10 Recipes Celebrating March

Spring calls for newly-harvested glossy vegetables and fruits, fresh flavours, light bites and colourful plates that match the cheerful mood of the season.

These 10 spring recipes -- some salads, a few breezy mains -- celebrate seasonal ingredients and bring sunshine to your table.

1. Lauki Ke Kofte

Bottle gourd, also known as lauki or doodhi, may not be everyone's favourite and children often run away from the dining table when they see it served. But Hitesh Harisinghani shows how this humble sabzi can be transformed into something far more exciting that no one will refuse

Please find the recipe here: Lauki Ke Kofte

2. Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin is packed with nutrients and can be enjoyed in many ways -- hearty curries, lightly-cooked sabzis or even simply just oven roasted.

Chef Sabyasachi Gorai chooses bring you a tasty, healthy pumpkin soup.

Please find the recipe here: Pumpkin Soup

3. Ammaji's Mahi Bhindi

Some foods reflect more thoroughly the warmth of home -- a grandaughter offers a take on her grandmother's yoghurt preparation for lady's fingers or okra. This simple vegetable dish is elevated with yoghurt, and muted spices.

Please find the recipe here: Ammaji's Mahi Bhindi

4. Sutta Kathirikkai

Manjula Nair whips up a roasted brinjal relish that's wonderfully versatile. It can brighten up breakfast, lunch or dinner or be had as something to dip your snack in like idlis, wadas, dosas. Tangy. Spicy. Yum.

Please find the recipe here: Sutta Kathirikkai

5. Tomato Salad With Walnuts And Cheese

When you're looking for something wholesome but delicious try this salad that makes use of the freshest, plumpest tomatoes which are seasoned with blue cheese, fresh dill, walnuts, balsamic vinegar and black pepper. It will keep you energised through the day and may also support your weight-management goals.

Please find the recipe here: Tomato Salad With Walnuts And Cheese

6. Beetroot Vada

A colourful, enticing snack, Divya Nair gives beets a gourmet avatar by adding a little channa dal, sambar onions, semolina, ginger and more.

Please find the recipe here: Beetroot Vada

7. Green Amaranth Sabji

Greens are a great spring eat. Mayur Sanap stir fries amaranth bhaji with alu, onions, peanuts and a bunch of spices.

Please find the recipe here: Green Amaranth Sabji

8. Soy-Garlic Beans

If there are bean sceptics at the table, Zelda Pande's crunchy bean dish might just win them over. Steamed beans are gussied up with garlic, soy sauce and a touch of red chilly powder. They can be eaten with a Chinese rice or enjoyed even as a snack on their own.

Please find the recipe here: Soy-Garlic Beans

9. Bharwa Shimla Mirchi

Chef Kunal Kapoor's version of red bell papers or capsicum could be served to a nawab, so splendidly elegant is the dish.

Stuffed with spicy alus, corn and paneer, the bell peppers are then simmered in a rich red gravy and must be eaten with buttery naans.

Please find the recipe here: Bharwa Shimla Mirchi

10. Cucumber Millet Khichdi

Khichdi usually brings to mind comforting dal versions. But cucumber? Chef Sneha Singhi introduces a wholesome millet-based khichdi with cucumber.

Please find the recipe here: Cucumber Millet Khichdi