Ramen Noodle Salad

This ramen noodle salad recipe is filled with crunchy ramen noodles, colorful veggies, and a tangy dressing. It's a delicious cookout side dish!

Who else grew up eating ramen noodle salad at potlucks and cookouts? This recipe is my updated take on the nostalgic summer side dish. It stars crisp veggies, juicy orange segments, a sweet and tangy vinaigrette, and the best part: a crunchy mix of toasted ramen noodles, nuts, and sesame seeds. I’ve made this ramen noodle salad recipe for a few BBQs already this summer, and it’s always been the first side dish to disappear. I hope you try it for a gathering soon—I promise it’ll be a hit! Ramen Noodle Salad Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

This grilled portobello mushrooms recipe is an easy 15-minute side dish! A simple balsamic marinade fills the mushrooms with delicious savory flavor.

I make these grilled portobello mushrooms on repeat all summer. They’re such an easy side dish—meaty, savory, and ready in just 15 minutes on the grill. Their edges are lightly crisp and nicely charred, while their insides stay perfectly juicy. A quick balsamic marinade fills them with rich, smoky, tangy flavor. Below, I’m sharing my tips and tricks for how to grill portobello mushrooms, my go-to seasoning, and my favorite ways to serve them. They’re the sort of ultra-flavorful, super simple side dish I think everyone should have in their back pocket in summer. Try them for your next cookout…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Antipasto Salad

This Italian antipasto salad stars lush greens, marinated vegetables, a zesty dressing, and two types of cheese. It's a delicious no-cook summer meal!

This antipasto salad recipe is exactly what I crave on a hot summer day. Filled with a delicious mix of greens, cheeses, and tangy, briny marinated veggies, it’s refreshing, flavorful, and oh-so simple to toss together. You don’t have to do any actual cooking here. Just whisk up the zesty homemade dressing, rinse off some chickpeas, and do a little chopping. This vibrant antipasto salad will be ready in 30 minutes or less! Antipasto Salad Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this antipasto salad recipe: Arugula and radicchio – These bitter greens make up the base of the salad.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Sauteed Zucchini

This sautéed zucchini recipe is a simple, flavorful weeknight side dish! Easy to make in 15 minutes, it's seasoned to perfection with garlic and lemon.

This sautéed zucchini recipe is on repeat in my kitchen every summer. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s such an easy side dish. The zucchini cooks on the stovetop with olive oil or butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. When it’s tender and browned, I season it with a squeeze of lemon for brightness, then add garnishes like red pepper flakes, parsley, and/or Parmesan for savory depth. Out of the many, many zucchini recipes I’ve shared over the years, this simple sautéed zucchini is one I make most often. It’s so quick and so flavorful, with delicious caramelization from the hot skillet.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

15 Fresh Spring Vegetable Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes

These spring vegetable recipes are ready in 20 minutes or less! They include easy dinners and vibrant sides starring asparagus, radishes, peas, and more.

Last weekend, I came home from the farmers market with tender asparagus, bright pink radishes, lush greens, and sweet, juicy sugar snap peas. Spring can sometimes get a slow start in April, but with the arrival of these spring vegetables, I’m calling it official: peak spring is here. For the next few weeks, I’ll be cooking spring vegetable recipes nonstop. Some of my favorites, like this asparagus risotto and meaty steamed artichokes, are best reserved for relaxed weekend cooking, but there are plenty of others that are entirely weeknight-possible. Below, you’ll find the quick and easy spring vegetable recipes I make…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Lemon Orzo

This lemon orzo pasta is lightly creamy and bursting with bright lemon flavor. Easy to make in one pot in 20 minutes, it's perfect for weeknights!

This lemon orzo recipe is an easy, delicious one-pot dinner or side dish. This spring, it’s been one of my go-to weeknight meals. It calls for just 10 ingredients, cooks up in 20 minutes, and—best of all—is a hit with the whole family, kiddo included! I love this lemon orzo pasta because it’s bright, fresh, and creamy without any cream. The starches from the orzo and a little Parmesan perfect its comforting texture, while fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and herbs supply its zingy flavor. I often mix in some chickpeas and sautéed asparagus to make this lemon orzo a meal on…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Glazed Carrots

This glazed carrots recipe is an easy side dish for holidays and weeknights! The tender carrots are coated in a flavorful brown sugar or honey glaze.

This glazed carrots recipe is a delicious, easy vegetable side dish. Cooked with brown sugar or honey to bring out their natural sweetness, the carrots are tender, flavorful, and vibrant. They’re a perfect side dish for holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving (especially because they come together on the stovetop, saving you valuable oven space). But they’re so simple that you could make them on busy weeknights too! When I was growing up, brown sugar glazed carrots were always part of my family’s Easter menu. But they were never my favorite. I always found them too soft and too sweet. This glazed…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Best Guacamole Recipe

The BEST guacamole recipe! It's easy to make with simple, fresh ingredients like ripe avocados, onion, and lime juice. Great with chips, tacos, and more!

If you don’t already have a go-to guacamole recipe, let me introduce you to mine. This guacamole recipe is easy to make. You can whip it up in 10 minutes or less! It calls for simple, fresh ingredients. Think ripe avocados, onion, cilantro, and lime. It’s DELICIOUS. This homemade guacamole is creamy, zesty, and bright. I developed the recipe after years of living in Austin, Texas. The city has incredible Tex Mex and Mexican food, and I’ve eaten a TON of great guac at local restaurants there. Eventually, it inspired me to learn how to make guacamole at home. With…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Baked Japanese Sweet Potato

Learn how to bake Japanese sweet potatoes! They have puffy skins and sweet, fluffy, creamy flesh. A nutritious, delicious side dish or light meal!

A Japanese sweet potato is one of my favorite winter vegetables. I first tried one on a trip to Japan years ago, sliced and fried to perfection on a plate of vegetable tempura. Each slice’s crisp exterior gave way to a pale interior that was fluffy and lightly sweet, with a flavor that reminded me of chestnuts. I was hooked immediately. This baked Japanese sweet potato recipe is how I like to prepare them at home. It’s inspired by yaki imo, the baked Japanese sweet potatoes that are sold as a street snack in Japan. In this recipe, the potatoes come…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Christmas Salad

Brighten up your holiday table with this Christmas salad! It's fresh and colorful, made with juicy pomegranates, roasted squash, and winter greens.

This Christmas salad is a fresh, festive addition to a holiday table! It features ruby red pomegranates, candied pecans, shaved pecorino, and roasted squash over a bed of winter greens. My go-to apple cider vinegar dressing ties it all together. I make a version of this Christmas salad recipe every single year. I love the mix of tangy, sweet, and bitter flavors and creamy and crunchy textures. The jeweled tones of the winter produce are so pretty too. If you want to add a pop of color to your spread of Christmas side dishes, this stunning salad is the best…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

30 Best Christmas Side Dishes

Our best Christmas side dishes! From fresh vegetable sides to crowd-pleasing casseroles, they'll all be hits on your holiday dinner table.

These Christmas side dishes include everything you need for a delicious holiday feast! They range from fan-favorite potato recipes to stunning winter vegetables, fresh salads, make-ahead casseroles, and more. No matter what main you’re making, you’ll find Christmas side dishes to love. I don’t know about you, but the side dishes are always my favorite part of Christmas dinner. It doesn’t matter whether my family is having lasagna or prime rib—I’ll be more excited about the vegetables, potatoes, and homemade dinner rolls on the table. I hope these Christmas side dishes are the highlight of your holiday dinner too. Our…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>
A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Welcome to Love & Lemons!

I'm Jeanine Donofrio, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author and recipe developer. I share fresh, delicious vegetarian recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and flavors.

More about us...