Cooking Healthy with Apricots

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The peak season for one of “The WHF,” apricots begins in May and runs until August in most areas - four months during which these wonderful fruits are usually available in great abundance. Fortunately, since apricots are the perfect fruit to dry, we can have them on hand all year round. In fact, their intense flavor when dried is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way.

Apricots are a sweet treat you can enjoy guilt-free. Since they are so high in pro-vitamin A, you can help boost your immune system and protect your eyesight while satisfying your sweet tooth. When they are not available fresh, I like to keep dried apricots in my refrigerator and enjoy just one or two after a meal.

During the spring and summer months, fresh apricots are delicious mixed with other fruits in season for a fresh fruit salad or cooked slowly for about 30 minutes with a little ginger, then drizzled with a small amount of honey at the end of cooking.

You can also enjoy apricots’ bountiful season by using them to top your cereal, pancakes or yogurt.

Here are a couple of my favorite apricot-inspired recipes:

10 Minute Fruit & Cheese Salad: We use fresh apricots for this recipe. It is perfect for the warm summer months when apriocts are at the height of their season.
Apricot Tart is a delicious way to enjoy dried apricots during the colder months of the year. A wonderful dessert recipe throughout the fall and winter, this tart will enhance any holiday meal or gathering. Plus, it will keep for 2-3 days, so it is a great dessert to make ahead or have on hand for when friends drop in. A little bit goes a long way with this tart, so make your slices small.
Another good tasting dessert topping in the colder season is our Apricot Compote, which also uses dried apricots, and transforms holiday pears or apples into an elegant treat.

I hope this gives you some interesting ways to enjoy this wonderful fruit that is so beneficial to our health. Learn more about this super food in our nutritional profile: apricots.