SMOKED PEACH RELISH

Our perfect Smoked Peach Relish which is perfectly paired with Shrimp for a tasty dish!

Peach season! One that lends so many different options to your food experience. Whether consumed raw or used in entrees or desserts, I aim to bring another flavor level to this much anticipated seasonal fruit by adding wood-fired flavoring. Then I’ll take these flavorful peach halves and introduce you to a peach relish that is perfect for topping fish and seafood.

Visit your favorite farm stand, fresh market, or your own peach tree and pick three firm, fresh peaches and bring them to the kitchen for preparation before hitting the wood-fired grill. Oh, and we have plans for additional recipes with smoked peaches so do some extras while you have the grill or smoker going.

Easy Prep for the Grill or Smoker

Although yellow is the most common peach available, know that there is a white variety as well. Both have easy to remove pits that make them easy to prepare for your favorite recipes.

Start by peeling the skin from the peaches, you’ll need 3 for this recipe, though I’m doing a full sheet pan for additional recipes. Once peeled, using a paring knife, slice thru the center of the peach along the pit. Gently separate into two halves then remove the pit. Place the pitted and peeled peach half cut side down on a sheet pan. Continue with the remaining peaches. I’ll be using my gas grill set up with a smoker box of wood chunks to bring a smoky flavor to the fruit. I’ve placed my smoker box directly on my heat diffuser to get the wood hot and smoldering quickly. My pan of peach halves is placed on the unlit side of the grill. Lid down on the grill and allow these peaches to tenderize slightly and infuse the smoke flavor. I’ll check on them in about 15 minutes.

 Tasting Notes: Keep in mind, flavors from wood on a gas grill will not be as intense as those on a charcoal unit. Keep this in mind when you select the equipment to infuse the smoke flavor into the peaches.

Relish Ingredients for Smoked Peach Relish

While the peaches are absorbing all that great hardwood flavor on the grill, let’s get started on the base for our peach relish. To begin, I’ll get my mortar although you can also use a mini food processor. Place one minced garlic clove into the mortar. Add one chili pepper (serrano, jalapeno, & Hungarian make good choices) that has been seeded and minced. To that, add 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar. Using your pestle or the processor, pound or pulse until a paste is formed. Remember, fresh ingredients will make for the best relish flavors.

With the base paste made to our peach relish, it’s time to add the liquids to balance the spicy and sweet flavors. Start by adding 2 tablespoons of water, 2 tablespoons of lime juice and 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce. Transfer the relish base to a large bowl. Now return to the grill and remove the peach halves. These should be browned from the smoke infusion. Remove 6 halves and dice each. Add them to the bowl with the base. Let’s get ready for the final flavors.

The Ultimate Relish Flavors

The final flavors are the fresh herbs that need to be added right before serving. This includes ¼ cup of fresh, chopped cilantro and 2 tablespoons of fresh mint. As peaches tends to be a delicate fruit meat, it’s important to gently mix everything together; don’t over combine. Serve immediately with your favorite fish or seafood. In fact, this is even great with just some toasted bread. I’ve served mine today with brown rice and simple seasoned shrimp with a side of yellow waxed beans. Delicate yet full of balanced flavors that will surprise you coming from a smoked fruit.

What’s your favorite recipe using smoked or grill peaches? Leave us a comment to opine and subscribe to get all our postings on tips, techniques and recipes. Bringing innovation to wood fired cooking with recipes, techniques and the science behind the fire, smoke, and flavor. That’s SmokinLicious®.

 

SMOKED FAVA BEANS MAKE THE PERFECT DIP OR CONDIMENT

Our Smoked Fava Beans were smoked in our Tips and Technique blog, now we make a perfect dip!

If you visited our article on smoking fava beans and gave our technique a try, hopefully, you have enough beans leftover to make this recipe.  I thought I would introduce you to a dip that can be used as a condiment to your favorite sandwich – think veggie or animal protein burger, grilled chicken, breakfast bread, or vegetarian.  I’ll be offering the recipe and giving you suggestions on what to serve with it.

Simple Ingredients

Once you have your fava beans smoked, you’ll need about 2 lbs. of the beans, there are some simple ingredients to gather for this recipe.

• 4oz. goat cheese softened
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Chopped fresh tarragon- 1 teaspoon
• Fresh lemon juice- 1 tablespoon
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest – I prefer fresh
• 2 tablespoons water
• sea salt & fresh ground pepper

You’ll also need a food processor or blender to combine all the ingredients.

Tasting Notes: I prefer a little kick to this recipe so I add 3 or so drops of hot sauce.

Pulsing to Flavor

With a blender or food processor, add all the ingredients except the water.  Pulse only to blend and produce the chunky texture desired.  Be sure to scrape down the sides of the blending container at least once.  With all the ingredients, add the water and mix in by hand; do not process or blend.  Adjust the consistency to the finished mixture by adding water as needed.  Usually, I find 2-3 tablespoons of water is perfect.


Tasting Notes:  if using a blender, be sure you have a pulse control or you could blend this recipe too smooth which will limit its use with certain foods

Multiple Uses

Once you have the consistency you like, transfer the mixture to a serving bowl.  I like to chill this briefly before serving.  If using as a dip, suggested items to accompany the dip include sweet mini peppers, cucumber slices, radish, carrot slices, cherry or grape tomato, baguette, naan, won-ton shells.

This is also great with a firm toasted bread, tomato slice, fresh basil leaves, and poached or fried egg.  Let your imagination go and find more uses for this super flavorful dip and spread.