Chef John's Peach Melba

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Peach Melba is a delicious and impressive summer dessert made with fresh peaches poached in vanilla syrup, served with ice cream and raspberry sauce.

Ingredients

3 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
1/8 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
2 cups white sugar
2 cups water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 peaches, halved and pitted
6 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients.
2 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.
3 Remove from heat and strain into a bowl. Cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
4 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.
5 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.
6 Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 4 hours.
7 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.