May’s Bounty: Your Ultimate Guide to Seasonal Fruits, Vegetables & Recipes
Welcome to May! As the days grow longer and warmer, the abundance of fresh produce truly starts to shine. If you’re eager to discover what delights are in season this month, you’ve landed in the perfect spot. From the tropical sweetness of pineapple to the distinctive zing of wild garlic, May brings a vibrant array of new fruits and vegetables, marking our delightful journey into late spring and the cusp of summer.
After a typically transitional April, May truly ushers in the vibrant energy of spring with more consistent warm sunshine and a spectacular bloom of flowers. This cheerful shift in weather also signals a change in our produce aisles and local markets. We begin to bid farewell to hearty cold-weather staples like beets and citrus, making way for a much wider variety of fresh, lighter options that foreshadow the plentiful harvests of summer.
This comprehensive guide to what’s in season in May is designed to be your go-to resource for navigating the exciting world of seasonal produce over the coming weeks. While many ingredients are available year-round in our modern global food system, this guide focuses on helping you select fruits and vegetables when they are at their absolute peak. This “peak season” is when they offer the most intense flavor, optimal nutritional value, and often, the best prices.
With farmers’ markets blossoming to life and opening their stalls for the season, you can look forward to not only superior quality but also more attractive pricing on the fresh produce listed below! Embracing seasonal eating will elevate your culinary creations, allowing you to craft the most flavorful salads (both savory and sweet fruit salads!), refreshing smoothies, delectable pies, light muffins, homemade jams, and countless other beloved late spring recipes. Eating seasonally connects you more deeply with the natural rhythm of the year and brings a freshness to your table that is simply unparalleled.
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Vegetables in Season in May
May is a spectacular time for vegetables, with many varieties reaching their crisp and tender prime. From leafy greens perfect for fresh salads to root vegetables still holding their own, this month offers a bounty that is both nutritious and incredibly versatile. Below is the ultimate list of everything that is in season in May. Think of this as your essential guide for stocking up your pantry from the produce section or your local farmers’ market!
Artichokes: These unique thistles are fantastic roasted, steamed, or grilled.
Arugula: Peppery and vibrant, ideal for salads or topping pizzas.
Asparagus: The quintessential spring vegetable, tender and delicious simply steamed or roasted.
Avocados: Creamy and rich, perfect for guacamole, toast, or adding to tacos.
Beets: Earthy and sweet, excellent roasted, pickled, or grated raw into salads.
Bell Peppers: Crisp and colorful, great for stir-fries, fajitas, or eaten raw with dip.
Bok Choy: A mild, crunchy Asian green, wonderful in stir-fries or soups.
Broccoli: Versatile and packed with nutrients, enjoy it roasted, steamed, or in casseroles.
Carrots: Sweet and crunchy, perfect raw, roasted, or in stews.
Cauliflower: A low-carb superstar, delicious roasted, mashed, or as rice.
Celery: Crisp and refreshing, great in salads, soups, or as a snack.
Corn: Early corn starts appearing, hinting at summer BBQs. Sweet and juicy!
Cucumbers: Hydrating and refreshing, indispensable for salads and cooling drinks.
Endive: A slightly bitter green, excellent in salads or as a scoop for appetizers.
Fennel: With its distinct anise flavor, it’s lovely roasted, grilled, or shaved thinly in salads.
Green Beans: Snap them up fresh for quick side dishes or vibrant stir-fries.
Kale: Robust and nutrient-dense, use it in salads, smoothies, or sautéed.
Leeks: Mild and sweet members of the onion family, perfect for soups, quiches, and gratins.
Microgreens: Packed with flavor and nutrients, excellent as a garnish or in delicate salads.
Mushrooms: Earthy and versatile, great in sautés, sauces, or as a meat substitute.
New Potatoes: Small, tender, and creamy, ideal for potato salads or simply boiled with butter and herbs.
Okra: A southern favorite, good fried, in gumbo, or roasted.
Peas: Sweet and tender, freshly shelled peas are a spring delicacy. Enjoy them raw or lightly cooked.
Potatoes: Hearty and adaptable, from mashed to baked to roasted.
Radicchio: A bitter, colorful chicory, adds a beautiful touch to salads.
Radishes: Crisp and peppery, a fantastic addition to salads or as a simple snack with butter and salt.
Rhubarb: Though often used as a fruit, it’s botanically a vegetable. Tangy and tart, it’s perfect for pies and crumbles.
Spinach: Tender and quick-cooking, great in salads, omelets, or as a healthy side.
Spring Greens: A mix of young, tender leaves, offering a refreshing base for any salad.
Sweet Onions: Milder and sweeter than regular onions, excellent for caramelizing or in fresh preparations.
Wild Garlic: Fragrant and flavorful, perfect for pestos, soups, or infusing oils.
Zucchini: An early summer squash, versatile for grilling, sautéing, or baking into breads.
Fruits in Season in May
May marks a turning point as we move away from heavier winter fruits and welcome the first wave of berries and stone fruits, alongside some tropical delights. Now is truly the time to start picking up these wonderfully fresh fruits and incorporating them into your favorite snacks, desserts, main dishes, and vibrant cocktails!
Apples: Some late-season varieties are still excellent, perfect for baking or fresh eating.
Apricots: Small, sweet, and delicate, enjoy them fresh or in tarts.
Blackberries: Juicy and tart, the first of the season’s berries are appearing, wonderful in desserts or jams.
Blueberries: Sweet and bursting with flavor, fantastic in muffins, pancakes, or smoothies.
Cantaloupe: Refreshing and sweet, a great addition to fruit salads or enjoyed on its own.
Cherries: The beginning of cherry season brings a burst of sweet-tart flavor. Don’t miss out!
Grapefruit: Still a refreshing option, particularly good for breakfast or juicing.
Kiwi: Tangy and sweet, adds a tropical flair to fruit salads or smoothies.
Lemons: Bright and zesty, essential for dressings, desserts, and drinks.
Limes: A tart counterpart to lemons, perfect for cocktails, marinades, and fresh dishes.
Mangos: Sweet and succulent, bringing a taste of the tropics to your table. Great in salsas or smoothies.
Nectarines: Smooth-skinned peaches, sweet and juicy for fresh eating or grilling.
Oranges: Still readily available and great for juicing or snacking.
Papaya: Tropical and subtly sweet, perfect for breakfast or light desserts.
Peaches: The first early peaches begin to arrive, promising sweet summer delights.
Pineapple: Wonderfully sweet and tangy, excellent grilled, in fruit salads, or tropical drinks.
Plums: Juicy and diverse, available in many sweet and tart varieties.
Raspberries: Delicate and flavorful, perfect for topping desserts, fresh eating, or in cocktails.
Strawberries: The true star of May, incredibly sweet and juicy, ideal for everything from shortcakes to salads.
Tomatoes: Early varieties are starting to ripen, offering a taste of summer’s best. Technically a fruit!
Why Choose Seasonal Produce?
Embracing seasonal eating offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond just taste. When fruits and vegetables are harvested in their peak season, they are at their most flavorful, having ripened naturally under optimal conditions. This natural ripening process allows them to develop their full aromatic compounds and sugars, resulting in a taste that is far superior to produce picked unripe and shipped long distances.
Beyond flavor, seasonal produce is often more nutritious. Studies suggest that fruits and vegetables grown and harvested in season tend to have higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants compared to their out-of-season counterparts. This is because they are allowed to mature fully and are not subjected to long storage or transportation times that can degrade nutrient content.
Economically, buying seasonal produce can also be more budget-friendly. When a particular fruit or vegetable is in season, there’s a greater abundance of it, which naturally drives down prices. This means you can enjoy fresh, high-quality ingredients without breaking the bank, and even stock up for canning or freezing to enjoy later in the year.
Environmentally, choosing seasonal and local produce significantly reduces your carbon footprint. Less energy is expended on transportation, storage, and artificial ripening processes. It also supports local farmers and agricultural communities, helping to sustain local economies and preserve farmland. By eating seasonally, you become part of a larger, healthier ecosystem, enjoying food that is better for you, better for your community, and better for the planet.
May Seasonal Recipes
With springtime being a time for new beginnings and the arrival of such fresh ingredients, I absolutely love to ensure I’m incorporating seasonal produce into vibrant, fresh recipes as much as I can throughout May. The unique flavors of this month’s harvest lend themselves beautifully to both sweet and savory dishes, making cooking an even more enjoyable and creative process.
Below, I’m thrilled to share some of my favorite May seasonal recipes that truly celebrate the bounty of the season. These festive eats and sips are perfect for entertaining at a party, but they are also wonderfully easy enough to prepare any night of the week for your family and friends. Don’t just save these ideas for later – make a plan to try one next week or this coming weekend! Life is too short to merely dream of making delicious recipes. Embrace the freshness of May, make them, and savor every bite!
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a handy graphic to save, so you always have a quick reference for what’s in season in May!
Blueberry Simple Syrup
This homemade blueberry simple syrup infuses a vibrant burst of berry flavor into everything it touches, from refreshing cocktails and mocktails to lemonades and even breakfast pancakes. It’s an essential summer staple that requires just three simple ingredients and minimal effort, making it incredibly easy to whip up. You’ll find yourself wanting to drizzle this delightful syrup on everything!
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake
This lemon blueberry cheesecake is a marvel of creamy texture, bright tanginess, and a generous load of juicy blueberries! Baked on a buttery graham cracker crust and elegantly topped with a simple, sweet blueberry compote, it delivers a delightful harmony of zesty citrus, naturally sweet berries, and a rich, creamy cheesecake experience. It’s a perfect make-ahead dessert, ideal for any spring or summer gathering.
White Sangria
If you’re planning a lively summer party or simply need a refreshing drink that can be prepared in advance and pairs beautifully with almost any meal, this white sangria is an impeccable choice. Easy to customize with your favorite seasonal fruits and wonderfully versatile, it’s a beverage you’ll find yourself returning to time and time again. Its light, fruity profile is perfect for warm May evenings.
Charred Cilantro Lime Corn Chicken Avocado Tacos
These Charred Cilantro Lime Corn Chicken Avocado Tacos provide the ultimate reason to stay in for Taco Tuesday this week. Featuring succulent, flavorful honey-lime chicken paired with a fiery charred corn salsa, every component of these vibrant tacos contributes remarkable texture and an abundance of bold, zesty flavors! They’re easy to prepare and truly satisfying, highlighting the fresh flavors of May.
Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Experience pure indulgence with this Chocolate Strawberry Cake, featuring layers of moist, fluffy chocolate cake generously frosted with a light and fruity strawberry buttercream. This delightful combination has earned it the title of my most popular cake recipe of all time! It’s an ideal way to celebrate the abundance of fresh strawberries available in May.
Spicy Italian Stuffed Peppers
These Spicy Italian Stuffed Peppers offer a delectable fresh twist on a beloved family favorite! Sweet bell peppers are generously filled with a robust mixture of savory ground beef, rich marinara sauce, fragrant Italian herbs, gooey cheese, and wholesome veggies. Each stuffed pepper serves as a complete, satisfying meal on its own, delivering all the flavor without the typical carb load found in many stuffed pepper recipes. Bell peppers are wonderfully in season during May, making this dish both timely and delicious.
Sparkling Blueberry Thyme Vodka Lemonade
A Sparkling Blueberry Thyme Vodka Lemonade boasts the perfect balance of fruity tartness to keep you wonderfully refreshed all summer long! The unexpected addition of fresh thyme introduces a subtle, herbaceous note that you’ll quickly become obsessed with. Be prepared to indulge in at least two – these are just too good to have only one. Blueberries are in prime season in May, making this drink extra special.
Jalapeño Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons
If you’re a fan of classic jalapeño poppers, prepare to be absolutely delighted by these Jalapeño Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons! The harmonious blend of creamy, spicy filling encased in wonderfully crispy wonton wrappers transforms these into an irresistible party appetizer – or perhaps an incredibly satisfying afternoon snack. Avocados are fantastic in May, ensuring a rich, fresh flavor.
Raspberry Margarita
A truly refreshing Raspberry Margarita is a special, effortlessly easy, and utterly delicious cocktail to mix up this week! With a simple list of only four key ingredients, it’s guaranteed to be a hit with all your friends and family. Gather your fresh raspberries and limes, and join us in crafting this classic cocktail with a delightful fruity twist, perfect for celebrating May’s fresh berry season.
Sheet Pan Pineapple Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Sauce
These Sheet Pan Pineapple Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Sauce make getting dinner on the table incredibly easy and quick, often in less than 30 minutes, with minimal cleanup. All the main components are roasted together on a single sheet pan, the vibrant jalapeño sauce comes together swiftly in a blender, and the remaining taco fillings are simply sliced. This recipe offers a super easy, yet complex, mix of spicy, sweet, and smoky flavors, perfectly showcasing the wonderful pineapple available in May.
French Onion Burger
Indulge in all the beloved flavors of your favorite French onion soup, but in a wonderfully portable burger form! These juicy, incredibly flavorful burgers are crowned with melted Gruyère cheese and deeply caramelized sweet onions, creating a truly killer summer burger that’s perfect for grilling on a pleasant May evening. Sweet onions are in their prime this month, adding to the exquisite taste.
Garlic Butter Oven Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
Garlic Butter Oven Roasted Carrots and Potatoes is the ultimate versatile side dish that complements virtually anything you can imagine! The comforting richness of creamy gold potatoes combined with the bright, naturally sweet flavor of carrots creates a truly classic and satisfying combination. All you need are a few staple ingredients from your pantry to bring this easy and delicious dish to life, perfect for enjoying the fresh carrots and new potatoes in May.
Spicy Mango Margarita
A Spicy Mango Margarita strikes just the right balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy notes to truly refresh your palate! This vibrant cocktail pairs wonderfully with your favorite tacos, zesty dips, and more. Plus, there’s an option provided below to easily make it in a large batch, ensuring everyone at your May gathering can enjoy this tropical treat. With mangos readily available, it’s the perfect time to shake one up!
Easy Risotto with Asparagus and Peas
This creamy Risotto with Asparagus and Peas is a simple yet incredibly flavorful recipe, perfect for elevating any springtime meal. The tender and luxurious risotto is generously packed with vibrant, fresh asparagus and plump, sweet peas, making it an ideal companion for your favorite protein. Serve it as an elegant side dish, a sophisticated starter, or even a satisfying vegetarian main course. With asparagus and peas at their peak in May, this dish is a celebration of spring’s finest.
Blackberry Mojito
It’s officially spring, and with May’s arrival, it’s the perfect time to start incorporating fresh berries into EVE-RY-THANG. Make your next happy hour even more joyous and refreshing with a vibrant Blackberry Mojito! The sweet and tart notes of blackberries, which are wonderfully in season, blend perfectly with the classic mojito flavors for a truly delightful sip.
Need more inspiration for summer cooking or baking? Be sure to explore my comprehensive summer recipes page!
May Seasonal Produce at a Glance
To make your seasonal shopping even easier, here’s a handy visual guide summarizing the key fruits and vegetables that are at their best in May. Pin it, save it, or print it out to keep with you on your next grocery run or visit to the farmers’ market. It’s the perfect way to remember all the delicious options available to you this month!
As you enjoy the vibrant flavors of May, don’t forget to prepare for the delicious months ahead! Be sure to check out my upcoming seasonal produce guides for what’s in season in June and July. Happy cooking and enjoy the incredible fresh flavors of late spring!