7 Fresh Ways to Enjoy Stone Fruit This Summer

Make the most of summer’s peaches, nectarines and plums with seven simple ideas for salads, grazing boards, brunch, picnics, and more.

By Vuya Maqubela | August 31, 2019 | Category food

Peaches, nectarines and plums start appearing in abundance, bringing with them their unmistakable fragrance, vivid colour and the promise of long, lazy meals outdoors – this an indication that summer is around the corner.

And while they’re perfectly good eaten straight from the fruit bowl – juice running down your hands and all – there’s plenty more you can do with them.

The beauty of stone fruit is its versatility. A ripe peach needs very little to become something special, whether it’s paired with creamy cheese and herbs, folded into a salad, or served alongside seafood fresh from the braai. The trick is not to overthink it. When the fruit is naturally sweet, juicy and in season, a handful of well-chosen ingredients is often all you need.

Here are seven easy ideas to make the most of South Africa’s stone fruit season.

1. Pair peaches with cheese and ham

Sweet and salty is a combination that rarely misses. Thread chunks of ripe peach, cubes of cheese, and slices of ham onto skewers for an easy starter or snack that requires no cooking.

They’re ideal for a picnic, lunchbox, or relaxed afternoon outside – and can be assembled in minutes. Choose a cheese with enough character to stand up to the sweetness of the peach, or keep things fresh with a softer variety.

2. Add nectarines to Vietnamese spring rolls

For something lighter, tuck thinly sliced nectarines into Vietnamese-style spring rolls alongside tiger prawns, crunchy vegetables, and plenty of fresh herbs.

The nectarines bring a burst of sweetness and juiciness to every bite, balancing the freshness of the herbs and prawns. They’re also a clever way to make a familiar summer lunch feel a little more unexpected.

Peaches and Parmesan make a simple summer salad feel instantly more special.

3. Make stone fruit the star of your summer salad

Forget complicated salads with endless ingredients. A ripe peach, peppery salad leaves and plenty of Parmesan can do most of the work.

Slice the peach into wedges and layer it over the leaves before adding shavings of Parmesan. The result is a combination of sweet, salty, and savoury flavours that works beautifully as a light lunch or alongside something coming off the braai.

4. Keep dessert simple with honey, lemon and thyme

Sometimes the best summer dessert is the one that barely feels like cooking.

Combine sliced peaches, nectarines and plums with a little honey, lemon juice, and fresh thyme. The citrus keeps the fruit tasting bright, while the thyme adds an aromatic note that makes the whole thing feel more considered.

Serve chilled on its own, or alongside a spoonful of thick yoghurt or softly whipped cream.

Simple ingredients, plenty of seasonal flavour.

5. Give brunch a stone-fruit upgrade

If your summer brunch usually involves pancakes, there’s an easy way to make them feel a bit more special.

Try a sheet-pan cottage cheese pancake topped with thinly sliced peaches and nectarines tossed in lime juice and honey. It has all the comfort of a traditional pancake, but the fresh fruit brings colour, acidity and plenty of texture.

It’s the sort of dish that looks impressive on the table without requiring you to spend the morning standing over the stove.

6. Bring stone fruit to the snack table

Stone fruit also has a place outside of salads and desserts. For your next gathering, pair nectarines with whipped feta and peaches with guacamole, then serve alongside crisp nachos.

The combination of creamy, salty, sweet, and fresh makes for an easy option that works just as well at a braai as it does at a game night or casual lunch.

7. Build a stone-fruit grazing board

Start with a selection of cheeses and cold meats, then fill the gaps with wedges of peaches, nectarines and plums.

There’s no strict formula here. Add crackers, nuts, fresh herbs or whatever else you already have in the kitchen. The stone fruit provides colour and freshness against the richer cheeses and charcuterie, while making the board feel distinctly summery.

A generous stone-fruit grazing board is made for relaxed summer entertaining

Keep it simple

The arrival of stone fruit is the kind of seasonal pleasure that doesn’t need much embellishment. Peaches, nectarines and plums are naturally juicy, packed with flavour and easy to work into both sweet and savoury dishes.

They also bring fibre and vitamins to the table, while their high water content makes them appealing when summer temperatures climb.

So, instead of saving your best peaches for an elaborate recipe, leave a bowl within easy reach. Slice a few into lunch, put some on the grazing board, or even add them to tomorrow morning’s pancakes.