What we're here to talk about today is vegetables, in particular, asparagus and morel mushrooms. More

[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] Note: If ramps are unavailable, substitute with 1 clove garlic and 1 bunch sliced scallions. About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats where he likes to explore the science... More

[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] Note: Both the chili bean paste and the Sichuan Peppercorns can be bought online (follow the links) if you don't have a good Chinese market nearby. Use tofu labeled "silken" in a hardness range of medium... More

Feel free to use whatever fresh green vegetables you can find. Young broccoli stalks, brussels sprouts, fava beans, or fiddleheads would all work fine. More

Ramps are wild leeks that end up tasting like an earthy cross between green onions and garlic. They make an excellent pickle. This particular combination of pickling spices was heavily influenced by the basic pickling brine recipe in The Wild Table, an excellent book on foraged foods by Connie Green and Sarah Scott. You can pickle the ramp greens as well as the bases, but the greens do not hold up as well and are better kept for sauteeing fresh. More

[Photographs: Elizabeth Barbone] For this tart, I add Parmesan cheese to the crust and filling. If you're dairy-free, the tart works well without the cheese. For the filling, replace the half and half with either dairy-free cream or add an... More

Fresh herb pesto makes a flavorful dressing for a springy pasta salad studded with green peas. Chopped walnuts add delicious crunch and fresh lemon juice brightens it up. More

This pickled rhubarb is both sweet and tart. I like to cut the stalks into lengths that fit in the jar neatly and slice it into bite-sized pieces just before adding to a cheese plate or tossing into a grain salad. More

One of the great things about spring is that it provides you with a plethora of vegetables that need only brief cooking stints to become delicious. This makes them the perfect companion for a roast chicken dinner. Simply roast your chicken, have your vegetable prepped, then cook them while the chicken rests. All of your food comes out piping hot at the exact same time. More

[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats where he likes to explore the science of home cooking in his weekly column The Food Lab. You can follow him at... More