Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp
Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp is a comforting, warm, juicy, light, bubbly, baked summer dessert with a crispy crunchy topping and so delish with ice cream.
EVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE
THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER N
You may wonder why am I so gung-ho about making a dish that has an ingredient beginning with N. Well its all because I’m part of the group called A-Z Challenge. After letter M we took a break…a long break but we’re back. The group started by Vidya Narayan who blogs at Masala Chilli and Jolly Makkar who blogs at Homemade Recipes. The whole deal is that we have to use an ingredient that begins with a specific letter and it should be its English name.
For Letter N, I decided to use Nectarine and made a delish Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp. While we are still on the letter N, check out Jolly’s Nut Brittle with Honey. Yes, she has used only honey to make this tasty sweet treat. I love fried nuts with a bit of salt and red chilli powder sprinkled on top. Now to make them healthier and enjoy them without any guilt, try out Vidya’s Air Fried Spicy Masala Cashew Nuts.
My journey so far with A-Z Challenge:
Eggplant Curry/Baigan Bharta
Hyacinth Beans and Zucchini Sabji/Papdi ane Zucchini nu Shaak
My Story:
Now before we get into the whole recipe and its ingredients I’ve got to note down this little bit of 2020 memory. As my avid fans know, my blog is not only about recipes but also events, life experiences and my thoughts. Ever since the Corona Virus Pandemic began, though Kenya till now has not gone under total lockdown, most people have been careful and a few haven’t. Hubby being diabetic and at a greater risk, we decided not to venture out unnecessarily. This slowly gave rise to a new format of shopping.. not the online kind where you click click click, fill the basket and pay but mobile money or card. Have you heard of WhatsApp Shopping? No, well its caught on in a big way all over Mombasa. Its pretty simple, the vendor will send you a WhatsApp message that they are offering a service. If interested you ge tin touch with them. This way I have my fruits and vegetable vendor and my Supermarket. Before I go to bed, add my list of the things I want, next day they get delivered. Payment is made by Mpesa, Kenya’s biggest success – Mobile money.
With the supermarket its fun as for a particular product they will send three four photo options, you choose, pay and they deliver. In this new way of shopping I’ve become “Mam” for the supermarket guy, and behan (sister) or just Mayuri for my fruit and veggie vendor. Do I miss walking down the aisles of the supermarket and the full array of colors at the local market? Yes I do, but till that is not possible, might as well enjoy this new form of WhatsApp Shopping. And yes food ordering too is through WhatsApp!
What is a Crisp?
Now that I’ve got my shopping experience out of the way lets get to know what a crisp is. Generally crisp means hard but breakable, or firm and fresh where food is concerned. Where desserts are concerned the term ‘crisp’ refers to a fruit or fruits baked with a crumble topping. The topping made of flour, butter and sugar is mixed to a crumbly mixture and sprinkled over the fruit to be baked.
A crumble and crisp are just so similar and many times the words are interchanged. Some say that a crumble topping may have clumps while the topping of a crisp is evenly distributed over the fruit to be baked.
With cobblers, mainly a more doughy topping is used more like a shortcrust or flaky pastry type and instead of layering it neatly like we would for a pie, its place on the fruit to be baked in lumps. To make it more prettier, the dough is cut into cute circles and placed on the fruit.
How I decided to make Nectarine Blueberry Crisp?
During the month of January, I started to slowly wind up my Bangalore Home Kitchen. I had a small amount of Nigella Seeds left and decided to make Nigella Crackers. Instead of posting the recipe in Jan, I kept the recipe in my file and the mistake I made is that I did not download my photos from my iPhone. You know how it is, today, tomorrow, later! When I got back to Mombasa, Vidya announced that we taking a break so Nigella Crackers photo was left unattended on my iPhone. When I challenge revived this month I tried to download the photos and I just couldn’t. Some photos got downloaded onto my computer but some didn’t at all. I cleared my iPhone to create more memory, nothing. My daughter reckons that maybe a virus got to my phone. Don’t know. So along with a few recipe photos I lost my ‘Mumbai as a tourist photos’ too. That whole day felt miserable, learnt a hard lesson and then had to think…skip the challenge or challenge myself.
My fruit and veggie vendor messaged that nectarines and blueberries are available. So I asked the price and ordered them. Both fruits slightly expensive as the nectarines are from Spain and Blueberries are now grown locally but on a small scale. With these two beauties at hand a dessert idea was born – Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp.
Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp
Crisp is a very common dessert prepared during summer as berries and stone fruits are available and in winter with pears and apples. Crisp is one of the easiest desserts to make and ever so delicious. Years ago, I think around 19th Century crisp was generally made with apples only. Crisp can be served warm on its own as its pretty juicy, with whipped cream or some ice-cream.
Can you serve A crisp as a party dessert?
Whenever I want to serve a crisp to my guests I keep the fruit ready in the baking dish and keep the topping ready separately. Just before dinner time preheat the oven, sprinkle the topping and put the crisp for baking. By the time dinner is over, the dessert is ready to be served. For a larger crowd I prefer to bake it in a big baking dish. However, this time round as I don’t have any guests I decided to bake in individual ramekin.
Leftovers??
Generally, if baked in individual portions, then gets used up. However, if baked in a big dish, a bit may get leftover. I store the leftover in the fridge and no the topping does not remain crisp as the fruit juices will make it soggy. Nevertheless, I use it up next day as breakfast topped with plain yogurt.
Can you make the Crisp with only one fruit?
Yes you can – use nectarines, peaches, apples, pears, mango, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, apricots, etc on their own or a combination of any of these. Use either two, three or four fruit combinations.
Ingredients required for Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp
- Nectarines – ripe ones
- Blueberries – or any berries of your choice
- Brown Sugar – to add to the fruit and for the topping
- Oats – For the topping, I used quick oats, but you can use rolled oats.
- Flour – for the topping and to add a bit with the fruit. Usually plain flour is used but I used wheat flour.
- Cinnamon Powder – to add to the fruit
- Butter – cold butter cut into small pieces for the topping
- Nuts – an optional ingredient but if used, adds an extra crunch to the topping. I used walnuts but you can use any nuts of your choice.
- Ice cream or Whipped Cream – to serve on top. Again an optional ingredient as warm crisp on its own too tastes very delicious.
Dietary Tips:
- For a vegan friendly Nectarine and Blueberry Crisp replace butter with coconut oil, vegan butter or any oil of your choice. Serve it on its own, or whipped coconut cream or a vegan friendly ice cream.
- Vegetarian friendly
- Egg free
- Gelatin free
- For a gluten free crisp replace the plain or wheat flour with oat flour
NECTARINE AND BLUEBERRY CRISP
Ingredients
For The Topping:
- 1 tbsp wheat flour
- ⅓ cup oats
- 1 tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
For the Fruit Layer:
- 2 cups chopped nectarine (about 3 whole ones)
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 tbsp wheat flour
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 tbsp water
- extra butter for greasing
For Serving:
- some vanilla ice cream or whipped fresh cream
Instructions
Preparation of the Topping:
- First, preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Mix flour, oats and sugar in a mixing bowl.
- Add the cold chopped butter. Rub it into the mixture using your fingertips.
- Add chopped walnuts and mix.
Preparation of the Fruit Layer:
- Grease 4 ramekin bowls or any heatproof bowls with butter.
- Mix chopped nectarine and blueberries in a bowl.
- Sprinkle sugar, flour and cinnamon powder over the fruit. Mix it gently.
- Add water and mix.
- Divide the mixture between the 4 ramekins.
- Sprinkle the topping over each fruit layer.
- Bake the crisp for 30 minutes. The fruit will be all bubbly and the topping should become golden brown.
- Take the dessert out of the oven and serve warm topped with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Can bake in a baking tray which is 8" X 8".
- Use any fresh fruit of your choice.
- Can use frozen fruit. Let it thaw a bit before baking.
- For gluten free version replace the flour with oat flour.
- For a vegan friendly dessert, omit butter and use coconut oil, oil or a vegan friendly butter. Serve with a vegan friendly ice cream or whipped coconut.
Pin for later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
36 Comments
Shobha Keshwani
July 9, 2020 at 4:34 am
This is simple yet an amazing dessert. I usually am not a dessert person but somehow I like this one with a variation of fruits
mayurisjikoni
July 9, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Thank you so much Shobha. Do try it as its not overly sweet. Much of the sweetness is from the fruits.
Aruna
July 10, 2020 at 7:06 am
Indeed life has changed under Corona. When I go to the main market area once a month, it is like a reunion with my phal, phool, and sabzi-wale. I am just as glad to see them safe and sound as they are to see me so.
This nectarine and blueberry crisp sounds just perfect as a light dessert, or even an early evening snack. 🙂
mayurisjikoni
July 10, 2020 at 5:38 pm
Thank you so much Aruna, don’t know when I will be able to venture out. As for the dessert yes absolutely light and delicious on its own. With a bit of ice cream becomes a perfect indulgence.
Niranjana Sankaranarayanan
July 13, 2020 at 8:22 pm
Blueberry nectarine crisp is a perfect one for a person like me who doesn’t like much sweets. Its simple yet delicious. Loved your detailed writeup about the difference between crisp, crumble & cobbler.
mayurisjikoni
July 14, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Thanks Niranjana, and we love this dessert too as you can use a variety of fruits and as you mentioned its not too sweet as you can control the amount of sugar you add.
Geetha
July 22, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Crisp with nectarine sounds like a totally delectable dessert. Though berry crisp is the common dessert I make at home, I’m intrigued at combining nectarine with berry. Crisp with ice cream topping! Yum nobody can resist to indulge!
mayurisjikoni
July 22, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Thanks Geetha, try the combination, its really tasty.
Swati
July 16, 2020 at 1:57 am
Peaches and Nectarines are in season and I too make full use of these in season.. I was about to make crisp but then made cobbler recently for a post.. Your crip cups looks so inviting topped with ice cream. next I am going to make it with different fruit combination.Wonderful share.
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Thank you so much Swaty, go on make this combination and enjoy with some Greek Yogurt as Sunday brunch.
The Girl Next Door
July 16, 2020 at 7:07 pm
Such a simple dessert, but one that looks utterly delicious! I’m sure I’d love this. Perfect for summer days. Now if only I could get my hands on some nectarines…
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2020 at 8:52 pm
Thank you so much Priya. I’m quite surprised that this year we got them here and that too really sweet and succulent.
Rafeeda – The Big Sweet Tooth
July 16, 2020 at 11:33 am
I loved reading through your Covid experience. We have been doing a lot of online shopping these days, whether fruits, vegetables and grocery. I can’t still get myself to go to the outlet, because this trend has generally made me lazy. Love the Whassap idea. Here, the nearby hypermarket had something called Click and Collect, where we ping on their Whassap number, they send us the list of items we can order with the code numbers. We send them back the code and the quantity. They message back it is ready, then we just go with our car, give them a call, they load into the car, we pay and off we go. Of course, yours sounds better. hehe…
Love the totally delicious crisp… I also learned the difference between crumble and crisp laterly, one has oats, the other doesn’t… simply to complicate things… hehe… I would have loved a ramekin with a nice scoop of thick yogurt on top…
mayurisjikoni
July 16, 2020 at 2:11 pm
Thank you so much Rafeeda, yes times have changed world over. I enjoyed the leftover one with yogurt and it was a delicious breakfast. My daughter too tells me the stores in Dubai especially the smaller ones are pretty accommodating.
NARMADHA
July 17, 2020 at 3:57 am
Liked the idea of whatsapp shopping. Here still most of the things we need to go out and buy only. Nectarine and Blueberry crisp looks perfect dessert to serve in parties. Looks too tempting and delicious. Would love to enjoy with scoop of ice cream.
mayurisjikoni
July 17, 2020 at 6:49 pm
Thank you so much Narmadha.And yes this way of shopping is a good for us. I haven’t been outside my building since end of March!
Sujata Roy
July 19, 2020 at 6:06 am
Same situation with me. Husband is diabetic so completely avoiding going out. One vegetable vendor brings all the vegetables and fruits everyday. And a shop outside our society sending all the groceries. For other things ordering from online shopping sites.
Never used nectarine.This nectarine blueberry crisp looks awesome. I am sure it taste heavenly. A perfect party dessert.
mayurisjikoni
July 19, 2020 at 3:06 pm
Thank you so much Sujata and yes its best to be very careful. As for the dessert you can replace the nectarine with pears, apples, peaches, plums.
Kalyani
July 19, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Interesting to read about the whatsapp shopping at kenya.. we do have newer ways of evolving thru this pandemic right? So glad we have access to technology that makes us grateful for door step delivery in these challenging times. the crisp looks straight out of a magazine 🙂 loving it !
mayurisjikoni
July 19, 2020 at 3:03 pm
thank you so much Kalyani. And yes I’m so glad that small businesses and supermarkets quickly arose to cope with this pandemic. All this would not have been possible without technology.
Vidya Narayan
July 22, 2020 at 2:55 pm
I am glad you didn’t skip the challenge and took it as a challenge to come up with an amazing portion size dessert with the fresh produce possible combining two of my favourite ingredients – blueberries and nectarines. Low on sugar, high on flavors and a perfect sweet treat to satisfy those sugar cravings. Like you, I miss visiting the markets and going through the ingredients. Just making do with whatever is available locally and near to me as venturing out is a risk I am not willing to take. Let’s stay safe and get over this soon. Hugs and Prayers.
mayurisjikoni
July 22, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Thank you so much Vidya. Its best to be careful.
Paarul Mehta
July 26, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Simple yet flavorful dessert, something we always love at our place, The crispy dessert with flavors of nectarine and my favorite blueberries is so inviting. Nice to read your cover experience, we all are sailing in the same boats. Its just the online shopping for grocery and regular stuff as sanitizing it is again a cumbersome thing. Better to stay safe and stay home till things get to normal.
mayurisjikoni
July 26, 2020 at 10:53 pm
Thanks Paarul and you’re right better to be safe than sorry.
Jolly
July 27, 2020 at 9:56 am
Crisp with nectarine that’s an absolutely delectable dessert for me.I am big fan of sweets, it’s a perfect for me anytime. Your crisp cups looks really inviting topped with ice cream. Next time I am going to try it with your version. When nectarines in market. Wonderful share.
.
I loved reading through your Covid experience. We have been doing a lot of online shopping these days, whether fruits, vegetables and grocery. Our situation is similar to yours we are also sending our items what we required with quantity through our whatsapp to on their phone, for payment we are using the qrcode either thru paytm or PhonePe. I am not satisfied what they send to us, I love to choose things at my own if it either veggies or fruits. I don’t no when this period finished.
mayurisjikoni
July 27, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Thanks Jolly, please do try out the dessert, its really delicious and easy to make.
Anshu Agrawal
July 28, 2020 at 4:42 pm
Simply loved the recipe,so simple ,flavorful and quick. Would love to give it a try. Sweet and sour fruits with a crispy topping, just can imagine the burst of flavors in a single spoon. Can this be made ahead if making for some guest.
mayurisjikoni
July 29, 2020 at 12:17 am
Thank you so much Anshu, I’ve sometimes made it ahead especially during summer and guests have enjoyed it cold too. If you require it warm just put it in the microwave for a minute or two.
Poonam Bachhav
July 30, 2020 at 8:23 am
Covid has really changed our lives. We hardly venture out and buy almost everything online. Thankfully the vegetable vendor in my society brings fresh fruits and vegetables.
Coming to your Summer dessert, the nectarine and blueberry crisp looks so delightful. I love fruit based desserts. They are not overly loaded with sugar and hence brings out the taste of the fruit.
mayurisjikoni
July 30, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Thanks Poonam and you’re right this dessert is not loaded with sugar so its perfect.
Seema Sriram
July 30, 2020 at 12:32 pm
What a significant change we have adopted in a short time isn’t it! Yet we never cease to amaze. i am so glad to see this crisp with necatrine. Our season here will start soon and I already have a recipe to strat will. Yum.
mayurisjikoni
July 30, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Thank you so much Seema. Enjoy the crisp when you make it.
Sasmita
July 31, 2020 at 6:56 am
the whole lifestyle for all us is now suppressed due to corona, we all are sailing on a same boat, hope the situation will become normal soon by God grace !!!!
Well this is such a simple dessert still looking utterly delicious di ! The scoop of ice cream on top is perfect for summer hot days 🙂
mayurisjikoni
July 31, 2020 at 9:42 pm
Thank you so much Sasmita and yes hoping for better days to return soon. All sorts of crisp make a good summer or winter dessert.
Preethicuisine
September 2, 2020 at 10:53 am
Ah this pandemic has taken a toll everywhere. Shopping via what’s app is absolutely interesting. Thanks to the evolution of technology each day. Nectarine blueberry crisp looks insanely delicious. Something to cheer ourselves up.
mayurisjikoni
September 4, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Thank you so much Preethi. And I love this WhatsApp shopping. Its actually fun especially with the supermarket.