We all have our traditional main courses that are served year after year for holiday dinners. To freshen things up, why not add some delicious new dishes to round out your menu? In terms of flavor, health, convenience, and sustainability, using greenhouse grown fresh fruits and vegetables as part of your holiday meal is a fantastic choice! Some of our friends have shared their favorite recipes with us that are perfect to use as appetizers, side dishes, and even a very unique dessert! All of which are sure to please your family and friends.

Holidays are all about gathering with those you love to share a meal together. Though there will be some indulgencies, you can still eat mindfully by consuming a variety of foods. From turkey to ham, or perhaps a seafood feast, traditional holiday main courses are meant to be paired with starters and side dishes. An Easter dinner that is well-balanced and rich in healthy fruits and vegetables is ideal. Your meals will taste better if you use fresh ingredients, and using greenhouse grown produce means that you have access to those fresh ingredients all year long! It’s a good idea to plan out your menu in advance and ensure you have a variety of appetizers, side dishes, and of course desserts to go alongside your main course for Easter dinner. Here are some fantastic recommendations to build out your menu using delicious recipes from some of our friends.

START WITH UNIQUE APPETIZERS –

Cloud9® & Chorizo Steamed Mussels

Elizabeth Jordan-Flight, @jamjarkitchen shared this delicious appetizer that takes only 20 minutes to make. Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes are used in the base of the sauce, along with white wine and fresh herbs, to make this dish so delicious. The addition of chorizo raises the bar for this appetizer to be more than just your average mussels!

Baked Goat Cheese & Sangria® Bruschetta Dip

Enjoy a warm and tangy Baked Goat Cheese & Sangria® Bruschetta Dip, created by our friend, Hanan Ghadban @ohmygoodiescc. It is creamy heaven with a mixture of four kinds of cheese, and loaded with garlic, herbs, and sweet Sangria® Medley Tomatoes. The final result is drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

COMPLIMENTARY SIDE DISHES –

The Easter dinner main course cannot be complete without the side dishes. Easter is such a fun and colorful holiday that you will want your holiday dinner to be as well! Here are two wonderful, bright side dishes that will perfectly complement your main dish masterpiece.

Classic Pasta Salad

With a lot of meal prepping for the holiday feast, you definitely want a few quick and easy recipes like this Classic Pasta Salad that only takes 10 minutes to prepare! The best part of this recipe is that it’s filled with nutritious Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers and Mini Cucumbers. Megan Hutson @mamaofwholelittles shares her very own special Italian dressing to simply combine with the veggies and pasta.

Melon Fennel Salad

Impress your guests with this lovely salad platter that features Solara® Mini Melons for a taste of the tropics. This unique salad has crispy garlic and capers, as well as a honey-lime dressing that makes it fresh and vibrant. Topped off with fresh mint it’s the perfect fresh side! Our friend Dayla Rubin @itsrainingflour had a great deal of fun creating this masterpiece and we’re sure you’ll love it.

LEAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT –

Goat Cheese & Sweet Tomato Cheesecake

This dessert is a must-try if you want a unique option that isn’t loaded with sugar. Jennifer Rolfingsmeier @butterandblisslou created this sweet and salty Creamy Goat Cheese & Sweet Tomato Cheesecake. It is made with a pretzel crumble base, a unique cream cheese filling sweetened with dates, and is topped with Cloud 9® Bited-Sized Fruity Tomatoes and pecans coated in a balsamic glaze.

ENJOY YOUR EASTER DINNER!

Food brings people together, so why not try some new dishes full of vibrant greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables? Ensuring that your table has great appetizers, starters and desserts that compliment the main course, means that everyone can enjoy a balanced meal. Our growing network of greenhouses and distribution centers allows us to deliver local produce across North America. So, when you go grocery shopping, look for the Pure Flavor® logo to ensure that you’re getting fresh, high-quality produce that will enhance the flavor of your meals! These are just a few ideas to get you started and we hope that they help you put together a flavorful meal. Having a variety of options for appetizers, side dishes, and desserts to complement your main course will make the perfect Easter dinner. Get creative and incorporate fresh greenhouse-grown produce into your Easter meal.

For more holiday inspiration, check out our Easter Page!