What’s in Season: May Produce Guide

Written by Diann Leo-Omine & Lisa Lin, Photos by Lisa Lin.

May produce sprinkles spring with a dash of summer in most farmer’s markets. Delectable lettuces, succulent podded peas and their shoots, and plump berries welcome the start of long holiday weekend barbecues and picnics in the park.

Other fresh fruit and veggies that are still in season in May include: artichokes, asparagus, avocado, and green garlic. Be sure to check out my April produce guide for more details on these spring fruits and veggies!

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are a fruit to keep in your antioxidant arsenal. They also boast vitamin K1, manganese, and vitamin C. These juicy violet gems find an easy home in your morning yogurt or smoothie.

Should you wind up with a windfall of them, luscious blueberries shine in a cobbler or burst color in a batch of muffins. You can even freeze the blueberries in a single layer on a sheet tray to preserve spring a few months longer.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE BLUEBERRIES

You’ll most likely buy blueberries in baskets or plastic clamshells. Select baskets or clamshells with blueberries that are firm and smooth, not mushy and wrinkled. Keep blueberries in a container in the fridge for up to a week.

RECIPES USING BLUEBERRIES

• Easy Blueberry Smoothie
• Gluten-Free Scones with Blueberries (from The Bojon Gourmet)
• Blueberry Pie (from Eat the Love)
• Vegan Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (from Rainbow Plant Life)

BOK CHOY

Bok choy is a member of the cabbage family, which includes Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale. Its particular species, Brassica rapa, draws a close relationship to peppery turnip and bitter broccoli rabe.

You’re likely to see a few different types of bok choy. In Chinese, bok choy (白菜) means “white vegetable” and typically refers to the varieties with a white stem and green leaves. When you go to grocery stores or the farmers markets, you’ll find varieties that are small, about 3 to 4 inches long, or large stalks that are nearly a foot long. 

I almost always buy the smaller stalks because the vegetable is more tender; the white portion of the vegetable is not too stringy.  I talk more on how to prepare bok choy in the notes for my teriyaki noodle stir fry.

In Chinese grocery stores, you can find something called 菜乾/菜干), literally “dried vegetable,” which is dried bok choy. My mom would buy dried bok choy to make a soup known as (菜乾湯/菜干汤. (In Cantonese, it’s pronounced choy gon tong; in Mandarin, it’s cai gan tang).

You may have also seen another variety of bok choy known as baby bok choy or Shanghai bok choy, where the stalk and leaves are a lighter green color. My mom calls it 青江菜 (green river vegetable), and I feel this name makes more sense because the vegetable is green. However, you’ll see many Chinese names for this variety of bok choy

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE BOK CHOY

If you’re picking bok choy with white stems, pick ones with nice dark green leaves and don’t look wrinkled. You also want to avoid stalks with tiny yellow flowers in the middle. This indicates that the vegetable is turning old and less tender. Large black spots on the stem are also signs that the stalk is past its prime. I also tend to pick stalks that aren’t too big to ensure that bok choy is more tender.

If you’re picking baby bok choy with green stems, select ones with leaves that are green. The outer leaves shouldn’t be turning yellow. I also like to pick smaller stalks that don’t look too wrinkled.

Store bok choy in a plastic bag in your refrigerator’s crisper for up to a week.

RECIPES USING BOK CHOY

• Ginger Miso Udon Noodles with Five-Spice Tofu (Vegan)
• Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice with Baby Bok Choy 
• Chinese Beef Noodle Soup (Instant Pot or Stovetop) (from Nom Nom Paleo)
• Stir-Fried Very Baby Bok Choy Recipe (from Viet World Kitchen)

CHIVES

You’re likely familiar with green onions and scallions, but have you tried these alliums? Both English and Chinese varieties of chives are rich with vitamin A and calcium.

English chives (photographed above) are defined by their hollow thin strands resembling grassy reeds. You often see them garnishing a baked potato or a deviled egg. In the grocery store, you’re most likely to see them in bundled up packages in the refrigerated herb section.

Chinese chives (also known as garlic chives or 韭菜) are identified by their flat, foot-long blades, distinct with the assertive scent of garlic. They’re best for cooking, not garnishing – they otherwise would be a bit too tough to eat straight up. You’re most likely to find Chinese chives at the Asian market and not conventional grocery stores.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE CHIVES

Choose chives with deep green color and minimal discoloration. Chives should be perky, and shouldn’t be droopy or limp. Wrap the chives with a paper towel and store in a plastic bag. Then, refrigerate and use within a week.

RECIPES USING CHIVES

• Chinese Chive Pockets
• Gluten-Free Crystal Dumplings with Vegan Filling
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Chive Oil Salad Dressing (from Healthy Seasonal Recipes)

FAVA BEANS

Fava beans are also known as broad beans. When fermented with chilis, fava beans serve as the basis for doubanjiang, an ingredient prominently featured in my vegan mapo tofu (素食麻婆豆腐) recipe.

Let’s be honest, fresh fava beans require work to prepare. Typically, you shell the beans from the pods and blanch the beans for a few minutes. Then, you remove the green seed from the outer casing of the bean. While there is that work required, fava beans are indeed worth the effort! 

However, you can try roasting the fava bean pods whole or fry fava beans. The high heat breaks down the otherwise tough casing around the seed. When I was young, my mom bought fried and salted fava beans from Chinese grocery stores. I’ve never tried making this snack on my own, but it’s definitely something I would like to experiment with in the near future!

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE FAVA BEANS

Early in the season, fava bean pods will look beautifully green. Towards the end of the season, the pods start to dry out and lose its green luster. Don’t be put off by the appearance of the pods; the beans on the inside are generally fine.

If you like smaller fava beans, which are more tender, choose pods that are about 6 to 8 inches. For larger fava beans, choose larger pods with beans that are bulging. Note that they can be a bit bitter. Store the pods in a plastic bag for up to a week. If you shell the fava beans, refrigerate them in a container and use within 4 to 5 days.

RECIPES USING FAVA BEANS

• Fava Bean Dip
• Rice Salad with Fava Beans and Pistachios (from Yotam Ottolenghi, published in Bon Appetit)
• Fava Bean Fennel Salad with Parmesan (from Simply Recipes)
• Fava Bean and Radish Bruschetta (from Kitchn)

LEEKS

Leeks resemble an oversized lengthy green onion, but offer a sweet, mild alternative to the standard yellow onion. Feel free to substitute leeks in most any recipe that calls for onions, particularly those that fit a creamy flavor profile.

Note that leeks tend to collect a lot of dirt, especially in the crevices where the dark green leaves meets the lighter green stalk. I usually slice the leeks in half and fan out the different layers to rinse off the dirt from the leeks. Sometimes, it might even take 2 or three washes to get all the dirt away.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE LEEKS

The most flavorful portion of leeks tend to be the stalks (the light green or white portion). That’s why I tend to pick leeks with a longer stalk. Place leeks in a plastic bag and store them in a vegetable crisper. I’ve kept leeks in my fridge for up to two weeks and they were still fine when I was ready to cook with them.

RECIPES USING LEEKS

• Thai-Spiced Potato Leek Soup
• Asparagus Leek Pizza (from Shutterbean)
• Mustard Roasted Broccoli Paté with Leeks & Lemon (from The First Mess)
• Roasted Leek and White Bean Galettes (from Smitten Kitchen)

LETTUCE

Lettuce is a true welcome of spring, a break from the hardier and heartier greens like kale or cabbage. Ice green, grass green, sea green with speckles of violet, full-on burgundy – lettuce spans the spectrum of color and shape. The nutritional value of lettuce will differ by the variety, but generally contains vitamins C and A, folate, and potassium. 

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE LETTUCE

Choose lettuce with vibrant color and crisp texture. A wilted, has-been head of lettuce will not improve itself, and may not even last the ride home! Head lettuce (like Romaine or iceberg) will last a week and then some in the fridge, whereas leaf lettuce (Boston, little gem, red leaf, etc.) will only last if even a few days.

RECIPES USING LETTUCE

• Fresh Vegan Vegetable Spring Rolls
• Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup (from Serious Eats) 
• Best Caesar Salad (from A Cozy Kitchen)
• Classic Salade Nicoise (from David Lebovitz)

PEA SHOOTS & PEA TIPS

Sweet and grassy, pea shoots can be one of the rarest spring finds. Pea shoots are marked by its hollow stem, bib-like leaf, and curly tendril. They are fantastic simply stir fried with some garlic, tossed in a salad, or as a garnish on toast. Pea tips are the tender leaves and stems of more mature pea plants.

In Asian grocery stores, you can usually find pea shoots and pea tips year-round find by the bagful. I tend to find pea shoots at the farmers market around spring time. Many farmers are starting to sell pea shoots as microgreens.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE PEA SHOOTS

Pea shoots are usually sold by the bag or in plastic clamshells. Choose bags of pea shoots and pea tips that are perky and bright green. Smaller pea shoots are younger and more tender. The thicker stems can be a little fibrous, so you may have to pluck the top from the base. Store pea shoots in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.

RECIPES USING PEA SHOOTS

• Spring Salad with Lemongrass Vinaigrette 
• Seitan Puffs with Snow Pea Tips (from Woks of Life)
• Stir-Fried Snow Pea Tips (from Serious Eats)
• Fancy Toast with Pea Shoots Recipe (from A Couple Cooks) 

SNAP PEAS

Snap peas, in contrast to their English (shelling) pea cousins, are sweet with an entirely edible pod. And, you guessed it, they have a snap to them, especially if eaten raw. 

Prior to cooking, be sure to pull the string from the top of the pea pod, or you will likely find the string trapped between your teeth! Add some crunch to a stir fry or enjoy just straight out of the bag.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE SNAP PEAS

Choose snap peas that are bright green and firm, with crisp exteriors. If you are able to find snap peas with green leaves and a short stem still intact, that means the snap peas are very fresh. Store in the refrigerator in a paper bag or a densely woven cotton bag in the crisper drawer. They should keep for 4 to 7 days, depending on how fresh the peas are when you purchase them.

RECIPES USING SNAP PEAS

• Stir Fried Spicy Rice Cakes
• How to Make Khao Yum (from The Hungry Hutch)
• Sugar Snap Pea Mojito Mocktail (from Snixy Kitchen)
• Sugar Snap Pea, Arugula, and Heirloom Tomato Salad with Hemp Seeds and Vinaigrette (from The Full Helping)  

STRAWBERRIES

The sight of strawberries in May is a sure sign that summer is just around the corner. Strawberries pack a punch of ruby red color but also manganese, folate, potassium, and vitamin C. In the spring, strawberries are most often paired with tart rhubarb. Adding to smoothies and eating the berries straight from the carton are of course easy enough choices. 

HOW TO CHOOSE AND STORE STRAWBERRIES

Choose strawberries with a deep ruby color and without signs of rot. To store strawberries, line a large tupperware container with paper towels and place the strawberries on top. If you can’t fit all the strawberries in a single layer, place paper towels over the bottom layer of strawberries. Then, place the remaining strawberries on top. 

The Kitchn also tested various methods on keeping strawberries, and suggested soaking the berries in a vinegar solution and then spin drying before refrigerating as a way to preserve the freshness of the berries. I personally don’t do this but you could certainly give this a try if you have the time.

RECIPES USING STRAWBERRIES

• Teriyaki Tofu Spring Rolls with Strawberries
• Mango Tapioca Pudding with Strawberries
• Simple Roasted Strawberry Soup (from The View from Great Island)
• Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake (Snixy Kitchen)

This post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated to include produce-picking tips and more photos.