Peach Melba Slightly Twisted Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Combine raspberries, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, water, and balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until sugar dissolves and berries collapse, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into a bowl. Cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
• Combine 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and split vanilla bean in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Place peach halves with cut sides up in the syrup and simmer until tender, 5 to 8 minutes per side, basting with the syrup occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool in the syrup. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 4 hours.
• Remove peach skins and serve each peach half on top of a scoop of ice cream in a bowl. Spoon the raspberry sauce over the top. Garnish with toasted, slivered almonds.

CLASSIC FRENCH PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Using a deep, wide skillet, heat 1 1/4 cups sugar and 2 cups water to boiling.
• After sugar dissolves, add peaches in a single layer. Reduce heat to just under simmering and poach, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Using tongs or a slotted spoon, gently turn all the peaches over, cover, and continue poaching for 3 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat and allow peaches to sit in hot syrup for an additional 4 minutes.
• Stir in vanilla extract. Chill peaches in syrup for at least 1 hour.
• Push raspberries and juice from thawing, through a fine-mesh sieve, and then discard seeds and solids; set aside. Bring 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and zest . Stir simple syrup (sugar mixture) into a seedless raspberry puree and chill for 30 minutes.
• Layer peaches and raspberries over ice cream in frosted dishes and serve.
• Enjoy.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce heat to low. Place peach halves cut side up in pan; cook for 5-8 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat. Cool peaches in syrup for 30 minutes. , Remove peaches with a slotted spoon and place cut side down in a shallow dish. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until chilled., In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat raspberry jam for 20 seconds; stir until smooth. Place peach halves cut side up in dessert dishes. Top with ice cream; drizzle with jam.

PEACH MELBA SPLIT

Steps:

• Toss the raspberries and raspberry jam in a medium bowl and let stand 20 minutes at room temperature.
• Slice or quarter the peaches, depending on their size, divide among 4 dessert bowls and sprinkle the sugar over the tops. Let sit until they get a little juicy, about 15 minutes, turning them over once or twice.
• To serve, put one scoop of frozen yogurt on top of the peaches. Spoon some raspberries over each scoop. Top each with 1 tablespoon of crushed cookies. Serve immediately.

EASY PEACH MELBA DESSERT

Steps:

• Drain peaches, reserving syrup. Set aside two peaches and 1 tablespoon syrup (refrigerate remaining peaches and syrup for another use). , Place each sponge cake on a plate; drizzle with reserved syrup. Top with ice cream and a peach half. , In a small saucepan, heat jam until melted; drizzle over peaches. Top with nuts if desired. Serve immediately.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring the pan to the boil and let it bubble away for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to a fast simmer.
• Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them, if not then you can get them out later. Poach the peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft, and then remove them to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• When all the peaches are poached, peel off their skins and let them cool (then you can remove any remaining stones). If you are making them a day in advance then let the poaching syrup cool and then pour into a dish with the peaches. Otherwise just bag up the syrup and freeze it for the next time you poach peaches.
• To make the raspberry sauce, liquidize the raspberries, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice in a blender or a food processor. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jug.
• To assemble the Peach Melba, allow 2 peach halves per person and sit them on each plate alongside a scoop or 2 of ice cream. Spoon the raspberry sauce over each.

QUICK PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Pour schnapps in a microwave-safe pan or pie plate large enough to hold peach halves in a single layer. Place peaches, cut side down in pan. Microwave on high Pour schnapps in a microwave-safe pie plate large enough to hold all peach halves in a single layer. Place peaches cut side down in pan. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Turn peaches over and microwave about 2 minutes longer, until the fruit is tender when poked with a sharp knife. Let peaches cool, then peel. Refrigerate. for 3 minutes.
• Transfer jam to a microwave-safe measuring cup; microwave on high 1 to 2 minutes until partially melted. In a food processor, puree jam and raspberries. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl; strain sauce to remove seeds, pressing with a rubber spatula. Discard seeds. Refrigerate.
• Put 1/2 cup ice cream in each of eight shallow bowls, then a peach half, 2 Tbs. sauce and 1 Tb. almonds. Serve.

NOT-SO-CLASSIC PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Make the raspberry sauce: Put 1 cup raspberries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a blender and whiz to liquify. Pour through a fine-meshed strainer and into a medium bowl. Keep cool.
• Using a paring knife, peel and halve the peaches. Slice the halves into half-moon pieces about 3/8-inch thick. Transfer to a bowl. Add 2 teaspoons sugar and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Toss to coat.
• To serve, arrange peach slices in the bottom of 6 dessert bowls. Top each serving with a scoop or 2 of vanilla ice cream. Splash raspberry sauce over each portion. Garnish with a few raspberries if you wish.

PEACH MELBA WITH BURNT CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Cook sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small deep saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat and boil without stirring (stirring causes sugar crystals to form, making the caramel grainy), occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals, until syrup turns a deep amber color, 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat; immediately and carefully add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Add butter and salt and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly. DO AHEAD: Caramel can be made 1 week ahead. Let cool completely. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill. Rewarm slightly before serving.
• For peaches:
• Combine Riesling, sugar, and 2 cups water in a large saucepan; scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to a boil. Add peaches; bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat, turning once or twice, until tender when pierced with a sharp knife but still holding their shape, 5-7 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Let peaches cool completely in liquid. Cover; chill until cold, about 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• Remove peaches from liquid. Working with 1 peach at a time, use a paring knife to make a small nick in the skin. Hold the skin between the knife and your thumb and pull off skin in strips; discard skin. Place 1-2 peach halves in each serving glass or bowl; top with ice cream and raspberries. Drizzle caramel sauce over.

PEACH MELBA BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250 degrees. Cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit a baking sheet. Turn over an 8-inch-diameter metal bowl on parchment paper, and trace the perimeter of the bowl; place the parchment on the baking sheet, pencil side down, and set aside. Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a 1/2-inch-wide open-star tip, and set aside.
• Place 2 egg whites in the clean bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the whites until soft peaks form. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup superfine sugar. Continue to beat until stiff and shiny. Transfer to prepared pastry bag. Pipe a spiral of meringue starting in the center of the circle and finishing just inside the pencil mark. Bake meringue disk until dry, making sure not to let it brown, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool completely.
• While meringue is baking, line the metal bowl with plastic wrap so the plastic hangs over the edges. Fill the bowl with peach sorbet, making a deep well in the center, and press to make it smooth. Fold over the plastic wrap to cover the top, and freeze until hard, about 30 minutes.
• When peach sorbet has hardened, fill well with raspberry sorbet; press to make a smooth top. Cover again with plastic wrap; return to the freezer until ready to serve.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Cut peaches in half, and remove pits. Arrange peach halves, cut side up, in a baking dish. Sprinkle with granulated sugar, and dot with butter. Bake until browned and tender, about 25 minutes, brushing occasionally with butter and juices. Allow to cool while finishing meringue, then cut in half.
• Just before serving, prepare meringue for the top. Prepare a 16-inch pastry bag with the same open-star tip. Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees. Place the 6 remaining egg whites in the clean bowl of the electric mixer, and beat until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar; continue to beat until very stiff and shiny, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to prepared pastry bag.
• Place meringue disk on ovenproof serving platter. Remove sorbet from freezer; uncover top. Warm sides of bowl with hands until sorbet comes out by pulling plastic wrap. Gently invert sorbet onto meringue disk. Quickly pipe meringue over dome. Place in oven until top of meringue just starts to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately with roasted peaches.

CARAMELIZED PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath, and set aside. Place peaches in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon, and transfer to ice-water bath. Keep the pot of water on the stove. Peel peaches, and cut in half, discarding pits. Reserve ice-water bath.
• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar over butter; add peaches, cut side down. Cook until they start to brown, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; cook until sugar caramelizes, about 6 minutes more, spooning syrup over peaches occasionally. Reduce heat to low, turn peaches, and cook until caramel turns amber in color, about 2 minutes more. Remove pan from heat, and let cool.
• Meanwhile, return the pot of water on the stove to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer.
• Make sabayon: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat remaining 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks until pale and thick, about 2 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl once. Add moscato, and beat for 2 minutes more.
• Transfer yolk mixture to a large clean metal bowl, and set over the simmering water. Whisk until the sabayon thickens and is fluffy and slightly stiff, about 3 minutes. Set bowl in ice-water bath. Continue whisking until chilled, about 3 minutes.
• Whip cream to medium-stiff peaks; fold into chilled sabayon. At this point, sabayon may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. To serve, divide among six goblets. Place a peach half on sabayon, and top with 3 generous tablespoons of warm raspberry sauce.

PEACH MELBA SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• For cakes:
• Preheat oven to 350#176;F. Brush six 4-inch-diameter tartlet pans with 1 1/8-inch-high sides and removable bottoms* with melted butter. Place pans on baking sheet. Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until light. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt over mixture in bowl. Mix slightly, then add buttermilk; beat until combined. Divide batter among prepared pans (about scant 1/2 cup each).
• Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer pans to rack; cool 5 minutes. Push up bottoms of pans to release cakes. Cool cakes on rack.
• For sauce and topping:
• Puree thawed raspberries with their syrup in processor. Strain through sieve set over bowl, pressing on solids to extract liquid. (Cakes and berry sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover cakes and store at room temperature. Cover sauce and chill.)
• Combine peaches, fresh raspberries and 4 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl; toss to blend. Let stand until juices form, about 30 minutes.
• Beat cream, vanilla and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl until stiff peaks form.
• Using serrated knife, cut cakes in half horizontally. Lightly sift powdered sugar over cake tops. Place 1 cake bottom on each of 6 plates. Top each with peach mixture, dividing equally. Spoon cream atop each. Cover with cake tops. Spoon raspberry sauce around cakes.
• *Tartlet pans are available at many cake and candy supply stores or by mail from Jane's Cakes and Chocolates, 2331 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020; 818-957-2511 or 800-262-7630.

PEACH MELBA SLIGHTLY TWISTED

Steps:

• SAUCE DO AHEAD: Caramel can be made 1 week ahead. Let cool completely. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill. Rewarm slightly before serving.
• Sauce: Cook sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small deep saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved.
• Increase heat and boil without stirring (stirring causes sugar crystals to form, making the caramel grainy), occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals, until syrup turns a deep amber color, 7-8 minutes.
• Remove from heat; immediately and carefully add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Add butter and salt and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.
• PEACHES DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• Peaches: Combine Riesling, sugar, and 2 cups water in a large saucepan; scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to a boil.
• Add peaches; bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat, turning once or twice, until tender when pierced with a sharp knife but still holding their shape, 5-7 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Let peaches cool completely in liquid. Cover; chill until cold, about 2 hours.
• Assembly: Remove peaches from liquid. Working with 1 peach at a time, use a paring knife to make a small nick in the skin. Hold the skin between the knife and your thumb and pull off skin in strips; discard skin. Place 1-2 peach halves in each serving glass or bowl; top with ice cream and raspberries. Drizzle caramel sauce over.