Fire Up the Grill and Throw on Some Fruit!

#NationalGrillingMonth: Grilled Fruit

July is National Grilling Month. Now, we know what you imagine when you think of grilling: juicy hamburgers and hot dogs, decadent corn on the cob, and delicious kebabs. These tasty offerings are central to every good cookout, so it’s no wonder that’s what most people focus on when it’s time to fire up their grills. 

A Healthy Addition to Your Cookout 

That doesn’t mean a grill is all about meat and veggies, though! Summer is arguably the best season for fruit lovers, so why not combine both of these summertime staples by grilling your fruit? As crazy as it sounds, grilling fruit can yield delicious results, and there are as many options as there are, well fruits! 

Grilling fruit can be a healthy addition to your cookout, and provide a lighter dessert option after a thick hamburger. What’s more, cooking your fruit can help you to digest vitamins and minerals in the fruit better, and if that’s the case, grilling is a great way to do it, because of the lack of oils involved. 

A Little Tropical Flavor for your Burger 

Now, if you’re not sold on grilling fruit for it’s own sake, why not start slow by grilling some fruit to use on your burger? Pineapple on hamburgers is a popular option these days, and it’s pretty simple to throw a slice– canned or fresh– on the grill at the same time as your meat. Top with teriyaki sauce for a Hawaiian-inspired taste, or opt for your favorite BBQ sauce. 

If you’re looking for something sweeter, you can grill almost anything your heart desires. Stone fruits, like peaches, plums, and nectarines are well suited to the grill, as are tropical fruits like mango and pineapple! Watermelon and cantaloupe also stand up well to the high temperatures, as do pears and bananas. 

There are two main ways to do it: just toss your fruit of choice on the grill, in big chunks so that none get lost to the flames, or spear them on bamboo skewers for colorful fruit kebabs. Either one gets the job done, but the skewers allow you to drizzle toppings on your fruit without getting your hands sticky. As for toppings, you can choose anything that suits you! Honey, agave, or real maple syrup are all bound to be delicious, and tajin seasoning adds a little heat to mangoes, pineapple, and watermelon. You could also dip your grille fruit in yogurt, or make your own fruit dip. 

One more way to eat grilled fruit would be to use it as a topping itself for another classic summer food: ice cream. Grilled peaches and bananas sound delicious on some vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt, and if you choose to top your grill with foil, you could even add some strawberries to the mix. 

No matter how you grill fruit, once you start, you won’t stop. Grilled fruit is a healthy, delicious way to enjoy a cookout, or just a nice summer afternoon in the backyard!