Peachy and Peachier

Late August in Washington is known for a big boom in stonefruit. Peaches, nectarines, and pluots are stacked in mountains around the markets. Farmers' stands look like exaggerated versions of still life paintings and it can be a little overwhelming. I mean, how much fruit salad can a person really stand?

Which brings us to explore all the other ways we can employ all this summer abundance. My fruit of choice this last week at Bennett's was the peach, from which we made two different accompaniments fora grilled pork chop seasoned with a ras-al-hanout blend and some other spices.


Peach Salsa

6 peaches
10 mint leaves
1/3 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup honey



Remove the skin and pits from the peaches and cut them into half-inch pieces. Chop the mint leaves finely. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and softly mix them together so as not to injure the peaches. Keep chilled until service.


Peach Gastrique

5 peaches
1 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
6 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

2-1/4 cups Bonne Maman peach preserves
pinch of salt
dash of black pepper
dash of lemon juice


Remove the skin and pits from the peaches and chop them into quarter-inch pieces and set them aside.

Combine the sugar and water in a pan over high heat, constantly stirring until just when it begins to caramelize (about 4-5 minutes). Stir in the two vinegars, lower the heat to medium and reduce it all by half.

Add the peaches and the peach preserves, stir together and cook over the medium heat until they have dissolved into the mixture. Press the contents of the pan through a chinois and reduce the sauce again, this time by one third. Just before finished, add the salt, pepper, and lemon.



These are both really versatile recipes. I paired them with pork, but there are plenty of other places you could use these. Got any ideas? Share them in the comments!
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4 Komentar
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Hi! I love your restaurant - Bennett's is my favorite place to eat when we are in Seattle, which is 3 or 4 times a year.

I have searched your blog for a recipe I'm just dying to have ... it was August 2011 (Sea Fair weekend) and we had dinner at your restaurant. I had "the special" which was a tomato salad, I think it was beefsteak tomatoes, it was beautiful reds and yellows, I don't even remember if there was anything else (beef?) but the dressing, the flavors, I think I died and went to heaven that night.

Unfortunately it's never been a special again (when we've been there) and I just can't stop thinking about it. Do you remember it, can you share the recipe??

Thanks,
Maegan :)

Balas
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Maegan,
Thanks for reaching out! It's great to know that the summer salad from last August left such a huge impression!
Are you on facebook? If so, here's an album of the special I think you're talking about:

Pork & Beef Croquette with Heirloom Tomatoes
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.264042446946278.90764.120301771320347&type=1

I'll dig into my old recipes and try to find that one for you!

Balas
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Thanks for writing me back! Thanks for the link, checked that out, and while it looks fabulous, that's not it. I'm recalling just tomatoes, tomatoes galore ... I'll keep coming back every time I visit Seattle, and even if it's not on the menu I'm not worried, I have never left unhappy. Every meal is beyond delish!

Balas
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Maegan,
Oh, I thought for sure that was the recipe you meant! If you don't mind perusing the photo albums on our facebook page, please do and let me know which of those specials you're looking for.

Balas

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