Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone, Pistachios & Balsamic Glaze
Peaches off the grill are a true summer delight—we particularly love this salty, sticky-sweet topping.
Ingredients
4 large ripe (but not overly soft) peaches, halved and pits removed
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 ounces mascarpone or cream cheese
¼ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla
2-3 teaspoons grapeseed oil (or other neutral tasting oil)
Handful of pistachios, lightly crushed
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, sugar and melted butter. Set aside. In another small bowl, combine mascarpone (or cream) cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Set aside.
2. Preheat grill over medium low heat. Gently brush each peach half with oil and place it flesh side down on the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to carefully rotate peaches a quarter turn and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the peaches are slightly softened and have grill marks. Remove and cool slightly.
3. When ready to serve, drizzle balsamic mixture over peaches and spoon a small scoop of cheese mixture into the hollow of each peach. Sprinkle with crushed pistachios.
Variations: Once you master the art of grilling peaches, the sky’s the limit! They are also wonderful topped with vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey.
Grilled Peaches with Almond Whipped Cream
Drizzled with honey and topped with toasted almonds, these peaches are simply stunning for dessert.
Ingredients:
4 peaches, halved
1 teaspoon melted butter
3 teaspoons honey, divided
2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
â…“ cup whipping cream
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 ½ tablespoons powdered sugar
Method:
1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
2. In a small dish whisk together the melted butter and a teaspoon of honey. Cut the peaches in half and brush the melted honey butter on the cut side.
3. Place the peaches cut-side down onto the heated grill pan. Grill the peaches for about 2-3 minutes until softened and just slightly charred, and then remove and place them cut-side up onto a plate.
4. Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer, add the whipping cream, almond extract, and powdered sugar and beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form.
5. To serve, spoon about a tablespoon of the whipped cream on top of each peach half, then sprinkle on the sliced almonds and drizzle on the remaining 2 teaspoons of honey.
Grilled Corn Salad with Sweet Peppers
This warm salad is crisp and crunchy, boasting a wonderful smoky flavor from the perfectly-charred corn and peppers.
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn, shucked
2 sweet peppers, halved and seeded
2 ½-inch-thick onion slices
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon chopped oregano
1 tablespoon finely-chopped chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place corn on the grill rack; grill 20 minutes or until charred here-and-there, turning occasionally. Place in a large bowl; cover with foil. Leave in a warm location 10 minutes, then cut corn kernels off cobs, encouraging clusters to stay intact, if possible.
2. Meanwhile, place the peppers and onions on grill rack, and grill 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop both the peppers and onions.
3. Combine the chives, cream, oregano, vinegar and garlic with a healthy pinch each of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add peppers, onions and corn; toss gently to coat. Serve warm.
Grilled Peach Salad with Marcona Almonds
With peppery arugula and a red wine vinaigrette, this salad would also be incredible tossed with smoked chicken.
Ingredients:
3-4 peaches, pitted and quartered
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
½ cup Marcona almonds
3 cups loosely-packed arugula
1 cup crumbled Westward blue cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. Add the peaches to a large bowl, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat. Grill for about 2-3 minutes, flesh side down, until peaches are slightly softened and have grill marks.
3. Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, mustard, honey and remaining ¼ cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
4. Gently toss the warm peaches in the dressing. Serve over a bed of arugula and sprinkle almonds and blue cheese over the top.
Grilled Glazed Carrots
Brushed with a sweet-tart glaze, these grilled carrots are sure to wow.
Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, peeled
1 large orange
¼ cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons butter
Olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly-chopped herbs of your choice, such as parsley, oregano and tarragon
Method:
1. To make the glaze, juice the orange in a small non-reactive saucepan. Over medium-heat, add the brown sugar and butter and cook until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Brush the carrots lightly with olive oil and place directly on grill. Grill until crisp-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally during cooking. In the last few minutes of cooking, brush the carrots all over with the glaze.
3. Remove the carrots to a plate, sprinkle with salt and fresh herbs. Serve immediately.
Grilled Carrots
Brushed with our signature grill rub, these carrots are infused with smoky-sweet flavor.
Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, trimmed of greens, then peeled and cut in half lengthwise
2-3 tablespoons F&L house-blend dry rub
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly-chopped herbs of your choice, such as parsley, oregano and tarragon
Method:
1. Place carrots on a sheet pan and brush them lightly with olive oil on both sides. Season liberally with the dry rub.
2. Preheat the grill to medium-high and then place the carrots directly on grill or in a grill basket. Grill until crisp-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally during cooking.
3. Remove the carrots to a plate, sprinkle with salt and fresh herbs. Serve immediately.
Grilled Corn with Dry Grill Rub
An innovative use for our housemade rub!
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn, shucked
Olive oil
2 tablespoons Farm & Larder dry grill rub
Method:
1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
2. In a shallow dish, add a very thin layer of olive oil. Roll each ear of corn in oil to lightly coat. Then rub each with about 2 teaspoons of the dry grilling rub, rotating as you do so to make sure rub is evenly distributed.
3. Place corn on grill and cook, rotating occasionally to apply heat to all sides, until sections of the corn are lightly blackened and the kernels are bright yellow. Remove and serve immediately.
Variations: This rub is also wonderful sprinkled over grilled peppers or summer squash.
Grilled Vegetable Salad
Tossed with a balsamic dressing, this gorgeous salad pairs well with protein hot off the grill.
Ingredients:
1 medium eggplant, cut lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices
2 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices
2 small or one medium summer squash, cut lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices
1 bunch spring onions, trimmed of root ends
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
1 red pepper, seeded and cut into quarters lengthwise
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, cut into a thin chiffonade
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
For the dressing:
½ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
2. Combine all the vegetables in a large bowl and toss with olive oil, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Carefully lay out all the vegetables on the rack and grill until all are tender and slightly charred, pulling off vegetables as they are done. (Some will cook quicker than others.)
3. Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette by whisking all ingredients together in a small bowl. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
4. Remove vegetables from grill; cool slightly. Cut any larger vegetables into 1-inch pieces. Arrange vegetables on a large serving platter and toss gently with the reserved vinaigrette. Garnish with the basil leaves and pine nuts; serve either warm or at room temperature.
Grilled Padrón Peppers
These small, slightly-sweet (but sometimes spicy!) peppers get an extra dose of smoky flavor courtesy of a quick sear on the grill.
Ingredients:
½ pound Padrón peppers, washed and thoroughly dried
1 tablespoon olive oil
Coarse sea salt, such as fleur de sel or Maldon
Method:
1. Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high (about 450° to 550°). Meanwhile, place the peppers in a medium bowl, add the olive oil, and toss to coat; set aside.
2. When the grill is ready, place the peppers on the grill in a single layer, making sure they’re not touching. Grill uncovered, turning occasionally, until the peppers start to char and blister, about 6 to 8 minutes total.
3. Remove to a serving plate, season immediately with the sea salt, and serve.
Grilled Lacinato Kale Spread
This creamy spread from the new cookbook, Any Night Grilling, is delicious slathered on slices of grilled bread.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Lacinato kale
1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grilling
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Pinch red pepper flakes
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
½ cup crumbled sheep’s milk feta
Rustic bread, such as this week’s Italian Rustica, sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled and halved lengthwise
Flaky sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium high, then carefully wipe the preheated grates with a lightly-oiled paper towel.
2. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt with the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then fold in the sheep’s milk cheese.
3. Working in batches, grill the kale leaves until lightly charred, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and cool slightly. Use a knife to trim the thick ribs from each leaf, then finely chop the kale leaves. Fold into the yogurt mixture.
4. Grill the bread slices over direct heat until charred, about 1 minute per side. While still war, rub 1 side of each toast with the cut side of the garlic. Top each toast with a slather of creamy kale, drizzle with olive oil and top with flaky sea salt, then serve.