This simple summer dessert of sweet juicy griddled peaches with strawberries, is served fresh basil and cream. This dessert screams summer, just add sun!
The quality of the ingredients do all the work resulting in a dish that is so much more than the sum of the parts.
The ingredients
Just 4 main ingredients make up this fruit dessert; peaches, strawberries, mascarpone and double cream. A little fresh basil, balsamic vinegar and a little sugar further compliment the main ingredients to make this dish special.
Peaches
Use peaches that are just ripe and ready for eating but are still slightly firm as overly ripe and soft peaches are difficult to cut in half.
If you haven't griddled peaches before I am sure you will be doing it again once you have tried them. Not just for the flavour, but also for the smell which they impart as they get heated and caramelise! Just divine!
Why to do some peaches cut in half easily and others do not.
This is down to the variety of peach. Some are free stone peaches which separate easily and others are cling stone which as the names implies have flesh which stubbornly clings to the pit. Unfortunately I have yet to discover a way of identifying which is which.
Strawberries
Macerating the strawberries really brings out the flavour of the strawberries. Macerated is the term for soaking fruit in liquid and sugar to soften and release the juices. Macerating is similar to marinating-the fruit also absorbs the flavours of the liquid as they soak.
Leave to macerate for about 30 minutes but no longer than 90 minutes as the berries will start to break down too much.
Buy local strawberries rather than imported if you can,as I think they always taste so much better.
Basil
We all know that strawberries team so well with basil and balsamic vinegar, I teamed the three very sucessfully in my summer strawberry roulade . But who knew that basil goes so beautifully with peaches! Perfect!
The Cream
You could just serve the fruit with whipped cream but I find a combination of mascarpone and cream just adds a little more depth of flavour. I've sweetened the cream with a little icing sugar but its not strictly necessary so can be omitted if you prefer.
Method
For the strawberries and the cream it is simply a case of combining the ingredients together, which can be done a little in advance.
The peaches can be cooked on a ridged griddle pan indoors or even out side on the barbecue. Both will give them the attractive griddle marks. Alternatively pop them cut side up under a hot grill.
Step by step
Add the sugar. Sprinkle with balsamic, add basil and toss to combine. Whip the cream and mascarpone together. Cut the peaches in half. Remove the stones. Cook the peaches on a hot griddle or barbecue.
However you cook the peaches they are delicious enjoyed alfresco straight off the heat with the macerated strawberries teamed with basil and a generous dollop of the cream!
Leftovers?
Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a day although the strawberries will loose some of their texture and become a little mushy.
📖 Recipe
Griddled Peaches & cream with Macerated Strawberries
Equipment
- Griddle pan or barbecue
Ingredients
For the macerated strawberries
- 225 g (8oz) strawberries
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 3 - 4 medium basil leaves shredded
For the cream
- 150 ml (¼pt) double (heavy) cream
- 150 g (5oz) mascarpone
- 1 tablespoon icing sugar
For the griddled peaches
- 4 ripe and ready to eat peaches not overly soft
- cooking oil (light olive oil or cold pressed rapeseed oil)
Instructions
Macerate the strawberries
- Wash, hull and slice 225g (8oz) strawberries and place in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1-2 teaspoon sugar and a couple of shreded basil leaves and ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar and gently stir to coat the strawberries in the vinegar and sugar. Leave to macerate for about 30 minutes.
Prepare the cream
- Whip 150ml (¼pt) double cream until just holding its shape. Then beat in 150g (5oz) mascarpone and 1 tablespoon icing sugar until thick. Chill until required.
Prepare the peaches
- Starting at the stem, use a small sharp knife to cut into the peach and slice the fruit in half cutting through to the stone. Twist the two peach halves in opposite directions to separate. Then carefully remove the stone carefully.
- Heat a griddle pan until it is nice and hot. Brush the cut side of the peach with a little oil and place on the griddle pan. Leave them to cook and caramelise for at least 5 minutes. Don't be tempted to move them during the cooking process.
- Carefully remove the peaches from the griddle pan and serve with the strawberries and cream. Sprinkle with a few more pieces of shredded basil and enjoy.
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
I love griddled peaches and the combination of them with the strawberries is so delicious!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Thanks Cat, I'm pleased you like it.
Lesley says
What a beautiful dessert, although I'd happily eat this any time of the day. Griddling peaches really does bring out their flavour and I love the combination of strawberries with balsamic. Delicious.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Yes' isnt it amazing how a little acidity from the balsamic brings out the flavour of strawberries so well
Corina Blum says
This sounds like such a tasty combination! I love griddled peaches and they are great with basil too. I also wish there was a way of knowing if the stones would come out easily!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
I hear you it is so frustrating not knowing if you can easily halve peaches or not. If only ....
Carrie Carvalho says
Heavenly combination, this is my dream summer dessert.
Grubby Little Faces says
I love this combination. It looks so fresh and beautiful too. I have to try. Thank you so much for linking up to #LoveSeasonalFood and I have enjoyed really enjoyed looking around your lovely blog too.
Charlotte Oates says
Love the combination of peaches and strawberries - delicious. I've not tried them with basil before so I'll have to add it to my list of things to try.
Thanks for joining #FoodYearLinkup xx
Fionnuala says
I had nectarines with basil at a wedding in Corsica back in 2007. I had totally forgotten about that combination of flavours till now. Your recipe sounds delicious and I am sure it would go down well in our house of fruit lovers 🙂
#Foodyearlinkup
Fionnuala
Noel says
What a pretty plate! (and the good looks wonderful also!)
popped over from Caleigh's Kitchen link up.
will be pinning next!
Amy Basso says
The basil sounds delightful in this!
Pinch Me Beautiful says
Oh YUM! grilled peaches sounds wonderful! and put them with strawberries and Im in heaven. Thanks for sharing this recipe xx
Donna M says
Yum, I am totally obsessed with grilled fruit this summer. Grilled peaches are so good!! #foodpornthursdays
Domesticated Momster says
Looks so refreshing! I love the combination of strawberries and basil together and the basil in my garden is growing like crazy! I had to give some away. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at #foodpornthursdays.
Dannielle from Zamamabakes says
You had me a peaches!
This looks very delicious indeed.
Thanks for joining in with our Fabulous Foodie Fridays fun.
Have a beautiful weekend x
Lauren Matheson says
Clever idea to use the George Foreman Grill - you still got a great result! This looks so delicious and as I'm sitting here shivering in the cold I wish I could eat a big bowl of this for dessert! Thanks for linking up with us and I hope you have a lovely weekend x
Lucy Mathieson says
Yum!! I'm definitely counting this as a healthy dessert, right!? Delish!
Amanda Inman says
This does sound great for a BBQ, I'm dying to have a go at some fruits on the grill next time we have one! Those flavours sound like they'd be great together too. I haven't got a griddle pan either, I did used to have one, but it was one of those things that never got used normally. I haven't had peaches in ages!