Our lovely friend Sarah, the talented food blogger behind Friendly City Foodie, is here to share her recipe for nectarines made three ways: nectarine rice, creamy tzatziki sauce, and grilled kebabs. These three dishes bring distinct Mediterranean flavors while keeping the local freshness of sweet nectarines.
Nectarines are sweet, stone fruits that are genetically identical to peaches except for one key difference: their skin. These ruby-colored fruits are completely fuzz-free. This gene mutation is not a result of human influence; rather, it's nature’s happy accident! More than just a delicious snack, nectarines are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, iron, fluoride, and fiber. They also contain niacin (vitamin B3), which aids in converting food into energy—a must for action-packed summer days!
Indulge in bold Mediterranean flavors with the sharp contrasting sweetness of nectarines. Enhance the tzatziki sauce and kebabs with fresh mint to create a harmonious flavor profile. Incorporate garlic for a familiar tang that ties the dish together beautifully. With many distinctive flavors, this recipe is guaranteed to be a hit at a dinner party, or will simply add variety to your weekly recipe rotation! Enjoy the fruits of the season in an integrated meal that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
Kebab Ingredients:
- ½ cup cilantro, parsley, or mint, chopped
- ½ white onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds ground
- ½ teaspoon sumac
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 lbs of ground meat (beef, lamb, chicken, etc.)
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat your grill to 400
- Blend cumin seeds in a food processor or blender (or use a mortar and pestle), add herbs and onions, and blend until finely chopped. Remove and squeeze the liquid out.
- Add meat, garlic, sumac, paprika, and salt to the bowl and mix until loosely combined. Add the herb mixture and combine.
- Wet hands and begin spreading meat out on skewer, pinching the meat on the top and bottom to seal it together, leaving room on one end so you can flip the skewer.
- Grill for 3–4 minutes on each side until the outside is lightly charred and juicy.
Grilled Nectarines & Veggies Ingredients:
- 3 nectarines, halved
- 3 tomatoes, halved
- 3 white onions, halved
- Olive oil
- Salt
Cooking Instructions:
- Halve the nectarines, discarding the pits.
- Halve the tomatoes and onions.
- Drizzle fruits and veggies with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Heat the grill to 400.
- Oil the grates.
- Place nectarines, tomatoes, and onions cut side down, flipping every minute for 4 minutes (until nice grill marks appear and the fruit and veggies are softer).
- Remove from the grill and set aside.
Nectarine Rice Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 cup white rice
- 2.5 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 nectarines
Cooking Instructions:
- Rinse rice until water is clear (rinse off starch, fluffier end product).
- Add to the rice cooker with salt.
- Dice nectarines, add them to the rice cooker, and stir to combine.
- Add a lid and cook!
Nectarine Tzatziki Ingredients:
- Instead of cucumber, we’re adding nectarine!
- 1 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
- 1 nectarine, diced
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped mint
Cooking Instructions:
- Blend nectarine in food processor or blender with ½ teaspoon of salt
- Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl, add the nectarine, taste, and adjust seasoning if you need more salt, lemon juice, etc.
