Find out how to make the most of local fresh produce with this month’s ‘Eating seasonally in May’ guide!
Each month we’re encouraging you to enjoy eating seasonal food by making the most of the brilliant British produce on offer, with a roundup of ingredients to use and meals to make.
Not only will you appreciate the ingredients more, but seasonal eating can also be better for your health and the environment, easier on your wallet and most importantly it tends to taste better too!
So, what can we do to promote eating seasonally in May?
The month of May brings with it an abundance of colourful and tasty new ingredients to add to our plates. From perfectly juicy peas to the first few strawberries ready to pick, this is British produce at its best.
Peas
Most commonly green, occasionally golden yellow and sometimes even purple… Fresh peas start to become available in the UK at the end of May, through until November. These lovely legumes are best eaten freshly picked. Pea pods do not keep well because their sugars start to turn to starch shortly after podding. Frozen peas are iced very quickly after picking to preserve them, which is why they stay so tasty!
Let peas be the star of the show with this perfectly simple but delicious pea soup recipe. Peas also make the perfect side dish, especially when you’ve cooked them in butter… So, we’re serving ours as a side to a cottage pie – click here for our recipe. We use Boosh Organic Beef Bone Broth instead of standard stock to add an extra depth of flavour and plenty of nutritional goodness.
Wild garlic
Spring is the perfect time to go foraging for this versatile and pungent plant. The lush leaves and delicate flowers grow in damp patches in British woodlands. They can be whipped up into a delicious soup or pesto sauce with some basil and olive oil. For Countryfile’s guide on where to find wild garlic and how to forage responsibly, as well as some recipe ideas click here.
Herbs and leaves
Many herbs and leaves are available fresh in May, including basil, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, oregano, mint, nasturtium, parsley, sorrel and tarragon.
Why not try Boosh spaghetti bolognese topped with fresh basil? Or a comforting chicken tarragon casserole? Organically grown tarragon also features in both Boosh Organic Chicken Bone Broth and Boosh Chilli & Lemongrass Organic Chicken Bone Broth.
What are you looking forward to eating this month?