Chef Johns Peach Melba Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• MAKE THE CRUST:.
• In a large bowl, stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, blend in shortening until mixture resembles very coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with water and stir until dough forms a ball.
• Cut dough in half; wrap one-half in plastic wrap and set aside.
• On a lightly floured cutting board or counter, roll together dough half out into an 11-inch circle. Tansfer dough to a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.
• MAKE THE FILLING:.
• In a medium mixing bowl, gently stir together peach slices, raspberries, and almond extract; set aside. In a small bowl, stir together sugar, flour and cinnamon until mixed; add to fruit and stir to coat.
• Tranfer fruit filling to the crust and dot with butter.
• ASSEMBLE THE PIE;.
• Roll out reserved dough to an 11-inch circle.
• Roll edges of crust under; then crimp as desired to seal. Cut several small slits in top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Using a pastry brush, brush top crust with milk, then sprinkle with sugar. Bake 60-70 minutes, or until crust in nicely browned and fruit is bubbling. Cool pie to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• Combine peaches and peach syrup with vanilla. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
• Scoop ice cream into stemmed dessert dishes.
• Arrange peach slices around ice cream.
• Drizzle Melba Sauce.
• Top with sweetened whipped cream if using.