While we typically expect a day spent grilling to involve steak, chicken, burgers or hot dogs, and perhaps the occasional corn or vegetable kabobs, your grill is much more versatile.
Fruits can transform into something even more delicious with a little heat.
The basics
Allrecipes.com offers the following tips for grilling fruits:
1. The best fruits for grilling are fairly firm and not overripe. Some good choices include Peaches, melons, pineapple, pears, avocado, tomatoes, bananas and figs.
2. Cut fruit into large chunks, slices and wheels to help it maintain its structure as it heats up, and to prevent them from falling through the grates. Corral smaller fruits such as berries on skewers.
3. Heat the grill to medium-high for at least 10 minutes, then scrape and oil the grates before putting the fruit on them.
4. Use an oil made for high temperatures, such has safflower oil. To avoid oil on the finished product, especially if you're using it in a dessert, skip the oil.
5. For a caramelized finish, dust the cut side of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit with granulated sugar before they go on the grill, and be sure to use oil to keep the rinds from sticking
6. Let the fruit sear on the hot grill for a few minutes before checking for grill marks. This will help avoid sticking.
7. Denser fruits, such as pineapple, will take longer to grill. It's done when it's hot in the middle.
8. Don't waste the juice. Once the fruit comes off the grill, put it on a rimmed baking sheet to collect the juices for another recipe.
Grilled Fruit Kabobs
Consider this recipe from FeelGoodFoodie.net to try your hand at grilling fruit.
Ingredients
2 cups pineapple chunks cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups cantaloupe chunks cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups strawberries stems removed
Coconut oil spray
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Vanilla yogurt for serving
Directions
1. Preheat the grill to high heat. Soak the skewers in water for 20 minutes, to prevent them from burning while grilling.
2. Thread two pieces each pineapple, strawberry and cantaloupe onto skewer. Repeat process to assemble as many skewers as you'd like to make.
3. Spray with the coconut oil spray and brush maple syrup all over the skewers.
4. Place the fruit skewers on the grill in a single layer. Grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes total.
5. Serve immediately, dipped with vanilla yogurt, if desired.