Summer is a perfect time to pick up some fresh, sweet cherries! They’re bursting with flavor and health benefits. They are among the top 20 foods with the highest concentration of antioxidants. They are heart healthy and contain melatonin, so they are a great food to incorporate into your diet if you need help regulating your sleep cycle. Although I love them with ice cream, here are two unique cherry recipes that are perfect for a summer event:
Cherry Berry Fruit Salad
Serves 10
All you need:
2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
2 (6 oz.) containers fresh raspberries, rinsed
1 (16 oz.) container fresh strawberries, rinsed and diced
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
All you do:
1. Place cherries in a larve mixing bowl.
2. Top with raspberries and strawberries.
3. Add fresh basil.
4. Top with white and brown sugar.
5. Finish with lemon zest and juice and toss to combine.
Perfect!
Grilled Chicken with Chipotle Cherry BBQ Sauce
Serves 4
All you need:
1 cup fresh dark sweet cherries, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup cherry preserves
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
All you do:
1. Stir cherries, broth, preserves, ketchup, vinegar, chipotle peppers, thyme and allspice together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook until sauce has reduced by half.
2. Carefully pour sauce into a food processor or blender and combine until smooth. Pour sauce back into the saucepan and cook 5 minutes longer over medium low heat. Reserve half of the sauce for serving.
3. Preheat grill to medium high. Salt and pepper chicken breasts and drizzle with olive oil.
4. Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, brushing with sauce as it cooks.
