8 Fresh Garden Party Recipes for Spring
Impress Your Guests with Fresh Garden Party Recipes
Harvesting Spring Produce
If you invested in cultivating a spring vegetable garden, you can easily acquire most of what’s needed for these garden party recipes without going to the grocery store. Depending on how early you started planting season, here in zone 8, you should be able to harvest these herbs and vegetables in May:
- Leafy Greens: Lettuce, kale, spinach
- Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, turnips
- Legumes: Beans, peas
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes
- Squashes: Zucchini, summer squash
- Other Vegetables: Cucumbers, eggplant, okra, garlic, onions
- Herbs: Basil, cilantro, parsley, terragon, dill, oregano, rosemary, thyme, mint, chives
Garden Party Recipes
We compiled a host of small plate spring recipes that can be served buffet style or plated for a seated meal. Carnivores, vegetarians, and pescatarians alike should find something to please the palette from this scrumptious selection.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/radish-tartines-with-green-butter-FT-RECIPE0322-c6f59d70a5b145ec8e1c6d45a55d6402.jpg "Bonick Landscaping 8 Fresh Garden Party Recipes for Spring")
Radish Tartine with Green Butter
Food & Wine
Plate your party table with panache! This clever canape boasts show-stopping color and crunch. Snack your way through the rainbow as radishes of various shades take the spotlight in this superb snack.
Ingredients
- 8 medium-size mixed radishes with tops (such as Easter egg, black, watermelon, and Purple Ninja) (about 12 oz.)
- 2 medium-sized Japanese turnips with tops (about 2 1/2oz.)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (4 oz.), preferably grass-fed, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated (about 1/4 tsp)
- 6 (3/4-inch-thick) soft rustic bread slices (about 1 1/4oz. each), lightly toasted
- Crushed red pepper, for garnish
Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs
Texas Monthly
Nothing says Texas like jalapenos, and this hybrid garden party recipe could be the next fan favorite. Combining a deconstructed jalapeno popper with the popular deviled egg sounds like a winning combination appetizer to us.
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 3 slices bacon, diced
- 1 jalapeño, stem and seeds removed, minced
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
- pinch cayenne or several dashes hot sauce, optional
Casa Mint Lemonade
Casamigos
Made for mingling, this adult lemonade is a light, refreshing garden party libation. Tequila adds a Texas twist to this refreshing sunny beverage favorite. For those trying to skimp on sugar, try a lightly sweetened version with a touch of Stevia, agave syrup, or coconut sugar.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
- .5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- .5 oz. Simple Syrup
- 8 – 10 Mint Leaves
- Top off Fresh Lemonade
- Optional: 2 Dashes Lemon Bitters
- Garnish: Lemon Wheel and Mint Sprig
Bright Spring Salad
Love & Lemons
The most vibrant of our garden party recipes, this spring salad is chock full of colors and textures to delight all the tastebuds. With such an adaptable selection of ingredients, you can skip or swap to your heart’s desire, depending on what’s readily available.
Ingredients
- Asparagus (blanched)
- Peas
- Radishes (several varieties)
- Feta or goat cheese
- Toasted pistachios and roasted chickpeas (or any nut and seed combination)
- Avocado
- Fresh herbs (basil, mint, and chives recommended)
- Mixed salad greens (Tender spring greens like butter and red leaf lettuce, mesclun, and arugula)
- Lemon
- White Wine Vinegar
- Olive oil
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/malfadine-with-pea-shoot-meyer-lemon-pesto-FT-RECIPE0422-93471e1c92da4aaa87a6241e0dae28fc.jpg "Bonick Landscaping 8 Fresh Garden Party Recipes for Spring")
Pea Shoot—Meyer Lemon Pesto Pasta
Food & Wine
A clever twist on the atypical pesto, this light spring pasta utilizes pea shoots and fresh herbs for a gorgeous garden party recipe we’re dying to try.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon grated Meyer lemon zest plus 1/4 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice (from 1 large lemon or 2 medium lemons), divided
- 4 cups loosely packed fresh pea shoots, plus more for garnish, if desired
- 1/2 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh dill fronds
- 2 ounces ricotta salata, grated (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup salted roasted sunflower seed kernels
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 16 ounces uncooked mafaldine pasta
- 1 ounce pecorino Romano cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Smoked Chicken Salad
Texas Monthly
This amalgam of Fort Worth chef-inspired recipes can be created ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to serve. With fresh herbs and a mouthwatering smoky flavor, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Serve with crackers, celery sticks, or sliced croissants.
Ingredients
- 330 grams smoked chicken*
- 60 grams celery (1 stalk, halved lengthwise and finely chopped)
- 30 grams pickles, finely chopped
- 80 grams mayonnaise
- 10 grams sugar
- 20 grams pickle juice or apple cider vinegar
- Chopped fresh herbs like parsley, tarragon, or cilantro
- A few dashes of your favorite barbecue rub
- Juice from 1/8 lemon
- Salt to taste
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/grilled-gulf-shrimp-with-sweet-corn-coulis-FT-RECIPE0421-84701808776644be83009c5e8d014cf9.jpg "Bonick Landscaping 8 Fresh Garden Party Recipes for Spring")
Grilled Gulf Shrimp with Sweet Corn Coulis
Food & Wine
For an elegant, refreshing main, sweet corn and tender peas complement grilled shrimp for a tangy, colorful, protein-packed tapa.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh sweet peas (about 2 ounces)
- 3 (8-inch) ears yellow corn, shucked
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- ⅛ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 12 peeled and deveined tail-on raw medium Gulf shrimp (about 10 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (such as canola or grapeseed), divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 4 jumbo asparagus spears (about 4 ounces), woody ends trimmed, spears peeled lengthwise into ribbons
- 2 cups petite pea tendrils (about 1 ounce) or baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup thinly shaved fennel bulb
- 1 small radish, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1 tablespoon pure cane vinegar or Champagne vinegar
Ladybird Johnson’s Lemon Squares
LBJ Library
Passionate about the arts, humanities, and environment, Ladybird Johnson also had an affinity for cooking and entertaining. This refreshing citrusy favorite of LBJ’s is an ideal dessert bite finale to round out your garden party menu.
CRUST
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Butter
- Mix first 3 ingredients together and pat into a 9×18 jelly roll pan
- Bake at 350 until very light brown, about 15 minutes.
FILLING
- 2 Cups Sugar
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 4 tbsp Flour
- 3 Beaten Eggs
- Juice & Rind of 2 Lemons
- Mix ingredients in order and pour over baked crust.
- Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until set.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Pre-Party Garden Care
Before you shop for ingredients for the above garden party recipes, ensure that your outdoor space is in pristine party condition by enlisting in concierge garden care services from Bonick Landscaping. From weekly lawn care and spring color installation to irrigation and pest control, our expert team has been party-prepping landscapes in the finest Dallas neighborhoods since 1982. Contact us to get your estate garden party ready.
You May Also Enjoy: