For many, lamb is non-negotiable, but there are plenty of other ways to make the table sing too: golden vegetable pies, springtime sides and puddings that walk the line between nostalgic and indulgent with aplomb. Whether you’re hosting the whole affair or bringing a dish to contribute, these are the recipes we return to year after year.
Lamb Recipes
For carnivorous revellers, lamb is indisputably the star of the Easter lunching show. These are our favourite recipes – from the reassuringly classic to the more inventive.
Roast Lamb With Pistachio, Feta & Lemon Stuffing
Waitrose
A roast leg of lamb is the cornerstone of many an Easter table, but this version from the good folk at Waitrose adds a Mediterranean twist that we think is very tasty indeed. Pistachios, feta and lemon bring brightness and texture to the stuffing, cutting through the richness of the meat beautifully. The result is traditional enough to please purists while still feeling fresh and interesting. Absolutely ideal. Get the recipe.
Celebration Rice With Lamb, Chicken And Garlic Yoghurt
Ottolenghi
If you fancy steering slightly away from the traditional roast, Ottolenghi’s celebratory rice dish makes for a glorious centrepiece. Fragrant rice is layered with spiced lamb, tender chicken and cooling garlic yoghurt, then scattered with nuts and herbs. It looks magnificent on the table and feeds a crowd happily: perfection. Get the recipe.
Tarragon And Anchovy-Stuffed Lamb Shoulder With Fennel And Bone Marrow Crumble
Olive Magazine
For those who enjoy something a little more chef-y, this lamb shoulder from the team at the much-lauded Bull in Charlbury delivers real depth of flavour. Tarragon and anchovy add savoury complexity while the fennel and bone marrow crumble brings the texture and richness. It’s a dish for cooks who enjoy the theatre of a slow roast – and the post-feast applause that will surely follow. Get the recipe.
Rack Of Lamb, Potato And Pepper Tray Roast
Delicious Magazine
If you like the idea of serving lamb but prefer yours without quite so much in the way of ceremony, this tray roast is a reassuringly straightforward option. A rack of lamb roasts alongside new potatoes and sweet peppers, allowing everything to soak up the same savoury juices. Minimal fuss, maximum flavour – and very little washing up, which has to be a win. Get the recipe.
Vegetarian Main Recipes
Having a vegetarian at Easter lunch need not feel like a hurdle to overcome. These meat-free dishes are every bit as celebratory as their carnivorous counterparts.
Easter Spinach Pie
BBC
This Italian-inspired Easter pie, known as torta pasqualina, is a proper showstopper. Layers of flaky pastry encase spinach, ricotta and eggs for a dish that feels both hearty and fresh – just the thing for a spring gathering. Slice it open at the table and watch it disappear. Get the recipe.
Roasted Vegetable Quiche
BBC
Quiche may sound simple but, done well, it’s one of the most reliable crowd-pleasers around. This version combines roasted vegetables with a creamy Gruyère in buttery pastry. Serve warm or at room temperature alongside a leafy salad and it makes a perfect feast for vegetarian guests. Well, of course it does; it’s a Mary Berry invention after all, and what she doesn’t know about hosting isn’t worth bothering with. Get the recipe.
Seasonal Side Recipes
So often it’s the stellar sides that make a plate come alive. As spring hits its stride, there is much to be made of the seasonal bounty.
Roasted Carrots
Love & Lemons
Simple, sweet and gloriously seasonal, roasted carrots are one of the easiest ways to bring a good bit of punchy colour to the Easter table. A drizzle of honey and a good roast in the oven coax out their natural sweetness, making them a vibrant addition to everything from lamb to vegetarian pies. Get the recipe.
Best Jersey Royals With Butter And Herbs
Delicious Magazine
Few things feel more like the arrival of spring than the first Jersey Royals. Simply boiled and tossed with good butter and a handful of chopped chives (though parsley or mint would work beautifully too), they make the perfect partner to roast lamb while keeping the plate light and seasonal. We’d be tempted to add a little lemon zest here too, just to put an extra spring in this perfectly simple dish’s step. Get the recipe.
Raw & Cooked Asparagus With Lemon & Parmesan Butter
BBC Good Food
When asparagus season arrives, the sensible thing is to keep things simple. This elegant side pairs tender spears with lemony butter and a generous scattering of Parmesan, allowing the vegetable to remain firmly centre stage. Fresh, bright and ready in minutes, it’s exactly the sort of dish that rightly elicits coos of delight when placed on the Easter table. Get the recipe.
Pudding Recipes
Sure, we may be awash with chocolate we could munch our way through. But for those who take Easter lunch seriously, these are the puds that reliably have guests finding just a little extra space.
Hot Cross Bun Bread & Butter Pudding
Great British Chefs
Oh how we love a hot cross bun – so much so that we often find ourselves with a bread bin full of them. When that happens, there is only one sensible course of action: bread and butter pudding. This indulgent version transforms the spiced buns into a gorgeous custardy dessert that is perfectly suited to Easter Sunday. We implore you to make this easy and highly effective dish for a hungry crowd. Get the recipe.
Simnel Cake
Betty’s
If you’ve just about polished off the Christmas cake and find yourself with mild withdrawal symptoms, now is the moment to rustle up a Simnel cake, Easter’s fruity rejoinder. This recipe from Lesley Wild, founder of Bettys Cookery School, is a particularly good one, complete with homemade marzipan for the traditional topping. Get the recipe.
Easter Nests
Jane’s Patisserie
Is it even Easter if you haven’t rustled up a batch of chocolate nests dotted with Mini Eggs? We think not. Made with little more than chocolate, syrup and Shredded Wheat, they’re quick, nostalgic and enormously popular with smaller guests – though adults tend to hover nearby too. Get the recipe.
