How to peel and pit fresh peaches and make peach puree.
Prep Time19 minutesmins
Cook Time1 minutemin
Total Time20 minutesmins
Servings: 0.5cup
Author: The Hungry Pinner
Equipment
paring knife
large pot deep enough to submerge the peach
mixing bowl deep enough to submerge the peach
food processor or blender
mesh sieve
Ingredients
1peachor more as needed
water
ice
Instructions
Peel the peach:
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. The pot should be deep enough to completely submerge the peach.
Fill a mixing bowl with ice and water. The bowl, like the pot, should be deep enough to completely submerge the peach.
Cut a shallow 'X' into the bottom of the peach (opposite the stem end), just deep enough to cut through the skin.
Carefully lower the peach into the boiling water using a slotted spoon. Let the peach blanch for 30 to 60 seconds.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peach from the boiling water to the ice water bath. Let the peach sit in the ice water for 5 minutes. Remove the peach, empty the ice water, and set the bowl aside to use later.
The peach is now ready to be peeled. Begin peeling with your fingers from the end with the shallow 'X' cut into it. Use a paring knife to remove any stray bits of peel if the entire peel doesn't come away.
Pit the peach:
Place the peeled peach on a cutting board with the seam on the horizontal, parallel to the cutting board. Cut around the peach along the seam. You will feel resistance when you hit the pit--that's okay. You just want to cut through the flesh so you have 2 halves that are still attached by the pit.
Depending on the type of peach, you may be able to grip each half and twist until they come apart, then use the tip of a paring knife to remove the pit and slice each half. If the halves won’t twist apart, use a paring knife to slice the fruit off the pit one section at a time.
Make the puree:
Place the peach chunks into your food processor and puree for about 1 minute or until smooth.
Remember the bowl used for the ice water bath? Empty that (if you haven't already) and place a mesh sieve over it. Pour the pureed peach into the sieve to strain it. Use a spoon to press the puree through the mesh, discarding any leftover chunks.
Notes
One peach will yield approximately 1/2 cup of puree.