August is National Peach Month and with stone fruit season in full swing, we decided it was time to learn a thing or two about fresh peaches – including how to cook with them.
According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), one large peach will give you 19 percent of your vitamin C for the day, 11 percent of your vitamin A and 10 percent of your potassium.
It’s always best to look for peaches that were grown close to home, but if you can’t find fresh peaches at your local orchard, it’s better to buy them imported from the grocery store than to skip them altogether.
Buy peaches that are soft to the touch or have a deep golden background color. If your peaches are firm, keep them out on the kitchen counter for a few days or until they’re soft to the touch, at which point you can put them in the refrigerator where they will keep for 3-4 days.
According to Cooking Light, many fruits are best plucked and eaten on the spot, but a just-picked peach is actually best if left uneaten for at least a couple of days.
Pomegranate Blueberry Peach Sorbet: Instead of indulging in your favorite fattening ice cream, cool off with a refreshing peach based sorbet.
Peach Yogurt Pops: If sorbet isn’t your style, blend your peaches with yogurt for a delicious, creamy frozen pop.
Peaches & Ricotta: High in protein, ricotta cheese is a great option for recipes both sweet and savory. Flavor it with a little Splenda and fresh peaches next time you need a quick dessert.
Pan Seared Salmon with Fresh Peach Salsa from And Love It Too: Salmon is a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids and peaches are the perfect complement to the seafood superfood.
Grilled Peach Salad from Mango & Tomato: Don’t get bored with plain lettuce salads. This peach recipe offers pleasantly surprising flavors and textures.
Peach Crostini from To Kiss The Cook: This easy appetizer recipe proves that any time is the right time to eat juicy peaches. The best part? Two words: Goat cheese.
Grilled Peach & Mozzarella Salad from Eat. Drink. Smile: Impress your guests with a riff of traditional caprese salads with grilled peaches. Grilling peaches brings out new flavors and pairs perfectly with tangy mozzarella cheese.
Frozen Peach Margarita from We Are Not Martha: If you’re craving a happy hour cocktail, why not add some nutritional value to your next margarita? We like this version, blended with fresh peaches.
Ginger Peach Frozen Yogurt from The Spicy RD: If you’re a fro-yo fiend like I am, you’ll love this creamy, fruit-based frozen treat.
Fish Tacos with Peach Salsa from The Food Sensitive Foodie: If you have trouble finding the perfect salsa for your food allergies or sensitivities, whip one up with fresh peaches and a little bit of spice. Serve them with fresh fish tacos – the perfect summer dinner.