Seasonal DIY recipes for Spring in Europe

As winter fades away and spring begins to bloom, Europe welcomes a bounty of fresh seasonal produce. From vibrant spinach to crisp beets, the variety of vegetables available during the spring months offers a wealth of inspiration for the creative cook. With so many delicious options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Recipes to build with the spring harvest in Europe

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite spring vegetable recipes based on what’s in season for March. Whether you’re looking for a sweet and tangy pumpkin marmalade or a savoury German red cabbage dish, there’s sure to be something on this list to please every palate. Read on to discover the many culinary delights that await you this spring season.

1. Pickled Beets

If you love the tangy flavour of pickles, you’ll love this recipe for pickled beets. Canning them ensures they will be available to enjoy all year long. Pickled beets are also a great way to add some extra nutrition to your meals. Beets are high in fibre and contain essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, iron, and potassium.

Ingredients

5 beetroots, boiled for 45 minutes then peeled
Use gloves to peel to avoid staining
Use funnel
A spiced liquid mixture composed of 50% of water 300ml and 50% vinegar 300ml, and spices (salt, fennel, cardamon) brought to a boil
(Vinegar is to reduce the ph level for safe canning)

Method

1. Sterilize the jars and closures.
2. Add the warm sliced beetroot to the jars.
3. Add the liquid of boiling spices and vinegar into the glass jars.
4. Close them and boil them in a normal pan for 30min then cool them down for preserving.
5. Store for up to 1 year in the .cupboard

Check our Instagram reel to find our video with the step-by-step for this recipe:

To build this recipe we used our Canning Starter Kit:

Our canning starter kit has everything you need to start preserving your own fruits and veggies at home, including jars, lids, a funnel and a simple step-by-step guide.

Canning Starter Kit

Share the gift of canning your favourite sauces! This starter kit includes everything you need to begin your canning adventures at home.

Why it’s ideal for beginners

We designed this beginner canning starter kit as a fun and easy way to store and enjoy your homemade sauces, jams, and marmalades all year long. Each canning starter kit has been carefully designed to cater to the needs of beginners who are curious to try canning at home. The process of canning at home can often feel complicated and overwhelming due to the various tools, methods, and techniques. This kit simplifies the experience with two perfect canning jars, ideal for a beginner’s first batch, and a helpful wide-mouth funnel to help ensure food safety and minimise mess.

23,25€ inc. VAT

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2. Spinach Pesto

With its bright colours and fresh flavours, this spinach pesto is the perfect springtime addition to a light lunch. Packed with fresh spinach, garlic, nuts, and olive oil, this vibrant green pesto is not only flavorful and brings more nutrition to the dish since basil is replaced with spinach. Spinach contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, iron, and folate and has many health benefits. This pesto is an easy and great way to incorporate this healthy green into your diet.

Ingredients

3 cups spinach (can also use basil, arugula or any greens!)
2 clove garlic
⅓ cup wall nuts
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch of pepper
½ cup olive oil
½ lemon

Check our Instagram reel to find our video with the step-by-step for this recipe:

To prepare the Spinach Pesto recipe that we shared yesterday we used our Sunny Cap Jar.

The Sunny Cap Jar features a new and unique glass cap closure and a stainless steel ring with our Pearl Seal.

It is suitable for preserving and storing dry and liquid food. Ideal for pickling and fermenting vegetables such as kimchi, chilli sauce, but also for oil and alcohol-based products because the TPE steel ring offers low migration.

Sympl Sunny Cap 250ml

The Pearl SYMPL series is characterized by a minimalist, cylindrical design in order to comfortably access and remove the contents of your glass.

The SYMPL Sunny Cap features a new and unique glass cap closure and stainless steel ring with our Pearl Seal. Perfect for your pickling and storing foods of all kinds. The glass lid allows you to see directly into the contents from above.

22,63€ inc. VAT

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The glass lid allows you to see directly into the content from above turning our Sunny Cap the preferred jar by the curious ones!

3. German Red Cabbage

This classic German dish combines sweet and sour flavours with a hint of warming spices, making it the perfect comfort food for chilly spring evenings. Cabbage is an excellent source of fibre and vitamin C, making it a healthy addition to any meal. This recipe from Taste of Home also includes warming spices such as cinnamon and cloves, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

To store your german red cabbage we recommend you to use our Mariposa Jar.

Original Mariposa

The Mariposa introduces a unique detachable glass lid for comfortable pouring and thorough cleaning.

Instantly recognisable for it’s traditional feel, our Mariposa Mason Jar takes inspiration from vintage swing-top jars, used in the 60s for preserving home cooked food and boasts an elegant design for timeless usage. Mariposa’s ability to combine a lightweight design with the robustness of a perfect vacuum is a phenomena we at Pearl call the “Butterfly effect”.

The Pearl Mason Jar series features a vintage design as a real reusable jar, measuring indicators and space for your label.

24,99€ – 26,16€ inc. VAT

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Conclusion

In conclusion, there are so many delicious and healthy recipes to experiment with and enjoy during the spring season in Europe. By using fresh, seasonal produce, you can create meals that are both tasty and nutritious. Additionally, canning and preserving these fruits and vegetables will help you to enjoy their flavours long after the season has ended.

So, why not try your hand at preserving some pickled beets or making spinach pesto? With a little effort and creativity, you can savour the flavours of spring all year round.