Harry Bears Fried Peaches Recipes

FIRED-UP PEACHES AND CREAM

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter, melt and add peaches then season them with cinnamon. Turn up heat to medium-high and cook peaches 3 minutes then add sugar and melt into the butter and peaches. Pull pan off stove, add whiskey, return pan to stove and tip skillet to set pan aflame, or set aflame with a kitchen match. When the flame dies out, scoop some ice cream into dishes, top with peaches and whipped cream and serve.

JEAN HALBERSTAM'S DEEP-FRIED PEACHES

Steps:

• Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Form a well and stir in oil and egg yolks, then 3/4 cup very cold water little by little until the flour is incorporated. Add brandy and stir for 10 minutes until batter is smooth and a bit thicker. Let batter rest for at least two hours.
• Skin the peaches by dropping them in boiling water for 5 to 10 seconds and plunging them immediately into ice water. Peel off the skin, then sprinkle the peaches with lemon juice to prevent browning.
• When the batter is ready, beat egg whites stiffly. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the batter to lighten it, then gently fold in the rest, as you would for a soufflé.
• In a large, deep pot, heat the shortening to 360 degrees. Cut the peaches in half, remove their pits, dip them in the batter, and fry a few at a time in the hot oil until golden, 30 to 90 seconds per side. Don't put all the peaches in at once or the oil temperature will drop too much. As soon as the peaches are golden, remove them to drain on a rack or paper towels and quickly roll them in sugar to coat completely.

SOUTHERN FRIED PEACHES

Steps:

• Peel and halve peaches.
• Melt butter in skillet.
• Place cut side down in skillet.
• When edges are browned, turn over.
• Sprinkle with half the sugars and allow other side to brown.
• Turn once more and sprinkle with remaining sugars.
• Cook until sugars caramelize slightly, turning peaches to coat.
• Serve as is or top with whipped cream and chopped pecans.

PANKO-FRIED PEACHES

Steps:

• Pour the oil to a depth of at least 3 inches into a deep-fryer, wok, or deep, heavy saucepan and heat to 300°F.
• Meanwhile, cut the peaches into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spread the flour on a plate and spread the panko on a second plate.
• When the oil is ready, using chopsticks or tongs, dredge a peach slice in the flour, shaking off the excess, and then dip in the egg, allowing the excess to drip off. Finally, dredge the slice in the panko, covering it as evenly as possible with the light flakes.
• Carefully place the peach slice in the hot oil. It should immediately begin to bubble and hiss. While the first slice is cooking, continue to dredge and dip more slices in the flour, egg, and panko and add them to the oil. Fry no more than 3 or 4 slices at a time, making sure they do not touch one another, for about 1 minute, until evenly golden. Using a wire skimmer, transfer the finished slices to a wire rack set over a shallow bowl or pan to drain briefly. Serve piping hot.