Each month Kitchen Play hosts a Progressive Party with six food bloggers who are typically assigned one of the following courses: cocktail, amuse bouche, salad, appetizer/soup, main course, and dessert. The bloggers then have to incorporate the same product into whatever course they were assigned. This month’s challenge was a little different, in that the course assigned to all the bloggers was “Iconic Grilling Recipe” and the theme, which was sponsored by the Ad Council who is promoting new USDA food safety guidelines during the summer grilling season, was “Make This Recipe…Safer”. I love grilling and I was thrilled to be invited to participate in this month’s Progressive Party. 
First things first, a little bit about grill safety. Did you know that one out of six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year? Not only is getting sick no fun, but it can also have long-term effects on your health. Here are four easy steps to help keep you and your family safe from food poisoning…
- Clean: Clean kitchen surfaces, utensils, and hands with soap and water while preparing food.
- Separate: Separate raw meats from other foods by using different cutting boards.
- Cook: Cook foods to the right temperature by using a food thermometer.
- Chill: Chill raw and prepared foods promptly.
(More info on these steps can be found on FoodSafety.gov.)
Help keep foods free of contamination by using separate cutting boards for raw meats and fresh produce.
So, what did I decide to grill up? Dessert! Fresh, local peaches are one of the true delights of summer and grilling makes them even more of a treat by highlighting and intensifying their natural flavor and adding a subtle smokiness.
Grilled peaches are frequently served with a little honey, sugar syrup, or even balsamic glaze. I wanted to give my grilled peaches a bit of Middle Eastern flair so I decided to serve them with a drizzle of orange blossom syrup (called qattar, or attar in slang, this is just a slightly thickened simple sugar syrup that’s flavored with orange blossom water) and a sprinkle of pistachios, both of which are common flavors found in Middle Eastern desserts.
I buy orange blossom syrup at a local Middle Eastern market; you can substitute rosewater or even vanilla if you prefer. Or you can flavor the syrup with cinnamon and add a sprinkle of walnuts instead of pistachios for a little Greek flair.
Grilled Peaches with Orange Blossom Syrup & Pistachios
Serves 2
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water
2 peaches, halved and pitted
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 tablespoon shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
Add the sugar, water, and lemon juice to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, giving the pan an occasional swirl. Boil 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, then turn heat off and stir in the orange blossom water. Let the syrup cool while you grill the peaches.
Preheat grill; brush the canola oil on both sides of the peaches. Grill the peaches (cut side down first) until they are softened and have light golden brown grill marks, about 4 to 5 minutes on the first side and 1 to 2 minutes on the second side.
Transfer to a serving dish; top the peaches with a drizzle of syrup and a sprinkle of pistachios.
Chopped Turkish Pistachios & Orange Blossom Syrup
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by the Ad Council and Kitchen Play; as always, all opinions are my own.
Make This Recipe Safer on Facebook!
The campaign sponsors also have some handy-dandy refrigerator magnets to remind you and your family about food safety while cooking. Click here to receive your FREE magnet! Then share photos of your magnet, your personalized safety tips, and/or the dishes you’ve cooked safely on the Kitchen PLAY facebook page. (Be sure to tag FoodSafety.gov and Ad Council!).
Let’s work together to Make Our Recipes Safer!
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excellent…thanks for sharing..:)
Grilled fruit is SO amazing in the summer! Your grill marks look absolutely perfect. The pistachios are a great touch
This looks fab Faith …those grilled peach with pista is just fab
I love grilled peaches! My mom used to make them for me when I was little.
Wow, these grilled peaches are gorgeous. I’ve never tried orange blossom before and I better hunt it down to make your recipe. It’s totally a perfect dessert for the summer!
A delicious way of prepyring peaches! Refined.
Cheers,
Rosa
That looks so good. I have been dying to try grilled peaches, and pistachios happen to be my fav nutmeat.
Faith,
What a professional and informative post. Fantastic job. Solid information that anyone can use.
Love the flavors in the dish. Especially the use of orange blossom water. With that said, AWESOME grill marks on these peaches.
Bravo!
Wow gorgeous dish! Grilled peaches are such a summertime treat.
While I have a grill pan, in all honesty, I hardly take it out. This, however, inspires me to do so. What a gorgeous combination of flavours.
*kisses* HH
Gorgeously grilled peaches and love the sound of this orange blossom syrup! And these food safety tips are fantastic…love the idea of highlighting these important safety tips :)
Oh Faith, these look so beautiful and healthy and absolutely delicious. My brother just got a brand new grill so I’ll have to make these soon. :-)
Ah, drool.
Food safety is so important! I’m glad that you are doing your part in promoting it :) I love your flavors here, definitely a fan of the floral syrup and the pistachios on top, and peaches are my favorite summer fruit! Great, light, and considerably healthy dessert :)
This is such a delectable sounding combination! I love the idea of infusing the peaches with the perfume of the orange blossom water! :)
These grilled peaches look great..and I love your mediterranean twist on simple dessert.I love orange blossom ..it is such a bright addition to the recipe! Beautiful pictures!
Such perfectly grilled peaches! I love the sound of that orange blossom syrup. And thank you for the safety tips! It’s always important to keep those in mind as we grill all summer long =)
I have to tell you, I did try grilling peaches once but they weren’t nearly as pretty as yours! I love the garnishments you used–perfecto!
Very refreshing, looking so gorgeous :)
I’ve been such a sucker for peaches lately and to imagine them covered in pistachios and that luscious syrup…I think I just got the chills. Sounds fabulous.
Wow! Love the pictures and the combo- peaches- pistachios sounds amazing!
I’m so guilty of this … you cook up everything, turn off the grill, bring in the food … and leave the spatula and tongs clipped to the side of the grill, covered with gunk. Because it’s out back, where your better half won’t see it, and she’d never let you get away with leaving it out all night.
so maybe spread the word to the ladies: check your dude’s grilling utensils! (what would we do without y’all? :^) )
Oh these look simple and delightful. What a wonderful fresh summer dish! Love it!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
A simple and beautiful idea to serve peaches! And as I adore orange blossom water, this is definitely a dessert I will try soon!
wow! how beautiful is your blog? just found it and i’m so impressed!!! can’t wait to browse around :)
ps. i have a giveaway on my blog if you’d like to enter!!
What a lovely dessert, the flavors with the orange blossom syrup and an excellent contrast in textures with pistachios on top.
I’ve never had grilled peaches though hear about them often and fantasize about how delicious they must be. The orange blossom syrup sounds really tasty. I’m going to look for some. Fruit has to be one of the safest desserts out there. Much better than chocolate covered cashew turtle cheesecake on the waistline ;)
Beautiful photos and yummy recipe, Faith! Grilled fruit are so delicious, especially at this time of year. Peaches, pistachios, and orange blossom syrup sounds like an irresistible combination. :-)
Grilled stone fruit is such a wonderful summer treat.
Mimi
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE anything with orange blossom water, and what a simple and delicate dish with the pistachios (love those as well). Great summer (or any time) dessert!
I would have never though to put pistachios with grilled peaches – what a wonderful combination – especially with the orange blossom water!
What a great dessert! I have never grilled any fruit other than pineapple. Can’t wait to try your recipe! Love your photos! :)
I have hardly grilled at all this year and the summer is more than half over! I adore your peaches Faith! Such lovely flavors to combine.
What a fun group. I love the concept. I have gotten more adventurous on the grill but, I have yet to try anything other then pineapple. I hope I get peaches in my basket this week.
These grilled peaches with the syrup with mazaher look fantastic! I have yet to open my grill this scorching summer, shame on me!
ooh look at those sexy grill marks!!!! =) I haven’t tried grilled peaches but its on my foodie bucket list!
Such a simple, yet elegant dessert. And I love how it lets summertime peaches really shine in all their glory.
Such a beautiful and elegant dish, grilled peaches are looking so luscious and with pistachio and syrup yummm…
i really like the looks of this, faith! the grill marks are fun and add a wonderful flavor, and the crunchy pistachios are perfect–bravo. :)
I love the Middle Eastern flair that you’ve given these grilled peaches, and your styling/photography is especially lovely in this post.
Yum! I love grilled peaches! Yours sound wonderful. I would love to try that orange blossom syrup. I will have to see if I can find the orange blossom water.
I’m making a point to go to a Middle Eastern market to buy some orange blossom syrup! I make grilled peaches every summer, but the last two cases disappeared so quickly that I didn’t get a chance. And I’ve been on a pistachio bender!