Celebrate National Peach Month With These Heart-Healthy Recipes

August is National Peach Month, and if you have been walking past the peach display at your grocery store or farmers market without stopping, now is the time to change that. Fresh peaches are at their sweetest and juiciest right now, and they are good for you too. According to the American Heart Association, a diet rich in fruits like peaches, which are high in antioxidants, potassium and fiber, supports cardiovascular health and helps reduce risk factors associated with heart and vascular disease. These three recipes make it easy to enjoy them all month long.

Grilled Peach Salad and Mint Pesto
This 30-minute salad is one of those combinations that sounds simple while still delivering extraordinary flavor. Sweet grilled peaches, peppery arugula, creamy fresh mozzarella, crunchy pine nuts and a bright mint-basil pesto come together in a way that feels genuinely impressive. It works as a starter or a light side dish and will be the first thing gone at any August table.

Ingredients:

For the salad:
2 firm, yet ripe, peaches
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
2 cups baby arugula
Fresh mozzarella
A few dollops pesto
Toasted pine nuts
Sea salt and fresh black pepper

For the mint and basil pesto:
1 packed cup mixed mint and basil
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 garlic clove
Juice and zest from 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
A few pinches red pepper flakes
Sea salt and fresh black pepper

For the full recipe, visit LoveAndLemons.com. 

Peach and Kale Smoothie
This smoothie sounds healthy but also tastes great. Frozen peaches and banana keep it naturally sweet and creamy, while fresh ginger adds a refreshing kick that makes it perfect for a hot August morning. The kale blends in completely, so you get all the nutritional benefits without any of the bitterness. The smoothie comes together in about five minutes and keeps you going all morning.

Ingredients:

1 cup almond milk
1 medium frozen banana
2 kale leaves
2 to 3 small ripe peaches, frozen
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon matcha powder (optional)
Ice for blending

For the full recipe, visit LoveAndLemons.com.

Peach Crisp
A good peach crisp is the easiest and most satisfying thing you can make when peaches are at their peak. Fresh peach slices bubble up under a crisp oat and walnut topping with cinnamon and brown sugar. It takes about 40 minutes total, and most of that is hands-off oven time. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it is the kind of dessert that makes people close their eyes for a second when they take the first bite.

Ingredients:

For the filling:
5 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cane sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the topping:
1/2 cup whole rolled oats
1/2 cup almond flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup firm coconut oil or cold butter, cubed
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

For the full recipe, visit LoveAndLemons.com.

Fresh peaches are one of the best things August has to offer, and these three recipes make it easy to enjoy them in any form — grilled, blended or baked. Whether you are hosting a late-summer cookout or looking for something good to make on a weeknight, peach season is short and worth celebrating while it lasts.