What’s in Season This May, Plus Recipe Ideas

Fresh, delicate asparagus is best enjoyed in season, and this yaki udon recipe puts it in its rightful spotlight. We love the delightfully chewy and thick whole-wheat noodle and meaty king oyster mushrooms in contrast with the tender asparagus. And the best part? You can whip this up in just over 15 minutes!

Radishes add a pretty pink pop to just about any dish, and buying them when they’re in season guarantees maximum colour and flavour. Try combining them with seasonal veggies like peas and fresh herbs in this crunchy toast recipe – it’s match made in food heaven.

New to fiddleheads? They’re a small curled frond of a young fern with a delicious earthy flavour, similar to a green bean. Despite their relatively short growing and harvesting season, the possibilities with these green tendrils are nearly endless. They are delicious when simply steamed, or pan-fried in butter. In this recipe, we bake them into a delicious cheesy tart, perfect for your spring brunch.

Fresh, in season spinach can be added to just about anything, from smoothies to pasta dishes and it’s especially delicious in this vegan spinach and artichoke dip. It’s a perfect crowd pleaser (and so quick to whip up!).

Bright and vibrant rhubarb on grocery store shelves is a tell-tale sign that warmer temperatures have arrived. A colourful addition to your favourite baked goods, we love how rhubarb shines in this recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Bars. With a dough that doubles as a crust and crumble topping, these pie bars come together in no time.

Although kale is typically associated with colder weather, it’s still bountifully in season in May. The hearty green serves as an elegant base to any salad, and it’s especially delicious crisped up and served as a bed for Coconut Milk Shrimp with Cashews and Snow Peas in this recipe that comes together in under 20 minutes.

Your favourite salad greens are officially in season, which means you can buy locally grown for your next salad. We still recommend using them within a day or two for maximum freshness and crunch. Try pairing them with hearty halloumi for a deliciously cheesy twist on your greens.

Whether tossed in a salad or topped on a pizza, arugula’s uniquely peppery flavour is a welcome addition to any dish, especially when it’s fresh and in season. We love adding it to a hearty salad like this one that’s specifically designed to nourish and uplift. Served with millet, sprouts, radish, sauerkraut, hemp seeds, almonds and avocado, this salad is packed with phytonutrients and fiber to support your digestion.

Green onions (also known as scallions) are so much more than a garnish! Try buying in season, locally grown green onions and letting them star in a dish like these Chinese Scallion Pancakes with the flakiest, crispiest layers.

Fresh, in season peas are sweet little morsels of flavour that blow their frozen counterpart out of the water. Try adding them to your favourite cheesy pasta dish like this 20-Minute Cheesy One-Pot Pasta for a vibrant pop of colour and an extra serving of veggies.

Cherry season is officially upon us! Nothing compares to a bowl of fresh, locally grown cherries. If you’re looking to up the ante, try baking cherries into a dessert like this Simple Cherry Crisp. With fruit this fresh, there’s no need to over complicate things, just let those plump cherries shine.