Nectarines Three Ways

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Hurry, they won’t be here for long!

My favorite summer fruit is a juicy nectarine. I buy them eight at a time and set them on the windowsill to ripen. It doesn’t take long, maybe a day or two, and then they’re ready for the chill. A perfect nectarine should be eaten cold and semi-soft. I have also experimented with cooking with nectarines. They are deliciously muddled in cocktails, grilled for salads, and baked in cobblers. I hope you find at least one recipe to love.

Nectarines are summer’s juiciest fruit.

They can be eaten without removing the skin and are great to cook with

“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains.”

— Diane Ackerman

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Let’s start at the beginning - cocktails

The peach bellini was made famous by Harry Cipriani in New York City. The puree of fresh fruit can easily be swapped out for many fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and my favorite nectarines. Finish in a beautiful coupe with sparkling wine. This is so refreshing on a summer’s day.

Diced nectarines go in a blender to be pureed. It’s optional to take the skin off.

With the puree added, topping it off with sparkling wine is the show-stopper.

Cipriani’s Bellini

Ingredients

• 750 milliliters prosecco

• 5 white peaches or nectarines

• 1 tablespoon simple syrup

Directions

Blend peeled, chopped peaches or nectarines and simple syrup in a food processor until you have a smooth purée.        

Strain the purée through a fine-mesh sieve, and chill for at least 2 hours.                          

Divide the peach or nectarine purée into Champagne flutes and top with chilled prosecco. Garnish with mint or peach/nectarine slices.

Presentation is everything

Choose the best glass and garnish with a wedge of fruit or a mint sprig. Enjoy!

Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman makes a simple grilled nectarine salad using an indoor grill. Get the recipe here.

Did someone say dessert?

We have a cobbler that takes only 15 minutes to assemble and can be adjusted to accommodate the fruits you have on hand. Our favorite combination is blueberries and nectarines. They compliment each other and have just the right amount of sweetness. Use your favorite summer fruits to see what we mean. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch all the colors blend. Click on any image for the recipe or here.

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I hope you are gearing up for summer fun. Enjoy one or all of these recipes at your next dinner. Follow us on Instagram to get daily inspiration from us.

Photos by Maud Waterman and The Pioneer Woman website.