British seasonal food in May

Welcome to the comprehensive guide to the best British seasonal food in May. Food production is often just getting started this month as the weather starts to warm up a little more. Many overwintered crops are finishing around now, but those much-awaited new roots, shoots and fruits are starting to come though too.

Looking for a seasonal treat? The first few UK strawberries are ready to pick, especially if they’ve been grown in greenhouses in the southern counties, and there are some tasty baby vegetables to cook up. Look out for delicious Jersey Royal new potatoes too.

Here’s what’s at its absolute best over the next few weeks. Enjoy.

Fruit in season in May

British seasonal fruit in May plus seasonal imported fruits — Clockwise from top left: Alphonso mangoes, strawberries, pineapples, rhubarb

There’s a relatively small selection, but it’s all delicious:

Home grown British fruit

strawberries (first few)
rhubarb

Best imported seasonal fruit

Alphonso mangoes
pineapples

Recommended seasonal fruit inspiration:

Seasonal fruit inspiration book recommendations

Vegetables in season in May

British seasonal food in May UK home grown vegetables — Clockwise from top left: baby broad beans, asparagus, new potatoes, new season garlic

There’s plenty for you to choose from in May:

asparagus
baby broad beans
baby carrots
broccoli (calabrese)
garlic (new season, wet)
globe artichokes
Jersey Royal potatoes
lettuce and other salad
new potatoes
radishes
seakale
spinach
spring greens and spring cabbage
spring onions
baby turnips
watercress

You may also be able to find some very early season peas from plants that have been started off under cover.

[Available most months in good condition: broccoli, button mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, maincrop potatoes, onions, rocket.]

Recommended seasonal veg inspiration:

Herbs in season in May

basil
chervil
chives
coriander
lovage
mint
oregano
parsley
rosemary
sage
sorrel
summer savory
tarragon
thyme

[Always available: chives, coriander, parsley grown under cover; older leaves of hardy perennials like bay, rosemary, sage, thyme.]

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Wild / foraged food in May

British seasonal foraged ingredients and wild food in May with wild garlic elderflowers morels and rock samphire — Clockwise from top left: wild garlic, elderflowers, morel mushrooms, rock samphire

elderflowers
morel mushrooms
St. George’s mushrooms
samphire (rock)
wild garlic

[Take great care when foraging as it’s very easy to confuse edible and poisonous ingredients.]

Recommended foraging & wild food inspiration:

Fish in season in May

British seasonal food in May fish shellfish and seafood with flounder brown crab pollock and plaice — Clockwise from top left: flounder, brown crab, plaice, pollock

Seasonal fish varies greatly around the UK, and weather fluctuations are also likely to affect spawning and peak seasons, but here’s a rough guide to what’s at its best and on sale now.

British Fish in May, sustainable

coley / saithe
crab (brown / edible)
flounder
herring / sild
lobster (European)
plaice
pollock
pouting / bib
prawns (Northern)
rainbow trout

[To the best of my knowledge, the list above excludes critically endangered fish. Visit The Good Fish Guide from the Marine Conservation Society for latest lists.]

Fish in season in May, less sustainable

You may also be able to find the following fish and seafood from responsible fishmongers:

brown shrimp,
langoustine / scampi / Dublin Bay prawn
wild salmon

[In good condition almost all year: farmed clams, farmed halibut, herring, farmed sea bream and turbot, megrim sole, sustainably-fished monkfish, rope-grown mussels, prawns.]

Recommended fish & shellfish inspiration:

Meat, poultry and game in season in May

British seasonal meat and poultry in May with new season lamb and poussin — Left to right: new season lamb, poussin

new season lamb
poussin / spring chicken

[Always available in good condition: beef, chicken, pork, rabbit, farmed venison, wood pigeon.]

Recommended meat, poultry & game inspiration:

Cheese in season in May

British seasonal food in May cheese with UK sheep's cheese and Stinking Bishop and imported Camembert and Coulommiers — Clockwise from top left: fresh ewe’s milk cheese, Stinking Bishop, Camembert, Coulommiers

British-made cheese

English soft cheeses
ewe’s milk cheeses
fresh goat cheeses
Stinking Bishop

Imported cheese in May

Camembert
Coulommiers

[Many quality mature cheeses are available year-round, especially hard cheeses.]

Recommended cheese & wine inspiration:

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What we’re eating here

It’s starting to look more delicious as we hopefully start to move out of the hungry gap. I’m going to pick up a bag of Jersey Royals soon to have with our Sunday dinner, and think about taking a few stalks of rhubarb from the garden to make a crumble for dessert.

What are you looking forward to cooking up this month?

Recommended general seasonal inspiration:

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British seasonal food in May