LIFESTYLE NEWS - The arrival of summer brings longer days, outdoor gatherings and the return of some of the season’s most delicious fresh produce.

Among the highlights are peaches, nectarines and plums. Juicy, colourful and naturally sweet, stone fruit is wonderfully versatile and can be enjoyed in everything from a quick snack to an impressive dish for family and friends.

While biting into a perfectly ripe peach or nectarine is hard to beat, these fruits also lend themselves to interesting sweet and savoury combinations. The secret is to keep things simple and allow their natural flavours to shine.

Here are s

Here are seven ways to add a little summer freshness to your meals.

1. Peach and ham kebabs
Combine chunks of ripe peach with ham and cheese on small skewers for a quick snack or light meal. These kebabs are ideal for outdoor lunches, picnics, lunch boxes or as an easy addition to a summer platter.

2. Prawn and nectarine spring rolls
Vietnamese-style spring rolls are a lovely way to combine crunchy vegetables, fresh herbs, prawns and slices of juicy nectarine. Serve with a dipping sauce for a light meal that is especially welcome on hot summer days.

3. Peach and Parmesan summer salad
Pair sliced peaches with Parmesan cheese and peppery salad leaves for a refreshing summer salad. The sweetness of the fruit balances the savoury cheese, making it a good accompaniment to a braai or a light lunch beside the pool.

4. Honey, lemon and thyme stone fruit salad
Combine sliced peaches, nectarines and plums with a little honey, fresh lemon juice and thyme. The result is a fragrant, refreshing fruit salad that works equally well as a side dish or a light dessert.

5. Cottage cheese pancakes with summer fruit
For something different at breakfast or brunch, try a baked cottage cheese pancake topped with thinly sliced peaches and nectarines. Toss the fruit with a little lime juice and honey before spooning it over the pancake for a naturally sweet finish.

Sheet pan cottage cheese pancake and summer fruit.

6. Nachos with stone fruit dips
Give a traditional nacho platter a summer twist by pairing it with whipped feta and nectarine, alongside guacamole with peach. The contrasting flavours make an interesting addition to parties, braais, picnics or a relaxed evening at home.

Nacho and stone fruit dip platter.

7. Stone fruit grazing board with pickled plums
Arrange fresh peaches, nectarines and plums alongside cheeses, cold meats and pickled plums to create a generous grazing board. The combination of sweet, savoury and tangy flavours offers something for everyone and makes sharing easy.

Stone fruit grazing board.

Making the most of stone fruit season

Peaches, nectarines and plums are not only delicious but also offer nutritional benefits. They contain fibre and vitamins, while their naturally high water content makes them a refreshing addition to meals during warmer weather.

Their versatility is another reason to make the most of the season. They can be enjoyed fresh, added to salads, paired with cheese and meat, blended into smoothies or used in desserts.

Whether served simply as a snack, incorporated into a summer salad or shared around a table with friends and family, stone fruit is an easy way to bring seasonal flavour and colour to summer eating.

The best approach is often the simplest: choose ripe, fresh fruit and let its natural sweetness do the work.

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