A rich, heavy meal seems like too much after a day spent outside enjoying the spring weather. Instead, try something light and fresh — something that reflects the gifts of the season.

Swipe through to get ideas for delicious dishes for your spring table.

Pasta primavera (springtime in Italian) is the quintessential spring dish. To cooked penne or fusilli, add a light lemon-cream sauce and lots of veggies like yellow bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, peas and zucchini.

Photography: Pinterest/Liz Thomson (I Heart Vegetables)

Asparagus is a spring vegetable, so try adding this one to the table this season. Roast them in the oven with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cut them into thirds and sauté them with butter and seasonings. Alternatively, chop up some raw asparagus and add it to a salad.

Artichoke is another spring vegetable that is delicious roasted or steamed. Place the artichokes cut side up on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then top with chopped-up herbs. Use fresh herbs from your own garden if you have them, or use what you picked up from the grocery store.

Photography: Diethood via Pinterest

Sautéed or baked salmon topped with spring herbs and sprinkled with fresh lemon makes a delicious seasonal main dish. Make extra salmon to top a lunch salad the next day.

Quiche also brings a spring sensibility to the table. Add plenty of fresh eggs, maybe some bacon, asparagus, spinach or whatever sounds good to you. Don’t knock yourself out making crust from scratch; a frozen crust is just fine.

Celebrate the best of spring with a strawberry and watercress salad. To quartered strawberries and fresh watercress, add diced rhubarb, sliced cucumbers and chopped herbs. Top with a dressing made of lemon juice, honey and olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and poppy seeds.

Photography: Country Living Magazine via Pinterest

For dessert, how about some light and delicious lemon bars? You’ll find plenty of recipes online, but always, always, use fresh lemon juice. Try Meyer lemons for a flavor twist.