A summer crisp

Sunday, September 4, 2016

I was inspired to bake this nectarine crisp after reading Ruth Reichl's My Kitchen Year. (If you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favour and pick it up. It's excellent as both a cookbook and a journal of the former editor of Gourmet magazine's first year after the magazine shut down.)

She described visiting the farmers' market in September, picking up "the last lonely nectarines, rosy but hard as rocks," and baking them into a galette. Before reading that, I had no idea you could bake unripe fruit into a dessert; of course I had to try it out. At my local market, I stopped at the bin of nectarines (which were indeed rosy but hard as rocks). I baked mine into a crisp rather than a galette: served with ice cream, it was a perfect dessert for the last fleeting days of summer. 


Nectarine crisp
(inspired by My Kitchen Year by Ruth Reichl)
Note: this would also be lovely made with peaches

Ingredients

4 unripe nectarines (5 if they're small)
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon

3/4 cup flour
6 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp white sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
6 Tbsp cold butter

Slice the nectarines (you should have about 3 cups). Toss them with 2 Tbsp flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Squeeze in the lemon juice and give it a stir. Let them sit and macerate for at least 45 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare the crisp topping by combining 3/4 cup flour, brown sugar and 3 Tbsp white sugar until thoroughly mixed. Add cinnamon and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Set aside.

When the nectarines are done macerating, pour them into a small buttered casserole dish. Top with crisp topping and pat gently into place. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve warm with ice cream.




22 comments:

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Crisps are my go-to summer dessert! Love the sound of this recipe. I sure do miss Gourmet magazine---will definitely add this book to my reading list!

That Girl said...

I love Ruth Reichlike, haven't read that one yet

Angie's Recipes said...

Who doesn't love golden brown buttery sugary crisps? Your crisp looks so tempting!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sounds delicious. Not heard of any recipe with nectarines either. Yum.

Catherine said...

Dear Beth, This is pure satisfaction and perfection. xo

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

I thoroughly enjoyed Ruth Reichl's book and you've inspired my to try baking with nectarines, Beth. They always seem "hard as rocks" to me, though.

Julie said...

This looks delicious, a perfect end to summer dessert. I will have to check that book out!

Unknown said...

Oh, I am hanging onto summer like crazy and will definitely take your tip of baking with some hard nectarines. I have a bunch that I need to use.

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Beautiful nectarine tart Beth, good to know you can use unripen fruit, though it does make perfect sense. Hope you had a wonderful holiday week-end.

Monica said...

I had a period where I was devouring all of Ruth Reichl's books; what a great writer! I have been thinking about crisps - so little time though! This looks like a wonderful summer treat. Looks delicious!

Katerina said...

I wish summer was not over and I wish schools have never started! I would love to indulge to this crisp to console myself!

Unknown said...

The nectarines look wonderful!! Love that buttery crisp...

grace said...

best use for hard fruit, and i prefer a crisp to a galette! i haven't read ruth's book, though i've heard enough people sing its praises!

Kitchen Riffs said...

I'll never turn down a galette -- love their shape -- but a crisp is better. This looks terrific -- thanks so much.

Jemi Fraser said...

Nectarines! Sounds yummy :)

Summer said...

Looks so yummy! Nice recipe ♥

summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

Nothing like a crisp for a combination of quick and tasty! I have occasionally ended up with an entire case of mealy peaches, that I needed to cook with. But I had no idea that you could cook with fruit that wouldn't soften--great tip!

Unknown said...

Oh! I don't know where summer went! The nectarines crisp look wonderful — love how quick and tasty this is. Perfect way to use those soften fruits. I would love to indulge to this crisp anytime.

Anu
http://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/

lisa is cooking said...

This looks so good with the scoop of ice cream! And, what a great use of the not quite ripe fruit.

Unknown said...

What a great way to use the nectarines, as you say, a perfect summer dessert.

Misha Gerrick said...

Looks tasty! I love cooked peaches and nectarines. :-)

handmade by amalia said...

This crisp looks like comfort food at its best.
Amalia
xo

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