety in the north – radishes, asparagus, new potatoes, etc. and there’s some crossover within months, of course. We’ll see some of those foods closer to the end of the month so I’ve shared a bit of that here. Seasonal food tastes better and costs less, so it’s a win-win!
1. Green Pea Hummus + Spring Mezze
A slightly sweet spring green hummus made with a base of green peas and chickpeas, served as part of a seasonal mezze. This might not be the most conventional main on this list, but it’s a fun weeknight dinner, or to have with friends. Get the recipe here.
2. Beets and Greens Tart
A gluten-free chickpea and oat flour crust makes up the base of this vegetarian tart, filled with shredded beets and potatoes, eggs, and greens. Get the recipe here.
3. Kale, White Bean, and Lemon Soup
If you have other springtime greens, like spinach or rucola, they can be used in place of kale in this light and healthy soup. A good squeeze of lemon brightens this dish, just right for spring. Get the recipe here.
4. Black Bean Rice Burgers with Rainbow Toppings
This, like several of the recipes included here, were originally written for winter. April is an in-between month – seeds are in the ground, but not many new vegetables are out yet – and so this black bean burger with a rainbow of root vegetables fits the bill for an April dinner. Get the recipe here.
5. Lentil & Winter Vegetable Borscht
A good beet soup should be a staple in every house, and this one will help you through if your April means spring snow or frost. Lentils add protein to this root vegetable based meal, and if you have a bit of dill peeking up, all the better. Get the recipe here.
6. Vegan Pesto Broccoli Pizza
A very green pizza, with wild garlic pesto instead of tomato sauce as the base. Try this for Friday night pizza and feel good about it! Get the recipe here.
7. Spicy Roasted Carrots with Tahini Lentil Salad
Whether you have spring carrots locally or the remaining carrots that have been overwintered, this will be great. Roasting the carrots brings out their natural sweetness, and paired with in-season rucola, lentils, and a creamy tahini dressing, this is a salad that’ll make you friends. Omit the pomegranate at this time of year, or sub dried. Get the recipe here.
8. White Bean Salad with Herb Dressing
Mint and cilantro are blended into a vivid green dressing for this salad, with creamy white beans making up the bulk of the dish. Serve with vegan naan and greens for a very satisfying, mostly healthy weeknight meal. Get the recipe here.
9. Carrot, Red Lentil, and Spinach Soup
Both carrots and spinach are good in April, so if you can get fresh spinach, use it in place of frozen in this simple soup. As our lives start to move faster again in the spring, this is a great soup to make as a double batch and freeze in servings for busy days. Get the recipe here.
10. Colourful Late Spring Salad
Ditch the blueberries to make this an early spring salad. With honey roasted rhubarb, garlicky rye croutons, and vegan labneh, this is a real deal meal of a salad. Get the recipe here.
11. Leek and Caramelized Onion Pasties
Both leeks and green peas are excellent in April, with leeks having overwintered and the first green peas starting to appear. They’re combined here alongside caramelized onions and hummus in a vegan spin in a Cornish pasty. Get the recipe here.
12. Winter Freekeh Salad with Orange
Yes, oranges are still in season in April, and the rucola is great. Toothy freekeh and creamy chickpeas mix with the peppery greens and sweet orange in this quick and easy grain salad. Get the recipe here.
13. Red Lentil Falafel in a Naanwich
These basic red lentil falafel are a staple for me year round, and they’re served here with in-season rucola in a naanwich – try adding more spring produce, like some roasted carrots, to this pita inspired dish to squeeze in some more veg. Get the recipe here.
14. Creamy Hummus and Greens Pasta
Roasted spring vegetables team up with hummus in this easy pasta dish, about 20 minutes from start to finish. Serve with chickpeas and a high-protein pasta for a filling dinner. Get the recipe here.
15. New Potato Salad with Asparagus and Lentils
This one is at the end because it’s probably more suited to the end of the month, with new potatoes and green asparagus. If the weather is nice enough, this makes a great picnic dish. Get the recipe here.
Loved these vegetarian April dinner ideas? Let’s connect! Tag me on instagram @occasionallyeggs and #occasionallyeggs so I can see what you’re making, and stay in touch via facebook, pinterest, and bloglovin.
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