PEACHES

Season: summer

Flavor: sweet/sour, with a soft, juicy texture

Volume: quiet–moderate

Nutritional profile: 87% carbs / 8% protein / 5% fats

Calories: 70 per large peach

Protein: 2 grams

Techniques: bake, broil, grill, poach, puree, raw, roast, sauté

Tips: Opt for organic peaches. The lighter (i.e., whiter) the skin, the sweeter the peach; the darker (i.e., yellower) the skin, the more acidic the peach.

Botanical relatives: apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, pears, plums, quinces, raspberries, strawberries

Possible substitute: nectarines

allspice

apples and apple juice

apricots, e.g., dried, fresh, pureed

arugula

baked goods, e.g., pies, scones

basil

BERRIES, e.g., blackberries, BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, strawberries

butter

buttermilk

caramel

cardamom

cheese, e.g., blue, burrata, cream, goat, halloumi, mozzarella, ricotta, ricotta salata

chiles, e.g., chipotle, serrano

chocolate

chutneys

cilantro

CINNAMON

cloves

coconut

compotes

coriander

*CREAM and crème fraîche

cress, e.g., pepper

currants

DESSERTS, e.g., cobblers, crisps, crumbles, Melba, pies

endive

fennel

GINGER

grains, whole, e.g., quinoa, wheat berries

grapes

greens, salad, e.g., baby chard

hazelnuts

HONEY

ice cream

kefir

lavender

LEMON, e.g., juice, zest

lemongrass

LEMON VERBENA

lime

lychees

mangoes

MAPLE SYRUP

mascarpone

MINT

nutmeg

NUTS, e.g., ALMONDS, cashews, macadamias, PECANS, pistachios, walnuts

oats and oatmeal

oil, olive

onions, red

ORANGE, e.g., juice, liqueur, zest

pepper, black

pomegranates

pumpkin seeds

radishes

rosemary

rum

saffron

salads, e.g., fruit, grain, green

salsas

salt, sea

scallions

sherry

smoothies

sorbets

soups, e.g., cold and/or fruit

sour cream

Southern (U.S.) cuisine

spirits, e.g., bourbon, brandy, cognac, Cointreau, Kirsch

STONE FRUITS, OTHER, e.g., cherries, nectarines, plums

SUGAR, e.g., brown, maple

tarragon

VANILLA

VINEGAR, e.g., apple cider, balsamic, champagne, rice, wine

watercress

whiskey

wine, red or white; fruity, sparkling, and/or sweet, e.g., Champagne, Prosecco, Sauternes

yogurt

yuzu

Flavor Affinities

peaches + almonds + cinnamon + yogurt

peaches + almonds + lemon + olive oil + saffron

peaches + balsamic vinegar + endive + maple syrup + olive oil + watercress

peaches + balsamic vinegar + mint + ricotta

peaches + basil + mozzarella cheese

peaches + berries + lemon

PEACHES + BLUEBERRIES + LEMON + maple syrup

peaches + blue cheese + hazelnuts

peaches + cashew cream + balsamic vinegar

peaches + cherries + balsamic vinegar

peaches + chiles + coriander + ginger + lime + vinegar

peaches + cilantro + ginger + lime

peaches + cinnamon + honey + lemon + yogurt

peaches + cream + lemon verbena + raspberries

peaches + fennel + lemon

peaches + ginger + honey + lemon + lemongrass

peaches + ginger + lemon

peaches + honey + lemon + yogurt

peaches + honey + nuts (e.g., almonds, pecans) + oatmeal/oats

peaches + mangoes + raspberries

peaches + maple syrup + nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts) + orange juice + ricotta

peaches + maple syrup + orange + vanilla

peaches + mascarpone + strawberries + vanilla

peaches + pistachios + vanilla

“The flavor of peaches takes me to the South, so I like pairing them with pecans and whiskey.”

—KATE JACOBY, VEDGE (PHILADELPHIA)

“We’ll make a vegan Peach Melba—leveraging the winning combination of peaches with raspberries and almonds—by replacing the vanilla ice cream with a coconut milk sorbet.”

—MARK LEVY, THE POINT (SARANAC LAKE, NY)

Dishes

Peaches: Ginger Cake, Fromage Blanc Sorbet, and Pine Nuts

—Blue Hill (New York City)

Baby Roma Tomato and White Peach Salad, Peterson’s Greens, Basil, and Balsamic-Honey

—Cal-a-Vie (Vista, CA)

Arugula and Peach Salad with Parmesan, Lemon and Vanilla Dressing, Truffle, Celery, Sesame Seeds, Fennel

—Fearrington House (Fearrington Village, NC)

“Rupert”: “Demi-Sec” Peaches, Walnut Tapenade, Pearl Onions, and Watercress

—The French Laundry (Yountville, CA)

Peach Trifle: Lemon Verbena Panna Cotta, KandJ Orchard Peaches, and Champagne Granite

—The French Laundry (Yountville, CA)

Grilled Haloumi Cheese and Peaches with Chard Rib Salad, Sundried Olive, and Sweet Pepper Broth

—Oleana (Cambridge, MA)