12 Vibrant Recipes to Cure Your Winter Blues

This salad is as powerhouse. Chock-full of vitamins and minerals (and 13g of vegetable protein per serving!) to help drag you out of the doldrums. Try something new and make this tangy treat, with sparkling grapefruit sections, crunchy edamame, and creamy avocado.

Break out of your rut and warm things up with this amazingly flavorful soup! For a vegan-friendly version, use vegetable stock in place of chicken stock and add an extra can of beans in place of the chicken. Feeding a crowd? Double the recipe for a crowd-pleaser that is sure to wow them all. Also makes great leftovers.

This soup is filled with the sweet flavor of carrots. Thai curries are chile paste blends, so their flavors are complex and spicy. Use a little or a lot depending on your spice preference. For vegan and vegetarian versions, check the ingredient list on the red curry paste as some may contain anchovies or shrimp paste. 

Feeling adventurous? Try braving the elements to make this sizzling recipe on your outdoor grill, although we recommend indoor grills or panfrying works just as well. Friendly for gluten-free diets, and takes only 45 minutes from start to finish. Serve with grilled sourdough bread, warmed tortillas, or corn chips.

A delicious and satisfyingly meal for vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters alike! Spicy, seasoned lentils star in these simple, satisfying tacos. Set up a taco bar with all the fixings and let your family (or guests) make their own. You can add hard taco shells or a meat-based filling as options, too.

You put WHAT in your salsa?! You heard correctly – banana. This Caribbean inspired salsa’s sweet-hot flavor adds zest to a simply prepared meal of fish or poultry, and tops a morning omelet or breakfast sandwich with tropical flair.

It takes three years for a good harvest of asparagus once it’s been planted. But it’s so worth the wait. This stir-fry takes full advantage of asparagus’ distinctive and delicious flavor. Create an Asian-inspired meal by adding a rice like Jasmine or Japonica, with green tea and ginger cookies or mango sorbet for dessert. The stir-fried vegetables make a great side dish for fish or ginger and tamari-marinated chicken, pork or tofu.

Quick and easy, these flavorful Indian fritters (called pakora in India) are packed with peas and carrots and served with a dollop of minty raita (a classic Indian yogurt sauce). Explore Indian cuisine by pairing these fritters with dal—a traditional lentil soup or stew with countless regional variations—and a side of naan bread. Substitute non-dairy yogurt for a vegan-friendly version of the raita.

These quick-to-prepare grilled tostadas make a refreshingly delicious main dish or appetizer. Tasty served with black bean and corn salad or pico de gallo. Or serve without tortillas as a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Garnish each plate with lime wedges.

I am totally Team Texture when it comes to food, so this recipe gets an A in my book. Try adding some crunch and tropical flare to your guac with this recipe! This is a fantastic dish to serve at a party; just double (or triple) the recipe and use a wider bowl or small casserole dish. The crunchy jicama, sweet mango and creamy avocado are a delicious topping for tostadas and quesadillas we all.

A cool, creamy, sweet lassi is a welcome contrast to spicy curries and delicious as a breakfast or snack. This strawberry version is an appealing pink drink with the fragrance of cardamom. Serve after a spicy curry or alone as a delicious probiotic breakfast or snack. For more protein, try using Greek-style yogurt.

Is it a cookie? It is a pizza? A pizookie? This colorful display of vibrant, fresh fruit atop a shortbread cookie crust and cream cheese frosting makes a delightful dessert. Prepare this colorful delight a day in advance and serve to top off a perfect dessert or afternoon snack. Accompany it with a glass of crisp, sweet wine, fresh lemonade, or a cup of medium-roast coffee.