Baked Peaches With Pistachio Nuts

From the book Healthy Mediterranean Cooking by Rena Salaman

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6  peaches, Ripe but firm halved and stones
• 6  ounces pistachios, shelled
• 2  macaroons (biscuits) or 2  amaretti (biscuits)
• 2  tablespoons  ground almonds
• 2  tablespoons caster sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  egg yolk
• 3  tablespoons  orange blossom water or 3  tablespoons rose water
•  low-fat plain yogurt (optional) or   fromage frais, to serve (optional)

• SYRUP

• 2 -3  tablespoons honey
• 2  cinnamon sticks
•  orange peel, few strips
• 2  tablespoons  orange blossom water or 2  tablespoons rose water

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Coarse chop pistachios and biscuits.
3. Put into a bowl and mix into a paste with the almonds, sugar, cinnamon, egg yolk, and orange blossom water or rose water.
4. Fill the cavity of each peach generously with this mixture, and arrange the fruit closely in a medium size baking dish.
5. SYRUP:
6. Dissolve the honey in 300ml water over a gentle heat, add cinnamon sticks, orange strips and boil for 5-6 minutes until slightly thickened.
7. Stir in orange blossom water or rose water and pour around the peaches.
8. Bake 15 minutes or until the peaches look soft without falling apart, basting occasionally.
9. Serve with yoghurt or fromage frais.