Tags: Baby Purees Fruit Purees Mom of Boys Quick Recipes
Let’s talk about apricots for a moment…those delicate little furry beauties that grace our produce shelves at their peak ripeness between May and July each year. Apricots are a versatile fruit. Use them in sweet or savory dishes; it doesn’t matter, apricots will enhance either. How many other fruits can you say work brilliantly with both pork chops and crumbles? Such an accommodating little fruit.
I love apricots just about any way you prepare them. Apricot jam, apricot tarts, apricot bread, apricot crisp, apricot ice cream, or as a glaze on salmon or bbq chicken…and now my mouth is watering. Point is, I love apricots. I actually love fruit in general. Some people are vegetable people, and I do appreciate a perfectly cooked Brussels sprout, but I am a fruit person through and through. I have no prejudice—strawberries, pineapples, bananas, mangos, peaches. I adore them all, but I have a deep, and personal, love affair with apricots.
When it came time to introduce apricots to the boys I wanted to make something that would highlight the fruit’s natural flavors. Usually for my “little foodie” purees I will add a spice or herb to enhance an ingredient’s flavor. But, in this case, I wanted the true flavor of the apricot to come shining through: I decided to roast them. Roasting apricots, and many other fruits, amplifies their flavor. The result was some very happy little foodies–this was a favorite for all three boys!
Roasted apricots is something the entire family can enjoy. Slide one of those beautifully roasted apricots onto your plate and top with yogurt, honey, and pistachios…heaven on a plate!
Here are our two favorite ways to enjoy roasted apricots.
ROASTED APRICOT PUREE:
- 1 lb apricots
Preheat oven to 400°
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice apricots in half and remove pits. Line up apricots on your baking sheet and place in oven. Roast your apricots for 20 minutes. Using a food mill, blender, hand mixer or food processor (whatever you use to make your purees is fine) blend until smooth.
ROASTED APRICOT WITH YOGURT, HONEY & PISTACHIOS
- Roasted Apricots (recipe above)
- Yogurt, plain & full fat (that’s a preference because I just don’t like low-fat yogurt)
- Honey
- Pistachios, shelled and chopped
Place apricot on place. Spoon small around of yogurt into the centers of the fruit. Drizzle with honey and top with chopped pistachios. Enjoy!
