10 Delicious Peach Recipes You’ll Definitely Want to Make This Summer
Photo by Stanislav Churikov/Unsplash
We are well into stone fruit season—that summer epoch when farmers market stalls and grocery store produce sections are piled high with cherries, apricots, nectarines and plums. But for me, as a Southerner, the peach reigns supreme over them all.
Unfortunately, this has been a year of heartbreak, peach-wise. Due to unseasonably warm December temperatures in the South followed by a bitter freezing spell in March, much of South Carolina’s and nearly all of Georgia’s crop—the second- and third-largest peach producers in the U.S., respectively—was lost. That means we here in the South have a tough choice: whether to eschew the stone fruit altogether in favor of regional loyalty or turn to California peaches, where the bulk of the country’s production lies.
I personally am unwilling to forgo this juicy fruit for an entire summer, particularly when there are so many ways to incorporate them into a meal. And because the California peach season extends into September, that means we can still be tasting summer even as the leaves are beginning to turn. Here are some peach recipes you have to try out this season.
1. Grilled Steak and Peach Salad from Erin Lives Whole
Yes, peaches can be an entree! This effortless salad features steak and corn—both grilled, which means you’re not switching on the oven to cook—sliced peaches and arugula (or any other salad greens), tossed with goat cheese crumbles and an easy dressing composed of pantry ingredients like olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
2. Peach Caprese from Simple Healthy Kitchen
The tomato-basil-mozzarella combo of Italian caprese is perhaps the most quintessential summertime flavor combination, but swapping in peaches for a few of the tomatoes makes for a delightfully sweet change-up. Peel and slice the peaches, then slice the tomatoes and fresh mozzarella (packed in water) and plate everything before drizzling with balsamic sauce (or a high-quality, peppery olive oil) and scattering with fresh basil leaves.
3. Grilled Peach and Ricotta Pizza from The Local Palate
Created by star chef Steven Satterfield of Atlanta’s Miller Union (don’t miss his latest cookbook, Vegetable Revelations), the most complex part of this grilled summer pizza is making the dough, and that itself only takes about four simple steps. But you can skip doing that altogether by using a premade dough if you want to cut down on the time you’re spending in the kitchen. You’ll top the dough with ricotta cheese, sliced peaches, salt and olive oil before grilling; once the bottom is browned, finish the pizza with sprinkled salt, a scatter of basil leaves and a drizzle of honey.