What’s in season in May? Bon App’s Seasonal Food Guides

Sometimes it can be hard to know which fruits, vegetables and fish are in season because there is so much that is available for most of the year.  Which can leave me asking the question “what’s in season in May?”  So, I put together these monthly seasonal food guides to help me use the ingredients that are in season in the Bon App recipes and meal plans. Feel free to download and print the infographic or you can pin it to Pinterest.

Artichoke – I cook whole artichokes in a pressure cooker for 10-15 mins.  Then eat the soft part one leaf at a time, dipped in olive oil and vinegar.  I then remove the choke and stalk to reveal the heart.

 

Asparagus – the finest texture and strongest yet most delicate taste is in the tips or points d’amour (love tips).

 

Aubergine – cooked aubergine has such a rich and complex flavour.  It can absorb large amounts of cooking fat which can make dishes really rich and sometimes too rich.  Sprinkling with salt reduces the amount of oil absorbed.

 

Beetroot – can be boiled or steamed, peeled and then eaten warm with or without butter as a delicacy; cooked, pickled, and then eaten cold as a condiment; or peeled, shredded raw, and then eaten as a salad.

 

Broccoli – a lot of people find that broccoli has a bitterness to it, whilst others find it bland.  The bitterness can be reduced by roasting or stir frying rather than boiling or blanching.

 

Cauliflower – the heads can be roasted, boiled, fried, steamed, pickled, or eaten raw.  After eight minutes of steaming, or five minutes of boiling, the florets should be soft, but not mushy.

 

Courgette – has a delicate flavour and requires little more than quick cooking making it a perfect vegetable for making quick weeknight meals.

 

Cucumber – cucumbers have a lovely mild melon aroma and flavour and a slightly bitter taste to the rind.  The reason they are so refreshing is because they are 95% water!

 

Fennel – I love to eat raw fennel because of its flavour that it is similar to liquorice or star anise.

 

Green beans – a French classic accompaniment for roasted meats.  Simply stir fry with butter and fresh parsley until soft.

 

Lettuce – there are several types of lettuce that are in season in May including romaine, Batavia and oak leaf lettuce.

 

Mange tout – the French for “eat all” is the name for both snow peas and snap peas.  Snow peas are flatter than snap peas but both are varieties of peas that are eaten whole in the pods while still unripe.

 

Peas – fresh green peas are only available in the spring when the peas are still immature and can be eaten straight after being picked.

 

Radish – my favourite way to eat radishes is as a starter with a slice of buttered French bread and a pinch of salt.  It’s the best way to enjoy the peppery flavour.

 

Spinach – Spinach first appeared in England and France in the 14th century, and it gained quick popularity because it appeared in early spring, when other vegetables were scarce.

 

Tomato – technically a fruit but we all use it as a vegetable in our savoury dishes.  There are so many delicious varieties of tomato some more acidic and others sweeter.  It’s actually recommended to store tomatoes at room temperature to maintain their flavour.

The fruits that are in season in May are Banana, Kiwi, Lemon, Mango, Rhubarb and Strawberries.