Springtime, bringing its much-needed warmth and cheer after a chilled winter, is soon upon us. Many of us are ready to bring in the season with joyful pastels, waiting for the blooms and the signs of brighter and longer days ahead. Every year in the spring, many families around the globe also embrace Easter as a religious celebration that comes after The Lenten season (also known as Lent.)
One of the traditions of Easter is holding a family dinner and cooking either the classic Easter dinner or family favorites. When you're the designated family cook nearly every day, we know how tiring it can get finding inspiration and ideas for meals, even during the holidays.
This Easter, why not let us help inspire you with these classic Easter dinner ideas that will surely be a family-favorite, memorable, flavorful experience?
Ham
We can't talk about Easter dinner ideas without covering the most-classic main dishes of them all: ham. Whether you choose to go low-salt and semi-boneless or look for a spiral sliced ham, this holiday go-to is a fantastic choice. You can stick to traditional glazes and recipes like:
• Cloves, brown sugar, spicy brown mustard with a can of dark cola
• Sugar, prepared yellow mustard, honey, and pineapple rings
• Apricot jam and brown sugar glaze
Or, you can consider going a bit more adventurous with the glazes this year. We have a fantastic article about unconventional ham glazes that might inspire you and your taste buds. You can read it here: Unconventional Ham Glazes That Are Delicious.
Salmon
Many people choose to eat fish over Easter, and seafood sales certainly shoot upward during this time. Did you know that eating fish at Easter—like many of our North American traditions—stems from the Christian Church? If you're looking for fresh, new inspirational ideas on the way to enjoy salmon this Easter, check out the ideas below!
Coulibiac of Salmon
Do you love the sound of a flaky, delicious, juicy salmon wrapped in a golden crust of delicate pastry? Then Coulibiac of salmon might be your perfect Easter dish. Even easier, you can use storebought phyllo (or filo) pastry sheets to wrap the salmon in, saving you the time and hassle of making the pastry yourself.
To make a Coulbiac, you'll butterfly a piece of salmon and lay the salmon on top of two oiled pastry sheets. Next, you can stuff the salmon with a delicious rice mix of various spices and vegetables you love, then close the pastry over it and bake.
Easy Mustard Salmon
Here's a quick and easy dinner idea that doesn't sacrifice any flavor. To make this easy mustard salmon, the star of the show will be your mustard, especially whole seed mustard, to pack on the delicious as well as excellent mouth-feel texture. Spread a thin layer of this mustard all over your salmon, place it all in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, and voila. Dinner's ready!
Other Easter Salmon Ideas:
• Combine white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, dried chili flakes, chopped parsley to make a crust. Using egg white, coat your salmon in the egg white and then roll it through the sesame seed for a seared sesame-crusted adventure.
• Slightly sweet and salty, consider glazing your salmon with an easy mix of miso and ginger. You can find miso ready-made in many local markets and grocery stores. Just add a splash of mirin, soy sauce, and scallions to kick up the glaze flavor.
Seafood
Not feeling salmon for Easter this year, but still a big seafood fan? Here are some ideas to get your mouth watering!
Hazelnut and thyme crumbed ocean trout.
A mix of Dijon mustard, fresh thyme, chervil leaves, and ground hazelnuts wraps around a skinless ocean trout that's baked to perfection. Additionally, it's a visually stunning meal that's finished with a dressing made of olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
One-pot shrimp in coconut sauce.
Are you looking for something easy but melt-in-your-mouth delectable? A 30-minute, creamy and comforting shrimp in coconut sauce may be perfect for your Easter table. Grab some jumbo shrimp and find the ideal coconut sauce and whip up this dish that will make you and guests come back for seconds.
Roast Beef
What's another perfect Easter main dish? A roast beef! With a bit of time, it's easy to make show-stopping roasts that your friends and family will adore. A succulent roast will no doubt be a worthy centerpiece for you this year. But, what to do for the roast beef? We've got you! Why not try some of these ideas?
Herb Crusted Beef Rib Roast
For this rich and succulent roast beef, a simple herb crust is all you need for the basis of this memorable main course. Gather freshly ground peppercorn medley, salt, garlic, thyme leaves, rosemary, and tarragon, then after patting roast dry, firmly press the seasoning all over the roast. If you'd like to pair it with a sauce, we recommend a horseradish cream sauce paired with a side of roasted fennel.
Balsamic Roast Beef for the Slow Cooker
Simple doesn't have to mean boring. With this straightforward set-it-and-forget-it roast beef idea, you'll have a fork-tender, fall-apart dish in a breeze. All you need is a slow cooker, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, a splash of Worcestershire, soy, honey, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Then settle your roast in the slow cooker and come back in 4 hours if on high or 6-8 if on low.
But What About Sides?
Along with the classic main courses, you'll undoubtedly want to pair them with some traditional side dishes. But which ones? Don't worry, we've got more ideas for that, too!
• Mushroom Risotto
• Potatoes Au Gratin
• Lemon Ricotta Pasta
• Scalloped Portobello Mushrooms
• Green Bean Casserole
• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted vegetable mixes like carrots, Brussels sprouts tossed with pecans and dried cranberries
• Fluffy yeast rolls or garlic knots
This Easter, let us help you create a classic, unforgettable holiday meal, easy. When it comes to the freshest ingredients from seafood to meat, Wholey's will deliver straight to your door—allowing you to get back to doing, and eating, what you love.