What to eat in April

Spring is in the air and the garden is waking up! We’re so excited to dive into all the beautiful early summer produce, which is ripening at this very moment. And right now, some real Great British gems are at their very best.

Fresh new-season vegetables, such as asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, purple sprouting broccoli, new potatoes, spring onions and many more, are making their way into the shops and onto plates. And for pudding there’s lemon tart. We’ve rounded up our favourite April seasonal recipes for you – enjoy!

The joy of digging up the first new potatoes in April is hard to beat. But whether or not you grow your own, a simple new potato and trout salad shows off the gorgeous seasonal spud at its best. Or team with salmon, green beans, eggs and olives in this lovely salmon Niçoise salad.

The main field-crop of rhubarb is coming into season throughout April, which means an abundance of fragrant stalks crying out to be poached for compote, or gently stewed and served with shortbread and homemade custard. But it also works so well in savoury dishes, such as this roast lamb recipe.

Hearty, vibrant spring greens are so tasty right now. We can’t get enough of them finely shredded and lightly fried, then added to spaghetti with garlic and lemon – delicious! Or stir them through a veggie curry for a brilliant April midweek dinner.

British asparagus season is here, and eggs and asparagus is always a winning combo. Keep things simple and really let this delicate veggie shine by serving with a classic French dressing alongside soft-boiled eggs. You could also try dipping super-fresh spears into a boiled egg instead of toast soldiers; add asparagus to a quiche for a lovely lunch; or make it the star of a beautiful risotto.

Cauliflower is bang in season right now, and while cauliflower cheese is an undeniable, all-time favourite, there are other ways to enjoy cauliflower. This easy traybake is a fab and filling midweek meal, sure to satisfy veggies and meat-lovers alike.

Celebrate a whole host of spring veggies in this simple weekday winner that’s packed full of greens. Baby spinach, coriander, spring onions and garlic bring a burst of colour to pearly white steamed fish. Try mint instead of (or as well as) the coriander, as that’s in season at the moment, too.

April is a brilliant time of year to get your hands on loads of seasonal veg and bung it all in a pie! Leeks, spinach, lemon and chives are great flavour friends, brought together in a creamy egg filling and wrapped in filo.

You say spring? We say chicken! With gorgeous bang-in-season spinach and garlic, a burst of ground sumac and creamy chickpeas. It’s a 5-ingredient plate of joy.

Celebrate Amalfi lemons coming into their peak season with a beautiful lemon tart. If you’re having a post-Easter get-together with friends and family, why not wow them with this special dessert?

Hungry for more spring inspo? Explore our seasonal collections of recipes, advice and tips.