Spring is a time of renewal, colour and fresh beginnings – the perfect time to shake up menus and invite creativity into your kitchen. As the earth wakes from winter, the abundance of vibrant, flavour-packed produce available provides chefs with exciting new ingredients with which to cultivate an innovative seasonal menu.
This time of year is ripe for revitalising your offerings, with lighter plates, bright flavours, and artful combinations that celebrate freshness and seasonality. Whether you’re reimagining classic dishes or using bold new ideas, embracing spring produce means more than just using different ingredients – it’s about capturing the essence of spring on every plate.
Microgreens deliver taste, colour and panache in a single sprinkle. Use them to finish off egg dishes, salads, risottos or proteins for an instant taste and presentation upgrade.
Although microgreens look pretty, they bring more than aesthetics to your plate. These tiny greens pack a punch, with their peppery radish, sweet beet or aromatic coriander flavours. Think beyond garnish – fresh microgreens are your spring secret weapon.
Kūmara transitions beautifully into spring – think roasted and served chilled in salads, smashed on toast with herbs, or whipped into a velvety base for lighter mains. Its earthy sweetness adds comfort without heaviness, making it a smart staple for spring menus.
Asparagus
Nothing says ‘spring is here’ like fresh asparagus. Tender, juicy and beautifully bright, asparagus is a chef’s dream: it’s quick to cook, full of flavour, and endlessly versatile. Serve with soft poached eggs, layer into warm grain salads, or char gently for a smoky twist.
Strawberries
The first strawberries of spring bring more than just sweetness – they signal the shift towards the long warm months ahead. With their rich red hues and natural perfume, strawberries are the spring ingredient that does the hard work for you. Prized for their divine scent and medicinal properties since before Roman times, strawberries pair beautifully with both sweet and savoury. Serve them quartered with burrata, toss through salads for a pop of colour, or use them to cut through richness in creamy desserts.
Rhubarb’s bright, tangy punch is the perfect counterpoint to sweeter flavours. Use it stewed with honey for unctuous compotes, fold into crumbles and tarts, bake into cakes and muffins, or balance it with creamy cheeses in salads and starters. Its lively flavour and striking colour bring energy and elegance to any dish – and it makes a delicious ingredient in cocktails and mocktails.
Daikon, also known as Japanese or Chinese radish, is one of nature’s quiet achievers. Its clean flavour, subtle heat and crisp crunch adds balance and texture to rich plates, giving your spring dishes a refreshing lift. Popular in a variety of Asian cuisines, it’s delicious raw and julienned in slaws or rice paper rolls, quick-pickled as a zingy side, or shaved thinly over seafood or noodle bowls.
Have a scrumptious spring season!
