18 easter recipes

Feel too lazy to bake any cookies or cake for Easter. Make these crispy Easter nests that will for sure satisfy everyone. They are easy to make, and taste delicious.

Middle Eastern lentil stew with potatoes, zucchini, and cumin - 189 calories per serving, 14 grams of fiber, less than 1 gram of fat. Hearty, filling, and budget-friendly.

Rich Portuguese chickpea soup partially pureed for creamy body, studded with browned pepperoni, stir-fried spinach, potatoes, thyme, and coriander. A hearty, layered bowl.

Easter nests candy: shredded coconut bound in melted white chocolate and green coating, shaped into little nests, and filled with jelly beans. A four-ingredient no-bake project kids love.

Mujaddara: the humble, soul-satisfying Middle Eastern dish of lentils, rice, and bulgur, cooked with cumin and crowned with deeply browned onions. A hearty, protein-rich vegan meal made from pantry staples.

Kentucky-style burgoo with three meats: stewing beef, pork shoulder, and whole chicken simmered for hours with fresh corn, lima beans, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Persian-style mandarine rice with saffron, julienned carrots, slivered almonds, and sultanas in a citrus syrup. Soaked rice baked under a jeweled mandarin and saffron glaze.

A showstopping Persian jeweled rice (javaher polow) layered with saffron-glazed carrots, barberries, currants, pistachios, almonds, orange peel, and rose water. Topped with a golden tah dig crust.

Lentil kufta, a Middle Eastern vegetarian patty made with red lentils and bulgur, seasoned with sauteed onions, scallions, and red pepper. No-fry vegan appetizer shaped into balls or one big mound.

Traditional Norwegian spinach soup (Spinatsuppe) built on a rich chicken stock and thickened with a butter roux. Garnished with sliced hard-cooked eggs for a classic Scandinavian touch, ready in about an hour.

Flourless chocolate espresso torte for Passover with a full pound of chocolate, espresso, butter, and eggs. No flour or leavening needed. Dense, crackly-topped, and dusted with powdered sugar.

A kosher-for-Passover chocolate fudge torte: a flourless matzo-meal sponge layered with rich chocolate fudge frosting. Dairy-free and parve, rising on whipped egg whites instead of leavening.

Persian-style pilaf with basmati rice, red lentils and sour cherries perfumed with turmeric and cumin, finished with a buttery golden crust. A sweet-tart, aromatic side or vegetarian main with real character.

This is a Middle Eastern soup, typical of the simple foods served in the desert regions. Serve with pita bread and a grain or vegetable dish for a simple meal. This soup is also food served cold, stuffed into a pita bread.

Lentil salad with smoked turkey, fresh tarragon, and a tangy yogurt-Dijon dressing. A protein-packed main-dish salad that holds up beautifully for lunch the next day.

Kransekake, a traditional Scandinavian tower cake made from ground almonds, powdered sugar, potato flour, and egg whites. A gluten-free celebration cake for Christmas and weddings.