With May approaching, and summer nearing, it is important to know what produce is in season. Choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables not only enhances your meals and flavor pallets, but it also supports better nutrition. Shopping locally at farmers markets is a great way to take advantage of what is in season by shopping for fresher ingredients. It also helps support local farmers and small businesses in your community.
In-season produce is typically more affordable as well for college students. This makes it a more environmentally friendly choice, reducing the carbon footprint associated with your food. Eating seasonally also encourages creativity in the kitchen and pushes you to try new recipes and ingredients throughout the year. For me, I love walking through Boston’s Haymarket farmers market and saying hi to all of the vendors. The fresh produce I find there is like no other, and supporting the local vendors truly feeds the soul.
What’s in season for May?
Artichokes
Artichokes have always been one of my favorite foods that I grew up eating. My mom always makes the best artichoke dip; it’s creamy, delicious and the perfect warm dip. A lot of people like to make spinach artichoke dip, but it is just as good without spinach. A simple version only requires a handful of ingredients, including cream cheese, sour cream, artichoke hearts, your choice of cheese (like mozzarella or gouda) and a few seasonings. Everything gets mixed together and baked until it’s hot, melted, and bubbly. Serve it with pita chips or crackers and it makes the best party pleaser.
Kale
Kale is one the most versatile produce options you can cook with. It works well with everything like grain bowls to simple salads. My favorite way to enjoy kale is turning it into a simple salted snack. Kale ranch chips are crispy, delicious and perfect for a quick savory snack. All you need is some chopped kale, avocado oil, and ranch seasoning. Just toss everything together and put them on a baking sheet, then bake until crispy. You can also add whatever seasoning you prefer, such as garlic seasoning or something spicier like paprika.
Avocados
Avocado season is one of my favorite times of the year, next to tomato season. I could write a whole article on the different variations of avocado toast I love to make, but another easy avocado recipe I enjoy is avocado dressing which I put on pasta and salads. All you need is an avocado, one lime, minced garlic and cilantro, salt and pepper, and Greek yogurt. Just blend it all together and add some water to make it a good consistency. It becomes the perfect creamy dressing for almost anything.
Apricots
Here is a really yummy recipe for my sweet tooths. Apricots can work great in yogurt bowls, but have you ever thought of making an apricot grilled cheese? All you have to do is make homemade apricot jam which only requires three ingredients. Simply cook together sugar, sliced apricots, and lemon juice until it reaches a jam consistency. Then for the grilled cheese just take some cheddar or goat cheese, your fresh jam, some bread and grill together until golden brown. This recipe is the perfect blend of sweet and savory and once you start making your own jam you won’t want to stop.
Cherries
For dessert lovers, cherries can work in so many sweet treats. My personal favorite dessert is an apple crisp, but a cherry crisp is just as delicious and it is really simple to make. All you need is some quick oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter for the crumbly topping and pitted half cherries for the filling. Bake it all together until golden on top and enjoy it with some vanilla ice cream. It is the perfect comfort treat for a spring day and can be the perfect single serving dessert dish.
Strawberries
This strawberry yogurt bites recipe from @secretnighthabits is the perfect quick, fun snack that uses fresh strawberries. All you need to do is mix yogurt with chopped strawberries, then spoon the mixture onto a baking sheet. Freeze until the bites are firm. Once they’ve hardened, dip them in a warm chocolate coating and put them in the freezer. These make a simple snack that is refreshing and sweet.