Sometimes a peach is utter perfection. It needs nothing to improve on it and should be eaten directly out of hand. Unfortunately, the majority of my peach purchases don’t fall into that category. Some of them are too firm and not fully sweet, and others are overly ripened and have mushy spots. I’ve tried various ways to ripen to the perfect state, but I’m not that great at it.
However, I still adore peaches. I like their flavors, sweetness, and texture. What am I to do but create recipes that allow me to highlight this beautiful piece of produce even if they aren’t at peak ripeness? While most recipes seem to focus on dessert, I like to use this fruit in different ways, such as in an appetizer.
Let’s talk about how to cook with peaches
I’ve made an assortment of peach-focused snacks over the years, some of which I’ve shared here. Included in that list are my bruschetta, a caprese salad, and peaches wrapped in prosciutto. All of these recipes provide a savory contrast to the natural sweetness of the peach. What makes the difference in all of those recipes, plus this new one, is that the peaches are given a short amount of cooking time. A little bit of heat increases the sweetness of the peaches while also not eliminating too much firmness.
This recipe is delightfully simple. You need only four ingredients, including the peaches, and they can be made in under thirty minutes. Depending on how you serve them, this recipe could make a nice appetizer for a group of four or a lunch for a pairing of two. Please note: you want to eat these peaches within a minute or two of cooking. You need to enjoy them while the blue cheese is slightly melty and the peaches are toasty warm.
When shopping for this recipe, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- You want regular or center cut bacon, so that it will get nice and crispy. This recipe does not need chewy bacon.
- Don’t worry about peach ripeness too much. They shouldn’t be green, but a bit firm is actually good.
- You can use almost any blue cheese. As it’s mixed with bacon and their flavors meld, there’s no need to buy really high end cheese.
Go get the ingredients, and then make this recipe. You won’t look at the peaches in the same way anymore.
Caramelized Peaches with Bacon & Blue Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 slices regular cut bacon
- 2 peaches
- 3 tablespoons blue cheese
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°.
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Heat large frying pan over medium heat.
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Add bacon and cook until crisp.
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Transfer fully cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
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Cut peaches in half (using the crease as a guide) and remove pit.
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Place peaches, cut side down, on a greased, rimmed baking dish.
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Roast for 8-10 minutes or until tender.
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While peaches bake, place blue cheese in a small bowl.
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Crumble bacon into small pieces, adding it to the cheese.
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Use a fork to combine the cheese and bacon.
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Remove peaches from oven, and flip so that they are cut side up.
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Change oven from bake to broil.
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Move a rack to the highest shelf in the oven.
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Fill peach centers with blue cheese and bacon.
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Sprinkle sugar over peaches.
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Place under broiler for 15-30 seconds.*
Video
Notes
