Fruit on the Grill

We’re still a few weeks away from the official start of summer, but we’ve already dusted off the grill and are ready to fire it up. And of course, many of the usuals will find their way over the flame — like steak, burgers, chicken and (of course) lots and lots of veggies — but what really gets our mouths watering as we head into the warmer months are all the delicious in-season fruits that are hitting the market. And while any of them make for a delicious sweet treat when fresh and raw, throwing them on the grill can really create something special.

The key to choosing fruit for the grill is to select fresh, firm fruit that isn’t overly ripe so it holds its texture and doesn’t disintegrate through the grates. Whether you prefer gas or charcoal, we like it best when thrown directly into the grill on its own or on skewers, but you could also use a grill-safe baking dish or create foil packets (though you won’t get the grill marks or crispy texture with these last two methods). 

When it comes to the types of fruits, the sky is pretty much the limit, but here are some of our favorites: 

Peaches

Try them in our Summer Chicken & Peach Salad, which will be featured in the upcoming Cook Along mentioned above. Grilled peaches also make an excellent dessert, especially when paired with the minty yogurt dip from our Berry Kabobs.

Pineapple

Enjoying some barbecued pork or chicken? A simple side of grilled pineapple is a wonderful complement to smoky meats. Or try it diced up into a delightful fruit salsa, with diced red onion, minced jalapeno, and minced cilantro — great on tacos!

Watermelon

Grilled watermelon is delicious as part of a French-inspired salad: Simply toss it with your favorite greens (we like arugula), a good quality olive oil, lemon juice, and a touch of salt. Then, top with some feta or goat cheese and a splash of balsamic if you’d like. Voilá! The perfect side dish or light lunch.

Lemon

Pop some lemon halves on the grill anytime you’re grilling anything — the heat loosens the juices and the flame provides depth of flavor. Squeeze them over chicken, seafood of all kinds, artichokes, broccolini, green beans — you name it! Grilled lemons also go great in drinks, from lemonade to cocktails. 

Apple

Apples may not be a summer fruit, but they are always easy to find, and they taste great when grilled. Try them in overnight oats for a no-cook breakfast: Mix ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, ⅛ tsp cinnamon and a pinch of stevia (if desired) in a small container. Top with grilled apples and refrigerate overnight. Enjoy cold or reheated gently in the microwave.

Which one of these grilled fruits are you most excited to try? Tell us about it!