May food holidays celebrate farmers markets, early spring harvests, and the return of vibrant seasonal cooking. With fresh herbs, strawberries, and asparagus arriving at markets, it's the perfect time to cook lighter meals, enjoy outdoor gatherings, and celebrate classic spring dishes.
Jump to:
- May Highlights
- Featured May Food Moments
- Mother's Day Recipes
- Seasonal Produce in May
- May Food Holidays
Start Here: May Highlights
May is when spring cooking really begins to shine. Farmers markets fill with fresh herbs, tender greens, asparagus, and the first strawberries of the season.
This month's food holidays celebrate everything from classic brunch dishes and picnic favorites to international flavors like hummus, empanadas, and crêpes. With Mother's Day, Cinco de Mayo, and the start of barbecue season, May offers plenty of reasons to gather around the table and cook something special.
Cook This Month: May Food Moments
Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
Cinco de Mayo is the perfect excuse to bring bold Mexican-inspired flavors to the table. From savory breakfast classics to rich sauces and grilled favorites, the day celebrates vibrant dishes that are meant to be shared.
Try making:
- Huevos Rancheros - a decades-old recipe layered with tortillas, eggs, and bold ranchero sauce
- Slow-Cooked Enchilada Sauce - deeply flavorful and perfect for homemade enchiladas
- Mexican Street Corn Compound Butter - a fun twist that adds smoky, tangy flavor to grilled corn, vegetables, or bread
Whether you're hosting a full fiesta or just making tacos for dinner, this is one of the most festive food days of the month.
National Biscuit Day (May 14)
Few things beat a batch of warm homemade biscuits fresh from the oven. Light, buttery, and impossibly tender, they're just as welcome at breakfast as they are alongside dinner.
My Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits are soft, flaky, and heavenly with:
- butter and homemade jam
- sausage gravy and eggs
- or - for a true taste of the South - chocolate gravy
Once you master a great biscuit recipe, the possibilities are endless.
International Hummus Day (May 13)
While traditional hummus always has a place on the table, this is also a great opportunity to explore other Middle Eastern dips and spreads.
One of my favorites is Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip) - a savory-sweet spread made with roasted peppers, walnuts, and warm spices. This gluten-free, vegan dip is incredibly versatile:
- spread on warm pita
- served with fresh vegetables
- or used as a flavorful sauce for grilled meats and kabobs
If you love hummus, this "hummus-adjacent" dip deserves a place in your rotation.
Pick Strawberries Day (May 20)
Strawberry season begins in earnest in May, and few things beat freshly picked berries. Sweet, juicy strawberries shine in everything from simple desserts to creamy treats and breakfast favorites.
Sweet strawberries shine in desserts like:
- Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie
- Strawberry Cream Crêpes
- Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream
- Triple-layer Strawberry Cake (from Scratch)
It's the perfect time to visit a farmers market or berry patch and bake something delicious.
International Pickles Week (Third Week of May)
Homemade pickles are one of the great joys of spring and summer preserving. Crisp cucumbers, fresh dill, and garlic come together to create jars packed with bold, tangy flavor.
Two favorites worth trying:
- Heirloom Spicy Dill Pickles - 100+ year-old family recipe and longtime reader favorite
- Old-Fashioned Bread & Butter Pickles - not-too-sweet, perfectly tangy, and fabulous on sandwiches
If you've never made pickles before, this week is the perfect time to start.
Mother's Day Recipes
- Double-Crumb Sourdough Coffee Cake
- Blueberry Banana Muffins (Moist, Easy, and Naturally Low in Fat!)
- Strawberry Soufflé Omelet with Caramelized Almonds
- Orange Tea Ring (Danish Wreath)
- Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
- Strawberry Cream Crêpes
- Smoked Salmon Crustless Quiche
- Eggs Provençal with Heirloom Tomatoes and Parmesan
What's in Season (Pacific Northwest)
May is when farmers markets really come alive, with early berries, fresh herbs, and tender spring greens filling the stalls.
Harvests in the Pacific Northwest this month include:
- apples
- arugula
- asparagus → Easy Rice Pilaf with Asparagus & Cashews
- cauliflower
- chard
- chives
- cilantro
- collard greens
- endive
- fava beans
- fennel
- fiddleheads
- garlic
- garlic scapes → Oven-Roasted Garlic Spears (Garlic Scapes)
- green onions
- kale
- lamb's quarter
- lettuce
- mint
- morrels
- mushrooms
- mustard greens
- oregano
- parsley
- pea shoots
- potatoes
- radicchio
- radishes
- rhubarb → 15 Delicious Straight-Up Rhubarb Recipes (Plus Freezing Tips)
- rosemary
- sage
- sorrel
- spinach
- sprouts
- strawberries → Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie
- tarragon → Creamy Smoked Salmon Chowder
- thyme
- watercress
👉 Not in the Pacific Northwest? Seasonal availability may vary where you live - check your local growing calendar for the most accurate list.
Jump to: May Food Holidays
Month-long Celebrations
- American Cheese Month
- National Salad Month → So many choices! (green salads, pasta salads, potato salads, lots of carrots salads!)
- National Asparagus Month
- National Barbecue Month → 50+ Southern Barbecue Recipes
- National Chocolate Custard Month
- National Egg Month → Egg & Cheese Rolls (quirky, but tasty!)
- National Gazpacho Aficionado Month
- National Hamburger Month
- National Mediterranean Diet Month
- National Salsa Month
- National Strawberry Month → Strawberry Thin Mint Cookie Delight (support your local Girl Scout!)
- National Vinegar Month
Weekly Food Holidays
1st Week
- National Raisin Week
- National Herb Week
3rd Week
- International Pickles Week
- British Sandwich Week (UK)
Final Week
- National Frozen Yogurt Week
- National Barbecue Day (Memorial Day)
- National Barbecue Week (UK)
- National Hamburger/Cheeseburger Day (Memorial Day)
- British Tomato Fortnight (UK; end of May, beginning of June)
Daily Food Holidays
May 1
- National Chocolate Parfait Day
May 2
- National Truffles Day
May 3
- National Raspberry Popover Day
- National Chocolate Custard Day
May 4
- National Homebrew Day
- National Orange Juice Day
- National Candied Orange Peel Day
May 5
- National Totally Chipotle Day
- Cinco de Mayo → Homemade Flour Tortillas
- National Hoagie Day
May 6
- National Crêpes Suzette Day
- International No Diet Day
May 7
- National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
May 8
- National Coconut Cream Pie Day
- National Empanada Day
- Have A Coke Day
May 9
- National Butterscotch Brownie Day
- National Moscato Day
May 10
- National Shrimp Day → Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp (Kahuku Truck-style)
May 11
- World Eat What You Want Day
- Hostess Cupcake Day
May 12
- National Nutty Fudge Day
May 13
- International Hummus Day
- National Apple Pie Day
- National Fruit Cocktail Day
- National Crouton Day
May 14
- National Buttermilk Biscuit Day → Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits
May 15
- National Hummus Day
- National Chocolate Chip Day
May 16
- International Pickles Day → Pop's Spicy Garlic Dill Pickles
- National Coquilles St. Jacques Day
May 17
- National Cherry Cobbler Day
May 18
- National Cheese Soufflé Day
May 19
- National Devil's Food Cake Day → Easy Chocolate Cake Recipes from Scratch
- World Baking Day
May 20
- National Quiche Lorraine Day
- Pick Strawberries Day - Strawberry Season (a little essay, in honor of my Dad)
May 21
- National Strawberries and Cream Day → Strawberry Cream Crêpes
- Eat More Fruits & Vegetables Day → Caribbean Mango Avocado Salad
May 22
- National Vanilla Pudding Day
May 23
- National Drinking with Chickens Day
- National Taffy Day
May 24
- National Escargot Day
- National Asparagus Day
May 25
- National Brown-Bag-It Day
- National Wine Day
May 26
- National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
- National Cherry Dessert Day - Classic Cherry Clafoutis (Easy French Dessert)
May 27
- National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28
- National Brisket Day
- International Hamburger Day → Homemade Hamburger Buns from Scratch
May 29
- National Biscuit Day (UK)
- National Coq Au Vin Day (Alternate day: March 2)
May 30
- National Mint Julep Day
- May 30: International Potato Day → Loaded Baked Potato Soup
May 31
- National Macaroon Day
Top Picks for May
If you're not sure where to start, these recipes highlight some of the best flavors of late spring:
- Strawberry Cream Pie - a bright, creamy dessert that celebrates the arrival of fresh strawberry season
- Easy Sourdough Bread - the approachable sourdough recipe that briefly became one of the most popular "easy sourdough" loaves online
- Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip) - a unique Middle Eastern dip that's bold, savory, and perfect for entertaining
- Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits - soft, buttery, and tender biscuits that work for breakfast, brunch, or dinner
Save This for Later
Planning ahead? Save this calendar so you don't miss a single delicious excuse to cook this month.
