This week flew by quickly. It’s hard to believe that it’s now mid-July. The hope of having warm sunny day looks bleak. I can’t believe that when I go out, I still need to wear thin jacket at this time of the year. There was a thunderstorm 2 days ago. Probably the first time I have seen the brightest lightning in London. Well, the uninteresting weather news aside now. I may seem to be talking about weather all the time without realising it.
Plums, peaches, nectarines, apricot, cherries and berries are abundant during this time of the year. I love summer fruits and that’s what make this season sweet and beautiful! Peaches are commonly used in making desserts. Peach tart is one of the them. But, I want to have something simple but nice. At the same time, I was thinking of serving ice cream with this dessert. I particularly love eating ice cream during hot summer day. (Ok, it’s not hot where I live!)
So, instead of eating peaches raw, I thought poaching them would be a great idea! Pêches Melba (Peach Melba) came to my mind. Pêches Melba is a classic French dessert. It is usually served with raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. I did it without the raspberry sauce. And instead of sprinkle with some almonds, I substituted with some pistachios.
The poaching technique is called white poaching to keep the peaches firm. During the process, the ingredients are brought to barely a simmer and then the whole pan is removed from the heat. The hot mixture stays in the pan for a time, gently cooking in its own heat as it cools. The result is perfectly cooked, and never mushy.
My first ever experience in making Peach Melba is rewarding – I realise that simple technique like poaching can make such an impact and difference in eating peaches!
Recipe: Peach Melba (Pêches Melba) adapted from Madison Magazine
Serves 4
Ingredients:
White sugar, 275g
Water, 1.5 litres
Lemon zest, a few pieces
Vanilla pod (split lengthwise), 1
Peaches, 4
Vanilla ice cream, 4 scoops
Pistachios, some
Method:
1. Put the sugar, lemon zest and vanilla pod into a pot with 1.5 litres of water and bring to the boil.
2. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the peaches. Cover with a piece of baking paper and place a plate on top, this will act as a weight and stop the peaches from rising to the surface. Gently simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peaches and gently peel off the skin by running them under cold water. Set aside.
4. Place about 240ml of poaching liquid, some extra sugar and the peach skins into a saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes or until reduced by half.
5. To serve, place a peach and a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle with syrup and sprinkle with some chopped pistachios.
Subscribe by Email
Subscribe by RSS
July 19th, 2009 at 6:18 am
I have been craving desserts recently, probably due to the weather.
July 19th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Hello Leemei,
I love Peaches and there are so many, classic dessert made of and you present us one of my most loved; Peach Melba.
Regards, Chris
July 19th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Wow, gorgeous colours! I liked that you kept the flavours simple by omitting the raspberry sauce. And pistachios on top sounds fantastic!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
One of my favorite desserts to get when I get home! Perfect for summer bbqs and get together!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Poached peaches sound delicious.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I have been craving for sweet stuff lately too..
July 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment. I adore Peach Melba dearly… yummm..
July 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Thanks!! I just love the simplicity of this dessert.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Definitely!!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I love your photo……. and those cute little spoons. This peach melba is great!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Yeah.. and I like your roast plums too!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Thank you.
July 19th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Wooooow! You gave a new beginning to peche melba, they are so beautiful!! They were very much a thing of the 70s for me, but they are back and kicking now!!
)
July 20th, 2009 at 3:52 am
that looks simply gorgeous! i love how you rested the colorful spoons on top of the glasses…what a feast to the eyes..
July 20th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Your pictures are simply amazing…..I love fresh peaches and you have done justice to them, by keeping this recipe so simple and elegant!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 7:13 am
hmmmmm, another winner here!
July 20th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Wonderful shots as usual! Yea thunderstorm…so weird, but it reminds me of home. Not a big fan of poached fruits but this is really tempting me!
July 20th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Interesting! I've never cooked with peaches before, but this makes me want to give it a go
July 20th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
hehe… thank you!! I think this dessert created by chef Auguste Escoffier tells me that a simple dessert like this can make a real impact of taste.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Hello! Thanks for dropping by and your kind words! It means a lot of me!
I am glad to know you through my blog!! Another blog for me to bookmark!
July 20th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Thank you, nina! I love peaches and I go crazy when I see their blushing cheeks
July 20th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Thank you my dear!! Next time, I promise, I will make this for you, k?
July 20th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Ann,
Thanks! Yeah, it was weird to have thunderstorm.. very unusual. And I totally share the same feeling – reminds me when I was little that I was so scared of lightning and thunder!!
I wasn't sure about poached fruits too but as my culinary experience grows, I have learnt to like a lot of stuff that I never knew I would
July 20th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Give it a try. Peaches are great in main courses too – make great sauces for meat and poultry.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
This look absolutely delicious! I've recently poached my first fruit too and loved it. Especially for stonefruit it makes it sooo sweet and juicy. This recipe is also looking fantastic (great photos too!)
July 21st, 2009 at 6:02 am
You are right. This dessert goes well with ice-cream. I have never tried poaching method before. Sounds great! I luv the 2nd close-up shot. It makes me drooling…..!
July 21st, 2009 at 8:51 am
Ooooowwww!! My kind of desserts. Makes me longing for Summer now….
July 21st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I'm embarrassed to say I've never had peach melba before. This omission must be addressed!
July 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Thanks Simone. I definitely love poached stonefruits!
July 21st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Thanks LK! I am really into this kind of simple dessert.. not too heavy.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Thanks arfi! I think you don't have too long too wait for your summer
July 21st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Christie,
Thanks for dropping by my blog and your comment! There's nothing to be embarrassed about as in the culinary world, there's always the first time to try and experience!
July 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
what a beautiful dessert!! I never had this peach melba b4…wish I can have one right now:P
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
Oh ! Looks wonderfully yummy !
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
mmmmm … peaches ^^ … that's really a summer recipe ^^! Lovely pics!! XOXO
July 27th, 2009 at 4:08 am
omg, how gorgeous and elegant looking. I am loving all the summer fruits too =)
July 27th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Thank you! You should try making it as it's soooo easy!
July 27th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
hehe.. thanks!
July 27th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Thanks!
July 27th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Yeah it is! Thanks gine!
July 27th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yeah… I bought lots of them and I enjoy every second eating them.. yum.
July 28th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
This sounds simple, yet looks so wonderful. Thanks for the new technique to serve peaches.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
what a simple but beautiful dessert. I love that the preparation is simple as well (yet tricky)…. i love your colorful spoons too
)
July 30th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Thanks for your comment! No, it's not tricky to prepare this at all! Give it a try!
August 10th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Peaches with ice cream, not peach melba. That aside, it looks delicious. Also try poaching in the oven – larger risk of mushyness, but also intensified taste. Qualifying for "melba" – status? Maybe adding fresh rasperries to the peachy syrup while cooling so at to gain semi poached rasperries adding colour, aroma and acidity to the whole thing.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:02 am
I made this super yummy peach melba/ without ice cream, didn't had them.
Thankyou for a delicous recipe. I have posted it in my place.
http://mykitchentreasures.blogspot.com/2009/09/pe...
September 29th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Glad that you love it!
January 25th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Gorgeous photographs! I love the idea of white poaching, particularly for really delicate or ripe fruit. Thankyou!
January 26th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Thanks!
I like this kind of simple dessert.. hehe