Berries aren’t the only bae of summer – stones fruits are sitting pretty, too. From cherries to peaches to mangoes, stone fruits can be used to prepare sweet chutneys and jams to tart marinades and herby salads. Take peaches, the most popular stone fruit, for example. When grilled to caramelized perfection, they tame the peppery taste of an arugula salad. And the tartness of cherries enhances the savory flavors in chicken and beef dishes. Roast, poach and bake stone fruits while you can — summer is quickly fading. Check out these delicious stone fruit recipes!
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10 Stone Fruit Recipes for Summer
Peaches
1. Summer Pasta with Smashed Tomatoes, Peaches & Mozzarella
This colorful pasta dish is the epitome of a summer meal. Fresh mozzarella adds a boost of protein to the dish, while olive oil and pine nuts add healthy fats. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the ingredients — this kitchen sink salad can be adapted with what you have on hand. Meal prep on the mind? Remix this dish with grilled chicken, shrimp, quinoa, farro or the beans of your choice. Photo and recipe: David Frenkiel and Luise Vindhal / Green Kitchen Stories
2. Creamy Kale Salad With Grilled Peaches & Spicy Croutons
We bet you haven’t had a Caesar kale salad like this before. Almond butter, nutritional yeast and tamari come together beautifully in the tangy and sweet dressing. Grilled peaches and chili-toasted croutons provide sweetness and a spicy crunch to the bitter greens. To help soften up the kale, food blogger Sophie Bourdon recommends massaging it with a bit of coconut oil or ghee. Photo and recipe: Sophie Bourdon / The Green Life
3. Blueberry and Peach Cobbler Recipe
Cobblers are often loaded with sugar, but the natural sweetness of the blueberries and peaches in this recipe helps you cut back on the refined stuff. Olive oil and whole-wheat flour take the place of butter and the white flour variety. This six-serving cake is perfect for serving a crowd at your next cookout or enjoying as an after-dinner treat at home. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
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Cherries
4. Cherry Chia Jam
Summer will come and go, but you can preserve its sweetness in this delicious cherry jam. Cooking down the cherries in a saucepan will help its tart juices burst and turn into a syrup. The addition of honey and chia seeds not only adds texture, but also helps thicken up the jam into a pudding-like consistency. Spread some of this jam on toast with your favorite nut butter for the perfect open-faced breakfast. Photo and recipe: Ashley Thomas / My Heart Beets
5. Black Forest Protein Shake
When you’re craving German chocolate cake, satisfy your sweet tooth with this rich chocolaty shake instead. Just blend two scoops of chocolate protein powder (we like this one) with unsweetened almond milk, a banana, dark sweet cherries and a couple of ice cubes. The result is a super creamy, frothy shake that tastes just like dessert. Photo: Perry Santanachote / Life by Daily Burn
6. Green Bean Salad With Quinoa, Cherries and Tarragon
Got leftover quinoa from last night’s dinner? Use it to prepare this picnic salad to take with you to the beach. Blanched green beans can also save you time in the kitchen when you want a super-quick meal. We love how the marcona almonds complement the tart cherries in this sweet and savory salad. You could also pulse the cherries in the blender with the almonds and fresh tarragon to make a delicious pesto. Photo and recipe: Jodi / Happy Hearted Kitchen
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Nectarines and Apricots
7. Heirloom Tomato, Nectarine Caprese Salad With Pistachio Pesto
This dish is a nice change from the traditional caprese salad that calls for mozzarella, basil and tomatoes. Burrata, which is made with mozzarella, gives a more buttery taste. And instead of pine nuts in the pesto, this recipe calls for pistachios for a slightly sweet flavor. Enjoy this salad as is, or serve it as healthy finger food at your next get-together. Photo and recipe: Lily Diamond / Kale & Caramel
8. Baked Apricot Chicken
If sweet and sour chicken gets you weak in the knees, this flavorful dish will make you want to forego takeout. While this recipe calls for apricot preserves, you can cook it fresh apricots down in a saucepan to make a delicious marinade. Combine it with olive oil, garlic, onion, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Baste the marinade over the baked chicken, and voila, dinner is served! Photo and recipe: Dr. Neha Mathur / Whisk Affair
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Mangoes
9. Melon Mango Lassi
A traditional Indian drink, the lassi is packed with refreshing and antioxidant-rich mangos — a stone fruit most people forget. But this lassi recipe has a special twist with hydrating cantaloupe. Coconut yogurt and almond milk make this probiotic-rich drink vegan friendly and easier to digest in the heat. If you love the sun as much as we do, this beverage will bring it right to your kitchen, day or night. Photo and recipe: Sarah / Well and Full
10. Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Mango Salsa
Mangoes bring sweetness to the health-boosting avocado-cucumber salsa. Made with cilantro, fresh lime juice and green onions, this salsa balances the spicy and savory shrimp. In fact, you’ll want to keep eating it well after the tacos are gone, so make sure to bake some pita chips. Photo and recipe: Beth Brickey / Tasty Yummies
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