Skip to main content

Summer Peaches

One summer, the peaches were so amazing that I didn’t want to do anything to them. Unfortunately, you can’t put a peach on a plate and send it out to a customer. So I chose ingredients—mellow cheeses, sweet and crunchy pistachios, and a mild balsamic vinegar glaze—that complemented the sweet raw peach.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4 to 6 on it¿s own or 8 to 9 as part of fourplay

Ingredients

For the Peaches

1/4 teaspoon citric acid
1 cup (280g) Simple Syrup (page 184)
4 super-ripe peaches

For the Balsamic Glaze

1/2 cup (110g) white balsamic vinegar

To Serve

4 ounces (113g) farmer’s cheese
4 ounces (113g) fresh ricotta cheese
Candied pistachios (see page 215)
Micro basil (or chopped fresh basil leaves)
Fleur de sel

Preparation

  1. For the Peaches

    Step 1

    Whisk the citric acid into the simple syrup.

    Step 2

    Cut the peaches into 8 wedges each (don’t peel them) and toss them in the syrup. Remove the peaches from the syrup and place on a tray or platter. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

  2. For the Balsamic Glaze

    Step 3

    Put the vinegar in a small nonreactive saucepan and simmer gently until thick and syrupy, 10 minutes. Let cool before using

  3. To Serve

    Step 4

    Divide the peaches and cheese among dessert plates. Drizzle with a little of the balsamic glaze and garnish with the pistachios, some basil, and salt.

Reprinted with permission from Dessert Fourplay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Copyright © 2008 by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Published by Crown Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Johnny Iuzzini,, executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. This is his first book. Roy Finamore, a publishing veteran of more than thirty years, has worked with many bestselling cookbook authors. He is the author of three books: One Potato, Two Potato; Tasty, which won a James Beard Foundation award; and Fish Without a Doubt.__
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Glossy, intensely chocolaty, and spiked with coffee and sour cream, this Bundt is the ultimate all-purpose dessert.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.