What’s in Season in May

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May seasonal fruits and vegetables bridge the gap between spring and summer in delicious fashion. This May produce guide will have your taste buds tip-toeing toward summer by way of seasonal recipes starring strawberries, artichokes, peas, and more.

Produce that is in season in May.


 

In the midwest, May Saturdays mean one thing: Farmers market time! With hundreds of bakers, makers, foragers, farmers, and more selling their wares (not to mention breakfast tacos and warm pastries galore), there’s no better place to be on a crisp spring morning. While the coffee and cinnamon rolls are a lovely pick-me-up, the best part of the farmers market’s launch is undeniably the overflowing tables of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Wondering what’s in season in May so you can shop smartly? Consider this seasonal produce guide below like having me as your market buddy, guiding you through the essential May fruits and vegetables that are worthy of a spot in your reusable shopping bag.

Seasonal produce is fresh and affordable, so both your budget and your taste buds will be happy if you stock up accordingly. No matter if you’re strolling the aisles at the supermarket or if you’re feasting on food directly from a farmer, consider adding these fresh fruits and vegetables to your shopping list.

In case you could use some inspiration for how to put what’s in season in May to delicious use, I’m also sharing ideas for seasonal recipes to include in your next round of meal prep or as part of your menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or potlucks and picnics. ‘Tis the season!

Still have leftover produce from last month? See what’s in season in April.
Looking ahead to next month? Discover what’s in a season in June. 

What’s in Season in May?

  • Early-season berries and stone fruits: Prime berry time isn’t for another month or two, but you can score a sneak peek of some fruits in this family, including strawberries, cherries, apricots, and plums, come May. Get your fix in pies, cobblers and crisps, as part of shortcakes, or washed and out of hand. They’re sweet like candy right now.
  • Tropical fruits: I know, there isn’t exactly any growing season for kiwi and mango in the midwest, but they travel beautifully from warmer regions (where they grow prolifically and are at their peak right now). Try them with Fruit Dip, in parfaits, fruit salsas, Memorial Day fruit salads, and smoothies.
  • Buckwheat, root, and thistle vegetables: Don’t sleep on often-overlooked yet versatile May vegetables like artichokes, rhubarb (yes, it’s a veggie, even though we often use it like a fruit!), and radishes. Not only would that not be comfy, but you’d be missing out on stellar starters, snacks, desserts, and more. Artichokes are excellent steamed, fried, stuffed, or roasted, while rhubarb is remarkable in pies, jams, muffins, or even savory sheet pan dinners. Radishes need nothing else besides a dunk into softened butter and a sprinkle of salt, although you could also roast them, pair them with your favorite dip, or slice and sprinkle them into salads.
  • Daisy, legume, and onion family vegetables: Get this: asparagus is actually a perennial flower, as a member of the daisy family. April showers brought them, and the stalks are exceptional in tarts, scrambles, soups, and pasta recipes. Spring peas are technically considered legumes. While you certainly could whip them up into “hummus” like you use chickpeas, I’m wild sweet on peas in pasta tosses and salads. Sweet onions, and if you’re lucky enough to find them, ramps, are totally dreamy grilled, roasted, or sautéed into sauces, soups, egg breakfasts, and potato sides.

The Best Fruits and Vegetables to Eat in May

FruitsVegetables
ApricotsArtichokes
CherriesAsparagus
KiwisFava Beans
PlumsRadishes
MangosRamps
PineapplesRhubarb
StrawberriesSpring Peas
Sweet Onions

Early-Season Berries and Stone Fruit Recipes

Kick your feet up, berry frosé season has arrived! It’s the ideal month to dive into a wide variety of festive and fresh cherry and strawberry recipes.

A strawberry rhubarb pie in a pie pan with one slice removed.

1

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

The best spring dessert recipe, if you ask me, this lattice-topped Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is exploding with sweet-tart flavor. Learn how to make Strawberry Rhubarb Pie filling, plus I'll coach you through how to make lattice crust that's worthy of a cookbook cover.
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Strawberry spinach salad in a black bowl.

2

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Healthy is anything but dull when there’s a giant Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing waiting for lunch. It’s colorful, naturally sweet, and as wonderful as it gets.
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A fully baked Cherry crisp with crunchy topping.

3

Cherry Crisp

Summer nights are even sweeter with a warm Cherry Crisp for dessert. Throw it all together at the last minute and serve it up with some vanilla ice cream.
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Tropical Fruit Recipes

Pretend like you’re already on summer vacation with these island-flavored seasonal fruit salads, salsas, smoothies, and party-starting desserts.

A fresh fruit tart on a counter top.

4

Fresh Fruit Tart

Loaded with a lush assortment of seasonal berries and other fruit, there's nothing quite as lovely as a Fresh Fruit Tart. You'll also learn some baking basics, like a tart crust and pastry cream, along the way.
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Two Piña Coladas on a counter.

5

Piña Colada

A classic Piña Colada has pineapple, coconut, and rum blended or shaken with ice until frosty and delicious.
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Fruit salad in a small white bowl.

6

Fruit Salad

Freshen up your menu with an easy, make-ahead Fruit Salad that's tossed in a zippy honey and citrus dressing. Toss it together, then allow this crowd-pleasing Fruit Salad to chill for an hour (or more) for a simple and healthy side dish recipe.
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Buckwheat, Root, and Thistle Vegetable Recipes

These are the artichoke, radish, and rhubarb recipes you’ll want to have on repeat as part of your May menu.

Artichoke pasta in a teal bowl.

7

Artichoke Pasta

This simple, delicious Artichoke Pasta is made with lemon, butter, and plenty of Parmesan. And it's made with frozen artichoke hearts so you can enjoy it year-round.
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Baked cod in a white baking dish.

8

Baked Cod

Simple and delicious Baked Cod is a knockout weeknight supper ready in 30 minutes or less. Flaky cod filets soak up all the flavors of Mediterranean vegetables simmered in white wine.
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Daisy, Legume, and Onion Family Vegetable Recipes

Infuse layers of flavor into any savory recipe with sweet onions and ramps, then load on the color with quick-cooking and vibrant asparagus and peas.

A baking sheet full of roasted asparagus with lemons.

9

Roasted Asparagus Recipe

You'll love this easy Roasted Asparagus recipe with olive oil, garlic, and lemon. The high oven temperature cooks it to tender-crisp perfection in 10 minutes or less making it a quick, easy, and healthy side dish.
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Blanched asparagus on a cutting board.

10

How to Blanch Asparagus

Here’s how to blanch asparagus perfectly to enjoy in salads, pasta, or all by itself. It's an easy technique to learn whether you want to meal prep, make a veggie tray, or freeze asparagus for later.
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Israeli Couscous salad on a white and black platter.

11

Israeli Couscous Salad

This recipe for Israeli Couscous Salad welcomes any changes you feel like making to it, but I make mine with toasted walnuts, feta, mint, peppery arugula, and quick pickled shallots; every forkful is fresh and fantastic. It’s really tempting to eat the whole bowl in one sitting.
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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