Olivier Poels 5:40 p.m., August 27, 2021
The apricot tree is found in the wild in China where it has been cultivated and domesticated for around 5,000 years.
Like many products, it will follow the western route via the middle and then the Middle East.
We owe to the Romans its arrival in Europe about 2000 years ago.
It is then found mainly in Italy and Spain.
In France, it was not until the 15th century to see the first apricot trees thanks to apricot kernels that soldiers brought back and planted at home. La Quintinie, Louis XIV's gardener, planted apricot trees in Versailles, and cultivation then spread to really explode in the 18th century. As with many fruits and vegetables, we will create new varieties by crossing them.
It is the third most consumed fruit in France after apple and nectarine.
In France today is the leading producer country in Europe.
Unfortunately, this year the frost devastated part of the harvest.
Among the varieties: bergeron, orangé de Provence, Gâterie, Royal or red from Roussillon, which even benefit from an AOP.
Apart from the tart, the apricot goes very well with salted foods and meats such as poultry, pork or duck breast, but also with vegetables.
To choose it: neither too soft nor too firm, smooth, and not to rely on the color!
The green bean, apricot and burrata salad recipe:
Ingredients:
- 4 apricots
- 500 gr of green beans
- Vanilla olive oil
- A few fresh almonds
- 1 burrata
- Salt / pepper
1. Cook the green beans in a large volume of salted water and cool them immediately
2. Cut the apricots into small cubes and the burrata into 4
3. Mix the green beans, diced apricots, almonds
4. Drizzle with olive oil
5. Arrange in deep plates and place a piece of burrata on it