Grilled Fruit Ideas That Are Perfect for Summer

One of the best flavors of summer is food fresh off the grill! When it comes to grilling, steak, veggies, and chicken kebabs are great, but have you ever tried grilling fruit?

When you grill fruit, the natural sugars in the fruit caramelize over the heat and bring out the sweet flavor! Their rich flavors go perfectly with a side of vanilla ice cream. Check out these ideas for grilled fruit to spice up dessert for your next barbecue! You can grill any fruit as long as it's fairly firm and not overly ripe! Some of our favorites are:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Bananas
• Watermelon
• Tomatoes (try with a balsamic drizzle or marinade)

1. Make sure it's ripe, but not too ripe. You don't want it to disintegrate and fall through the slats in the grill. Make sure to use fruit that's at its peak freshness and ripeness.
2. Cut your fruit into large chunks. Again, you don't want any escapees on the grill. If you want to grill smaller fruits like strawberries, cut them into 1-inch chunks and pop the fruit onto wooden skewers for kabobs!
3. Make sure the grill is at the right temperature. It has to be hot enough to minimize sticking.
4. A Spoonful of Sugar. Sprinkle some sugar on your citrus fruit before tossing onto the oiled grill in order to get a nice, caramelized finish.
5. Denser Fruit Takes Longer to Grill. Take into account the thickness and density of your fruit and adjust your grilling time accordingly.
6. Safety first! To avoid burning the skewers, make sure to soak them in water for at least 20 minutes beforehand.

Grilled Fruit Kebabs are perfect for those summer night barbecues! Whether you make grilled steak, Hawaiian chicken, or any other delectable summer dinner, after dinner is all done, pop these kebabs onto the grill for a healthy and sweet treat! Try a yogurt dip, drizzle with honey, or make delicious fondue! You could even make a grilled fruit salad as an amazing side dish!

• Grilled Bananas Foster: This is a great way to use those bananas that may just be a little too ripe to just peel and eat. Grill your unpeeled bananas covered on an oiled grill rack on medium heat for about 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Cool, peel, and cut each crosswise. Cook  3 T butter, 2 T maple syrup, and 2 T caramel topping uncovered on medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat. Place ice cream in dessert dishes, top with bananas, drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with some crushed vanilla wafers.
• Grilled Pineapple with Lime Dip: Cut a fresh pineapple into 16 even spears. In.a bowl, combine 1/2 c brown sugar, 3 T honey, and 2 T lime juice. Add the pineapple, coating them, and refrigerate covered for 1 hour. For the lime dip, beat together 3 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, 2 T honey, 1 T brown sugar, 1 T lime juice, and 1 t fresh lime zest. Refrigerate. Drain the pineapple and grill 3-4 minutes each side on medium heat! Serve with the lime dip!

Grilled Apple tossed salad: This light salad is the perfect side for your barbecue. Start with tossing apple slices in a marinade of 6 T olive oil, 1/4 c cilantro, 1/4 c orange juice, 1/4 c balsamic vinegar, 2 T honey, and 1 clove minced garlic. Save half of the marinade for the dressing! Grill the apples 3-4 minutes on each side, brushing with marinade. Top with walnuts and blue cheese, and toss with remaining dressing! Enjoy!

Whether enjoy your grilled fruit by itself, use it in a recipe, or simply top it off with some ice cream, it's sure to be a hit with everyone! What are some of your favorite grilled fruits? Let us know in the comments!