How to Make the Most of Peaches, from a Pro Cook

August 8, 2024

Courtesy of Feel Good Foodie

It’s the height of peach season — and National Peach Month — and everyone’s favorite fuzzy fruit is all over grocery stores and farmers markets. While they’re delicious on their own, there are so many ways to enjoy fresh peaches, from salads to desserts.

We asked one of our favorite food bloggers, Yumna Jawad, creator of Feel Good Foodie and author of The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook, to share some of her most creative ways to enjoy peaches, including some of her delicious, healthy recipes.

What are the benefits of eating peaches?

Like all fruits, peaches have vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Specifically, peaches are a good source of:

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Potassium
Fiber

Some research suggests that peaches are also good for digestion, and the polyphenols in them may help fight inflammation.

Pick the best peaches

“I love peaches for their flavor, health benefits, and versatility in cooking,” Jawad says. “They have a sweet, juicy, and slightly tangy flavor that I think is absolutely irresistible, especially during the summer.”

When shopping, “Look for peaches that have a vibrant deep color, and are firm to the touch and fragrant,” she adds.

Another tip: Check the stem. If there’s a green tone to the flesh around the stem, it’s possible the fruit was picked too early and may be as sweet or juicy as others. Instead, you want a more beige or slightly brown hue. You can also press gently on the end opposite to the stem, and if it gives, it’s likely ripe. But be careful; peaches bruise easily.

You asked: What should I do with a bunch of peaches?

“Aside from eating them fresh on their own, I love adding peaches to salads, sauces, or smoothies,” Jawad says. “They’re also great grilled, baked, or sauteed.”

Here are four easy, delicious peach recipes from Jawad’s Feel Good Foodie blog.

1. Peach Salad

This might just be the perfect summer salad: It features some of the season’s best produce, like peaches and basil, it has a variety of textures and colors to add to its visual appeal, it’s simple and unfussy to make, and it’s chock-full of energizing nutrients. With spinach, avocado, salty feta, and a simple vinaigrette, this is bound to become one of your go-to summer salads.

Try this recipe.

2. Peach Salsa

Have it with chips, spoon it onto grilled fish, serve it with tacos — there are so many ways to enjoy this flavorful homemade salsa. Plus, it’s a fun way to sneak in healthy ingredients like red bell pepper, jalapeno, tomato, and cilantro. Add fresh corn or black beans to make it heartier, if you like, or stir in some chili powder for a spicier salsa.

Try this recipe.

3. Peach Galette

Peach pie is one of our favorite summer desserts — but fussing with pie crust can be a hassle. That’s why this galette is so great: You get the flavor and fun of peach pie, but with a rustic, free-form shape that makes it so much simpler to put together. (And yet, it still looks so impressive.) Make it as is, or swap in white whole-wheat flour and/or coconut sugar to avoid white flour and sugar.

Try this recipe.

4. Grilled Peaches

You’re heating up the grill anyway, so why not add these peaches and have a juicy, luscious dessert ready to go when you’ve finished your meal? We’d add a pinch of salt to brighten the flavors. Also, you can omit the sugar and cinnamon, cut up the peaches, and add them to a green or pasta salad for a twist.

Try this recipe.