Seeing Green: Spring Vegetables

When you're eating for your health, it pays to go for the green. Not only do these recipes with verdant vegetables, fruits, and emerald-colored herbs contain disease-preventing antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they're also low in fat and calories. This month, make green your lucky color.

Tomatillos add extra tartness to this smooth guacamole-style dip. Serve with chips, or use it as a topping for chicken or fish.

Recipe: Avocado-Tomatillo Dip with Cumin Pita Chips

Cucumber, avocado, and fresh dill all contribute to the beautiful jade tint of this chilled soup. Enjoy it as a first course or as part of a light lunch.

Recipe: Cucumber Soup

Green beans remain one of the most popular green vegetables, and they're even better when topped with sautéed shallots and crumbled bacon.

Recipe: Green Beans with Bacon

If you're in a rut with plain broccoli, try broccolini, a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. The Asian-inspired flavors of ginger and rice wine complement the peppery bite of this crisp green.

Recipe: Ginger-Garlic Broccolini

The name piquillo means "little beak". These small peppers are grown in Northern Spain, hand-picked, and roasted over open fires. The peppers are then peeled by hand then packed in jars or tins. They add a spicy-sweet flavor to this steamed asparagus salad–but it you can't find them, use roasted red bell peppers.

Recipe: Asparagus Salad with Piquillo Peppers and Capers

With four green ingredients–fava beans, sweet peas, sugar snap peas, and mint–this recipe makes the all-star list of fresh green dishes. A red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard vinaigrette adds a little zing to the sweet and tender veggies.

Recipe: Fava, Sweet Pea, and Sugar Snap Salad

A three-ingredient, 5-minute green salad is an ideal accompaniment for any main dish. For a truly green-themed dish, replace the nectarine with either Granny Smith apple or green pear.

Recipe: Mixed Greens and Nectarine Salad

Bright, shiny edamame (green soy beans) replace the lima beans in a traditional succotash. The addition of shrimp transforms a traditional vegetable side dish into a satisfying main.

Recipe: Edamame Succotash with Shrimp