5 Sunny Recipes to Brighten Up the Dinner Table

This week we intentionally welcome bright colors to our weeknight dinners. We have golden turmeric roast chicken, roasted kale and butternut squash pasta, bright red, yellow, and green bell peppers stuffed with a cajun-spiced filling, and much more!

By
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel began testing recipes for Simply Recipes in 2018. She started her food blog in 2017 and taught children's baking classes around Seattle.
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Published February 25, 2022
Rachel Knecht
March Meal Plan Week 2

I love flowers and there are yellow roses from the grocery store adorning our table today. I smile every time I look over and see the vivid flowers standing tall. While we (im)patiently wait for warmer weather, I think we should brighten up our dinner table with bright-colored dishes that have punchy and dazzling flavors. 

We eat with our eyes first, and this week I want my plate filled with an array of colors!

Turmeric in a roast chicken lends an earthy flavor and golden, crispy skin. Roasted kale and butternut squash pasta is as pretty to look at as it is tasty to eat. Ginger, lime, and chilis excite the taste buds in coconut poached cod with ginger and lime. Turn Instant Pot Mexican pulled pork into a mid-week taco bar with lots of bright toppings like radishes, red onion, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, and salsa.

Finish the week off with a rainbow of stuffed bell peppers filled with beef, rice, and cajun seasoning. For dessert, bake these sunny and bright sandwich cookies—Lemon Macarons—I can't get enough of them.

  • Turmeric and Honey-Glazed Chicken

    Chicken on a blue platter.
    Sally Vargas

    Roast a spatchcocked whole chicken coated with turmeric, ginger, and coriander over a bed of onions. Brush it with a glaze of honey and soy sauce for a glossy, golden, and totally tempting dinner. Serve this golden chicken with rice and a smile.

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  • Roasted Kale and Butternut Squash Pasta

    Overhead view of oven roasted kale and squash pasta in a bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Kale and butternut squash are roasted, mixed with cooked penne, and topped with goat cheese for a satisfyingly rich meal both in color and flavor. It's that easy!

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  • Coconut Poached Cod with Ginger and Lime

    Overhead view of two bowls of Coconut poached cod with ginger and lime served with lime and rice.

    Infuse coconut milk with ginger, lemongrass, fish sauce, and brown sugar for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Poach the cod filets in the coconut milk and add bright green bok choy for crunch. Serve it with quick pickled chilis, lime wedges, and cilantro for a dreamy dairy-free dinner.

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  • Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork

    IP pork tacos
    Coco Morante

    Make a big batch of Mexican pulled pork for an easy mid-week taco bar! Set out spanish rice, flour tortillas, cotija cheese, shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, chopped avocado, salsa, and sour cream for a dish bursting with flavors and colors.

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    Continue to 5 of 6 below.

  • Pressure Cooker Cajun-Spiced Stuffed Peppers

    Stuffed Peppers in the Pressure Cooker
    Coco Morante

    Cajun seasoning amps up these ground beef and rice stuffed peppers. Plus, the pressure cooker ensures the filling isn’t dry. You’ll need a 7-inch cake pan and a trivet for this recipe.

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  • Lemon Macarons

    Lemon buttercream macarons set on top of each other on a plate.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    French macarons are a meringue-based and gluten-free sandwich cookie worth the effort. After assembly, the cookies need to mature for 12 hours so make sure to give yourself enough time. I know it'll be hard to wait, but it's totally worth it.

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