Grilled Chicken Salad with Peach-Pecan Vinaigrette
Perfectly ripe peaches are exquisite, adding charm and flavor to cold summer soups and beverages such as Peach-Berry Iced Tea opens in a new tab, salads such as Arugula Salad with Peaches and Blue Cheese opens in a new tab, salsas, snacks, and desserts such as Peach Banana Nice Cream opens in a new tab. Have you tried peaches on the grill? Simply baste peaches with balsamic vinegar, orange juice, teriyaki sauce or other favorite sauce while grilling until just tender and lightly charred. Rum Buttered Glazed Grilled Peaches opens in a new tab, Grilled Peaches with Dandelion Greens and Ginger Dressing opens in a new tab, Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Peaches opens in a new tab, and Grilled Sponge Cake with Five-Spice Peach Compote opens in a new tab are wonderful recipes featuring grilled peaches.
As a child in Louisiana, I lived for Sunday dinners (served at noon) with my grandparents. My grandmother was a master baker, so dessert was guaranteed! Peaches were on the table often, regally displayed in cinnamon-spiked cobbler rolls (her specialty), mouth-watering pies and crisps, buttery shortcakes, and homemade (yes, they churned it!) vanilla-peach ice cream. I was fascinated watching her make cobbler rolls. Peaches were lightly sugared, stuffed and rolled into homemade flaky biscuit dough, then baked until the house smelled so good. It was worth the long, slow, tedious wait for the peaches to come into season. Cobblers can be made in a roll shape like my grandmother did, or with biscuit dough dropped over the fruit like this wonderful Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler opens in a new tab.
Minty Blueberry Peach Shiver
This summer, treat yourself to a slew of perfectly peachy treats. Eat them out of hand, but don’t stop there! Spike your breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and more with peaches galore. Here are my tips and recipes:
Make a fruit salad with unsweetened coconut flakes, sliced peaches and raspberries.
Add chopped peaches to muffins and quick breads, or spoon them over pancakes, waffles, hot or cold cereal. Stuff this Dutch Baby Pancake opens in a new tab with peaches for Sunday brunch.
Make peach salsa with finely chopped peaches, diced purple onion, chopped cilantro, slivered jalapeño peppers, spices such as cumin, coriander, salt, cayenne, and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve with grilled meats, fish, tofu or tempeh.
Fresh sliced peaches are marvelous over leafy green or grain salads. Try them with baby spinach, arugula or a variety of tender young field greens. Or pair with couscous, brown rice, wheat or spelt berries, or quinoa. Good ideas include Savory Stuffed Peaches with Couscous and Feta opens in a new tab, Summer Salad with Peach-Walnut Dressing, opens in a new tab and Grilled Chicken Salad with Peach-Pecan Vinaigrette opens in a new tab.
Are you a chutney fan? The peach chutney in our Honey-Glazed Grilled Scallops with Peach Chutney opens in a new tab recipe can be doubled and used as a condiment, spread on sandwiches, or topped over grilled meats, fish, tofu or tempeh.
Serve peaches for dessert. Delicious ideas include Rustic Peach Tart opens in a new tab, vegan Fresh Fruit and Cream Parfaits opens in a new tab, Minty Blueberry Peach Shiver opens in a new tab, and Peach Melba Shortcake opens in a new tab.
Cool off with our refreshing peach-spiked Sangria opens in a new tab or an ice-cold Honeyed Peach Wheat Beer opens in a new tab.
Do you have a favorite peach recipe or a great idea? Let me know.
