Nectarines don’t receive the appreciation and recognition they deserve. Peaches, a similar fruit, often get the glory while nectarines remain unnoticed. You can expand the list of fruits in your healthy diet by frequently using nectarines in your sweet and savory dishes.
The History of Nectarines
Numerous resources indicate that nectarines originated in China over 2,000 years ago. There are references to this unique fruit being eaten in England in the early 1600s. Following that, nectarines began being grown in Persia, Greece, and Italy. While there isn’t an exact date regarding the cultivation of nectarines in the United States, the mid-1700s seems to be the most agreed-upon time period.
A nectarine is not a cross between a peach and a plum. It is a variety of peach. When compared to a peach nectarine fruit has smooth, fuzzless skin, is the smaller of the two, has a slightly sweeter flavor, and a more fragrant aroma.
Nectarine Trees
A nectarinetree can grow up to 23 feet tall and wide. Trees are typically pruned so that they maintain a height and width of 10-13 feet. The vibrant pink blooms that appear in spring have five petals. There is a considerable amount of maintenance required to grow a nectarinetree but enjoying the harvest makes the effort worthwhile.
Dried Nectarines
If you want a recipe ingredient with a sweetness similar to a peach nectarine can be used. Dried peach and dried nectarine flavors aren’t identical, but they are basically interchangeable. Dried nectarine is a delicious and nutritious snack on its own. It’s also a great add-in to a snack mix, oatmeal, cold cereal and trail mix. In addition to adding great fruity flavor, it elevates the nutritional value of whatever recipe it is included in.
Fresh fruits have a shorter shelf life than dried fruits. Stocking the pantry with dried nectarines and other dried fruit gives you a steady supply of items to use in cookies, bread recipes, muffins, and other sweet treats. The healthy goodness of a salad can soar when you include dried fruit and nuts in the mix. Main course dishes and vegetable dishes get a boost of nutrition and flavor when dried or fresh nectarines are included in the dish.
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