May is a month of fresh blooms, sunshine, and farmers’ markets bursting with flavor! Spring is in full swing, and that means more fresh fruits, vibrant veggies, and the excitement of longer, warmer days.
One of my favorite ways to stay inspired in the kitchen is by cooking with the seasons. Back in culinary school, I learned just how much better food tastes when you use fresh, in-season ingredients, and idk if its just my ADHD and constant craving of newness, but I’ve never looked back!
Want to make the most of May’s seasonal bounty? Keep reading to discover what’s in season this month, plus recipe ideas to put all that fresh produce to delicious use. Or, if you’re on a mission, use the jump-to menu below to skip straight to what you need!
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ℹ️ May seasonal produce infographic
pro tip: Save the infographic below to your phone’s camera roll for easy reference when grocery shopping, or pin it to your seasonal food board for later!
🧾expansive list of fruits & veggies in season in May
Want to cook more seasonally? A great way to stay inspired is by shopping for in-season fruits and veggies. Not only do they taste better, but they’re also often cheaper and easier to find.
Fruits that are in season in May:
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Boysenberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Dragon Fruit
- Guava
- Kiwi
- Kumquats
- Lychee
- Mangoes
- Melons
- Nectarines
- Papaya
- Passion Fruit
- Peaches
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Vegetables that are in season in May:
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chard
- Chives
- Green Beans
- Green Onions
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mustard Greens
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Summer Squash
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatillos
- Zucchini
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✨ May ingredient spotlight & recipe share
Below, you’ll find a more detailed list of spotlight ingredients that are in season this month, plus shopping tips and creative ways to use each ingredient!
Want more recipe inspo? 👀
Drop me a comment and let me know what you’re looking for! I run this site by myself, and I’m here to help YOU stay inspired! I’d be thrilled to help develop a recipe just for you!
🥭 mango – the world’s most popular fruit!
There are over 500 varieties of mango available, but popular varieties in your local grocery stores are Alphonso, Kent, Tommy Atkins, and Kesar.
Mangoes are perfect for snacking, blending into smoothies, or adding to salads or homemade salsas for a pop of flavor.
When choosing mangoes, don’t rely on color! Instead, give it a gentle squeeze—ripe mangoes should have a slight softness, like a ripe avocado. A sweet, fruity aroma near the stem is another good sign it’s ready to eat.
recipe ideas for mango:
the star of a smoothie
Freeze peak season mango and enjoy it in smoothies all year long, like this tropical starfruit smoothie with mango and strawberries!
infused in your favorite liquor
Liquor infusions are a great way to make the most of seasonal produce! Use this recipe for jalapeño tequila, but swap the peppers for mangos!
🍍pineapple – a tropical crown jewel!
Sweet, tart, and ultra-refreshing, pineapple is the fruit of warm-weather vibes. It’s great for drinks, desserts, and even savory dishes (yeah, like pizza).
A ripe pineapple should have golden skin (not totally green!), and it should smell sweet at the base. If a leaf from the top pulls out with a gentle tug, that’s a good sign it’s ready!
recipe ideas for pineapple:
pineapple simple syrup
This pineapple drink syrup recipe uses the core of the pineapple to help cut down on food waste while making an easy home infused syrup!
homemade pineapple soda
One of my favorite ways to use homemade syrups is making homemade soda pops! This pineapple soda recipe also adds crushed fresh pineapple to amp up the taste!
on top of a pepperoni pizza!
Sure it’s probably one of the MOST debated pizza toppings ever, but I love pineapple on pizza! Crush fresh pineapple into the sauce of a turkey pepperoni pizza for a burst of sweet flavor!
🥝 kiwi fruit – a sweet tart star!
Most kiwis in the United States are grown in California, but New Zealand is the world’s leading producer.
In fact, the kiwi got its name from the kiwi bird in New Zealand, because the shape and color resemble the bird. Kiwi and strawberry are a classic flavor combination, but it is delicious on its own!
The perfect kiwi should give slightly when pressed—too firm, and it’s underripe; too mushy, and it’s past its prime. If you need them to ripen quickly, store them in a paper bag with an apple or banana!
recipe ideas using fresh kiwi:
kiwi simple syrup
Try making a batch of this fresh kiwi syrup to give your favorite drinks the flavor of kiwi!
🍓 strawberries – the ultimate springtime fruit!
These sweet, floral berries are so versatile. They’re great in desserts, drinks, and even savory dishes.
Go for bright red berries with fresh, green leaves—dull or pale ones usually lack flavor. Give them a sniff; the best strawberries will smell sweet and fragrant!
Freeze peak season berries when they’re on sale to make the most of their flavor all year round!
recipe ideas using fresh strawberries:
strawberry simple syrup
Fresh strawberries are infused into a simple syrup in this easy strawberry syrup recipe! It’s perfect for cocktails, mocktails, and more!
strawberry wine cocktails
Sip your way closer to springtime with this seasonal frozen strawberry wine cocktail featuring rosé wine and strawberry syrup.
strawberry lemon bars
These strawberry jam lemon bars make the most of the last of winter citrus while also enjoying the start of strawberry season!
💬 What May produce are you excited about?
Springtime produce is such a joy to cook with, and I’d love to hear what ingredients you’re most excited to use this month! Drop a comment below, and let me know what you’re making—or if you need recipe ideas, I’ve got plenty! 🥰
