3 Peach Recipes that you will relish

Peach recipes

Continuing from my earlier post ….Life is a peach. Following are some recipes with peach you will relish.

Peach Nougat Delight

Peach recipes
Fresh Peach Delight
Image credit-yummly.com

Ingredients:  400 gms whipped cream,

500 gms canned peaches, chilled,

1 cup sugar,

¾ cup broken cashew nuts,

600 ml milk (3 cups),

1 tin condensed milk,

1 tsp. vanilla essence,

5 tbsp. Cornflour,

6 tbsp. Sugar,

And ½ tsp. nutmeg.

Method:

To make the praline, melt the sugar in a heavy-based pan until golden, mix the cashews, spread on a greased flat baking tray, allow to cool and set. Crash roughly to a powder and use.  (Do not refrigerate).

To make the custard mix the milk, condensed milk, vanilla essence, cornflour, sugar and nutmeg in a saucepan and cook on a high flame stirring constantly until thickened. Cool thoroughly and use.  After it is done spread a film of cling wrap on the surface to avoid a skin from forming.

Arrangement: In a glass bowl spread or pipe half the cream, arrange the peaches (halved or quartered) over it using half the quantity. Pour the custard over it and sprinkle half the praline.  Layer with the balance peaches, pipe the balance cream over it using a large nozzle.  Sprinkle the balance nougat and serve chilled.

You could make these individually in tall or stemmed water glasses too.

******

Ricotta and Maple Peaches

Peach recipes
ricotta tart with peaches
Image credit- localkitchenblog.com

Ingredients:

6 peaches halved and stoned

2 tbsp. maple syrup

1 tbsp.  rosemary sprigs

6 sprigs thyme

Extra virgin oil to drizzle

200 gms ricotta

Method:

  • Preheat the oven to 18C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
  • Lightly brush a grilling pan with oil and heat on a medium flame
  • Lightly brush the peach halves, cut side up with the maple syrup.
  • Cook on the grill for 2 minutes until lightly charred.
  • Transfer the peaches to the lined baking tray and sprinkle the rosemary and thyme sprigs.
  • Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake for 5-10 minutes until just tender and heated through.
  • Top the peaches with the ricotta, season with fresh black pepper if desired and serve immediately.

 ******

Tahini Chicken and Peach Summer Salad

Peach recipes
The Perfect Summertime Salad — Grilled Chicken with peaches Image credit- http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/

Ingredients:

2 Chicken breast fillets (250 gms each)

1 tsp garlic paste

Pinch of salt and fresh pepper

80 ml lemon juice

2 ½ tbsp. Tahini

1 large can canned peaches drained and rinsed.

2 tbsp. Olive oil,

1 cup mint leaves roughly torn

120 gms or 1 packed rocket leaves

1 large dark green skin cucumber, thinly sliced diagonally

4 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

1 tsp honey

½ tsp chilli flakes

1 tbsp. Pistachios, roughly chopped.

Method:

  • Use a large sharp knife and cut the chicken breasts horizontally to have 4 thin pieces.
  • Combine the garlic paste, salt, and pepper, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of tahini and olive oil in a bowl and mix well.
  • Add the chicken and turn to coat well, cover with cling film and keep in the fridge for half an hour.
  • Heat a grilling pan on medium high, cook the chicken fillets on each side for about 4-6 minutes until lightly charred and cooked through. Keep aside.
  • Meanwhile, combine the mint, rocket, cucumber and radish in a large salad bowl.
  • Whisk the honey, chilli flakes and the remaining tahini and lemon juice in a small bowl.
  • Cut the chicken into strips and cut the pieces into quarters.
  • Add them to the salad along with the dressing and toss well to combine.
  • Sprinkle the chopped pistachios and serve.

Tip: Mix a little olive oil with the peaches to coat them and char grill them for a rustic look.

Life is a Peach!

PEACH

Peaches are a stone fruit related to nectarines, cherries, and plums. Peaches have a soft fuzzy skin which is red on a yellow to a pale yellow almost golden background. Peaches are sweet, golden background. Peaches are sweet, a good source of Vitamin C and contain a good amount of other minerals especially potassium and are a great source of dietary fibre.

Peach
Peaches

In Chinese culture, peaches are considered a symbol of immortality and friendship and are found in many Chinese artworks. Most cultivated peaches are divided into clingstone or freestone, depending on whether their flesh sticks to the stone or not; both varieties can have either white or yellow fresh.

The scientific name persica, along with the word “peach” is derived from an early European belief that peaches were native to Persia. The ancient Romans referred to peach as Malum persicum or Persian apple and the scientific or botanical name Prunus Persica literally means “Persian Plum”.

Peaches
Peaches

Peach cultivation went from China, through Persia, and reached Greece by 300 BC. Alexander the Great introduced the fruit into Europe after he conquered the Persians. The Peach was brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century and eventually made it to England and France in the 17th century, where it was a prized and expensive treat.

Peaches grow in a fairly limited range of dry, continental or temperate climates, since the trees have a chilling requirement that tropical areas cannot satisfy, except at high altitudes like in parts of India, Nepal, Ecuador, Colombia and also Ethiopia.

Health benefits

  • Beta carotene is responsible for eye health and peaches contain a high amount of the antioxidant, along with vitamins A and C. Regular consumption of peaches can improve your vision health by increasing blood circulation through the body. The beta carotene also nourished and protects the retina in your eyes from free radical damage, as well as helping to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
  • Peaches being a great source of vitamin A and C, which are highly essential for skin health. Vitamin A provides moisture in the skin, which improves the skin texture making it soft and supple. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from radical damage. Just one peach a day can keep your skin glowing and flawless. You can also rub peaches directly on your skin to help get rid of dark circles and wrinkles.
  • Peaches are fat-free and contain an average of only 68 calories. The high amount of sugar in peaches is natural and therefore does not have an adverse effect on health. If you are on a weight-loss mission, having peaches handy will help you avoid more fattening and unhealthy processed snacks.
  • Peaches are rich in anti-oxidants that help prevent cancerous cell growth. Peaches are known particularly for effectively protecting the body against lung, colon, and oral cancer.
  • Eating peaches on a daily basis may help control high cholesterol and problems that lead to diabetes and heart diseases. This is mainly because peaches contain phenolic compounds that prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol. Also, foods rich in beta-carotene like peaches are good for lowering the cholesterol level in the bloodstream.
  • One large peach contains a high amount of potassium and is very low in sodium, which helps in maintaining healthy blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, then have a peach daily to combat the problem.
  • Peaches have an excellent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

You may like to read 3 Peach Recipes that you will relish