Recipe
Peach Melba (Pêches Melba)
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Yield:
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!
Peach Melba (Pêches Melba)
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Yield:
Ingredients:
For the Peach Melba (Pêches Melba):
275g white sugar
600ml water
zest of 1 lemon
1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise
4 peaches
4 scoops vanilla ice cream
some pistachios
Method:
1. Put the sugar, lemon zest, vanilla pod and water into a pot, bring to the boil. 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.
2. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peaches and gently peel off the skin by running them under cold water. Set aside. 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.
3. To serve, place a peach and a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle with syrup and sprinkle with some chopped pistachios.
I have been craving desserts recently, probably due to the weather.
I have been craving for sweet stuff lately too.. 🙂
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
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment. I adore Peach Melba dearly… yummm..
Wow, gorgeous colours! I liked that you kept the flavours simple by omitting the raspberry sauce. And pistachios on top sounds fantastic!
Thanks!! I just love the simplicity of this dessert. 🙂
One of my favorite desserts to get when I get home! Perfect for summer bbqs and get together!
Definitely!! 🙂
Poached peaches sound delicious.
Yeah.. and I like your roast plums too!
I love your photo……. and those cute little spoons. This peach melba is great!
Thank you.
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!! :))
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. 🙂
that looks simply gorgeous! i love how you rested the colorful spoons on top of the glasses…what a feast to the eyes..
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!
Your pictures are simply amazing…..I love fresh peaches and you have done justice to them, by keeping this recipe so simple and elegant!!!
Thank you, nina! I love peaches and I go crazy when I see their blushing cheeks 🙂
hmmmmm, another winner here! 😀
Thank you my dear!! Next time, I promise, I will make this for you, k?
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!
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 🙂
Interesting! I've never cooked with peaches before, but this makes me want to give it a go 🙂
Give it a try. Peaches are great in main courses too – make great sauces for meat and poultry.
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!)
Thanks Simone. I definitely love poached stonefruits!
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…..!
Thanks LK! I am really into this kind of simple dessert.. not too heavy.
Ooooowwww!! My kind of desserts. Makes me longing for Summer now….
Thanks arfi! I think you don't have too long too wait for your summer 😉
I'm embarrassed to say I've never had peach melba before. This omission must be addressed!
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! 🙂
what a beautiful dessert!! I never had this peach melba b4…wish I can have one right now:P
Thank you! You should try making it as it's soooo easy! 🙂
Oh ! Looks wonderfully yummy !
hehe.. thanks!
mmmmm … peaches ^^ … that's really a summer recipe ^^! Lovely pics!! XOXO
Thanks!
Yeah it is! Thanks gine!
omg, how gorgeous and elegant looking. I am loving all the summer fruits too =)
Yeah… I bought lots of them and I enjoy every second eating them.. yum.
This sounds simple, yet looks so wonderful. Thanks for the new technique to serve peaches.
what a simple but beautiful dessert. I love that the preparation is simple as well (yet tricky)…. i love your colorful spoons too :o)
Thanks for your comment! No, it's not tricky to prepare this at all! Give it a try!
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.
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…
Glad that you love it! 🙂
Gorgeous photographs! I love the idea of white poaching, particularly for really delicate or ripe fruit. Thankyou! 🙂
Thanks!
I like this kind of simple dessert.. hehe