nectarines

Oh, the humble (yet utterly delightful) nectarine! In the sunny orchards of the Netherlands, when the season is just right, these smooth-skinned beauties beckon, promising a taste of summer you simply can’t resist. Forget the supermarket aisles for a day; it’s time to get your hands a little sticky and your heart a lot happier!

The Sweet Thrill of the Nectarine Hunt!

Imagine this: The sun is warm on your back, a gentle breeze rustles through the leaves, and the air is thick with the sweet, honeyed scent of ripe fruit. You’re wandering through rows of lush nectarine trees on a charming Dutch farm, basket in hand, eyes peeled for that perfect specimen. This isn’t just grocery shopping; it’s an adventure!

Whether you go solo, enjoying a peaceful moment of zen amidst nature, or gather your favourite people – friends, family, giggling kids with sticky fingers – picking your own nectarines is an absolute joy. There’s a special thrill in gently twisting a perfectly ripe nectarine from its branch, feeling its velvety skin, and knowing it’s just seconds away from being a delicious treat. It’s a hunt for treasure, with every perfectly plump, sun-kissed fruit a prize. The laughter, the shared discoveries (“Look at this giant one!”), and the collective satisfaction of a basket brimming with homegrown goodness truly make for unforgettable memories.

Bringing Your Nectarine Haul Home: Beyond the Bite!

Once you’ve returned home, triumphantly cradling your basket of peachy-keen perfection, the real fun begins! Of course, the first order of business is usually to bite straight into one, juice dripping down your chin – pure, unadulterated bliss! But those nectarines are versatile little stars, ready to elevate all sorts of culinary creations.

Sweet & Savoury Delights: Two Nectarine Recipes!

Grilled Nectarine & Halloumi Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing:
- Ingredients: 2-3 firm ripe nectarines (halved, pitted, and sliced), 200g halloumi cheese (sliced), mixed greens, a handful of fresh mint leaves, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp honey, salt & pepper to taste.
- Method:
  1. Heat a griddle pan or outdoor grill. Brush nectarine and halloumi slices lightly with olive oil.
  2. Grill nectarines for 2-3 minutes per side until softened and slightly charred. Grill halloumi for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown.
  3. Whisk together remaining olive oil, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper for the dressing.
  4. Arrange mixed greens on a platter. Top with grilled nectarines, halloumi, and fresh mint. Drizzle generously with the honey-lime dressing. A perfect summer lunch or light dinner!
Easy Nectarine Crumble:
- Ingredients:
  - For the Filling: 4-5 ripe nectarines (pitted and sliced), 2 tbsp caster sugar, 1 tsp cornflour, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
  - For the Topping: 100g plain flour, 50g cold butter (cubed), 50g rolled oats, 50g light brown sugar.
- Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Filling: In a bowl, gently mix the sliced nectarines with sugar, cornflour, and vanilla extract. Pour into an ovenproof dish.
  3. Topping: In another bowl, rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the oats and brown sugar.
  4. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the nectarine filling.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Serve warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or custard. Pure comfort!

Cheers to Nectarines: A Refreshing Cocktail!

Nectarine & Basil Gin Smash:

Ingredients: 2 ripe nectarines (1 sliced for muddling, 1 sliced for garnish), 6-8 fresh basil leaves, 60ml gin, 30ml fresh lime juice, 15ml simple syrup (or to taste), soda water, ice.
Method:
1. In a sturdy glass or cocktail shaker, muddle the nectarine slices and basil leaves together until the nectarine is broken down and the basil is fragrant.
2. Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup to the muddled fruit. Fill the shaker with ice.
3. Shake well until thoroughly chilled (about 15-20 seconds).
4. Double-strain into an ice-filled highball or rocks glass.
5. Top with soda water. Garnish with a fresh nectarine slice and a sprig of basil. Sip and enjoy the taste of summer!

So, next time you’re in the Netherlands during nectarine season, ditch the grocery list and head to a farm. There’s a whole lot of juicy, sun-kissed pleasure waiting for you to pick!

Pluktuin ut ouw goed

flowers, fruit, berries

noord-brabant

Ut Ouw Goed is a self-picking garden and food forest located at Middelstraat 41, 5176 NH De Moer, managed by the Van Laarhoven family who transformed a former tree nursery into this diverse outdoor space in 2017. The farm offers a rich variety of produce for self-picking, including a wide array of fruits such as apples, pears (eating, stewing, and quinces), apricots, nectarines, persimmons, peaches, cherries, plums, figs, medlars, mulberries, raspberries, red currants, blueberries, grapes, blackberries, and strawberries. Various nut trees are also present. For vegetables and herbs, visitors can pick rhubarb, along with other seasonal vegetables and herbs. The flower picking garden allows visitors to gather their own bouquets from an assortment that includes Gypsophila, Peonies, Lavender, Anemones, Persicaria, Daisies, Sedum, Lupines, Coneflowers, wildflowers, and flowers suitable for drying, as well as Butterfly bush.

Fruittuin van West

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries, nuts

noord-holland

Fruittuin van West is a bio-dynamic farm and garden located in Amsterdam, inviting visitors to experience nature and harvest their own produce. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 to 18:00, it features a self-picking orchard, an organic shop, and a garden cafe. The farm emphasizes sustainable and circular practices, holding a Demeter certification. The 6.5-hectare orchard offers a rich variety of fruits for self-picking, with the main season typically running from mid-June to mid-October. A diverse selection of over 20 fruit types includes numerous apple varieties (like Allurel, Elstar, Santana, Boskoop, Rubinette, Opal, Natira) and pears (such as Beth, Conference, Concorde, and Gieser Wildeman). Berry enthusiasts can pick blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants, rosecurrants, blueberries, gooseberries, kiwiberries, jostaberries, blackberries, summer and autumn raspberries, Japanese wineberries, loganberries, tayberries, honeyberries, cranberries, and strawberries. Stone fruits such as cherries, plums (including Mirabelle), peaches, and nectarines are also available. Additionally, the orchard grows various nuts, including almonds, walnuts, chestnuts, pecan nuts, and hazelnuts. During colder months, medlars can sometimes be found for picking in the food forest edge.

V.O.F. Post

fruit, berries

flevoland

This self-picking farm, Fruitpluktuin, is located at Hopweg 64 in Rutten. It features a half-hectare (5000 m2) fruit garden with approximately 20 rows of various fruit plants, with plans for further expansion. Visitors are invited to pick their own fresh fruit directly from the garden. The produce available for self-picking includes: Berries: Blackberries (July to October), Raspberries (summer varieties from June to August, autumn varieties from September to October), Redcurrants (June to July), Kiwiberries (September to October), and Elderberries (September to November). Orchard Fruits: Apples (Elstar, Pinova, Exelent Star, and Golden Reiners varieties from mid-September to early October), Pears (Gieser Wildman (stewing pear), Conference, and Donyenne du Comise varieties from September to October), Cherries (Kordia, Regina, and Lapins varieties from mid-July to early August), Plums (Victoria Rood and Opal Blauw varieties from July to August), Apricots (Bredase variety from August to September), Peaches (Amsden variety in August), and Nectarines (Madame Blanchet variety from August to September). Other Fruits: Grapes (September to October). Beyond the self-picking experience, the farm also grows and offers other produce such as potatoes, onions, pumpkins, gourds, and sunflowers. They sell homemade jam, liqueur, and a variety of fresh fruits like strawberries, mini watermelons, and wild peaches directly from their farm. Information on plucking times and recipes for dishes like fruit tarts and healthy shakes using self-picked fruit are available. Guided tours of the farm can be arranged by appointment.