One of the most delicious flavors on the planet is freshly grilled, juicy pineapple sprinkled with cinnamon. If you don’t believe it, you haven’t tried it! While it’s tough to top a freshly sliced pineapple in the flavor department, throwing it on the grill is a flavor-enhancing game-changer. Ready to give it a whirl? Here’s what you need to know.

How to Make Grilled Pineapple

Pineapple is one of the easiest fruits to grill. It doesn’t fall apart easily, cooks quickly, and tastes wonderful with absolutely no help. Of course, you can add some seasonings or glazes if you want to, but let’s start with the basics.

• Choose a fresh pineapple. This might seem obvious, but choosing the right fruit makes all the difference in how the finished product will taste. Smell the pineapple as you’re shopping. A ripe one will have a noticeably sweet scent.
• Remove the outer peel and core. Slice into rings or strips. Brush each piece with oil or butter to prevent sticking.
• Heat grill to medium-high.
• Place pineapple pieces on the grill plate and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until grill marks appear. You’ll notice a lovely caramelizing of the fruit as it gets hot. This is what makes it so delicious!

Making Grilled Pineapple Even Better

There are several ways you can dress up your grilled pineapple to create a truly unforgettable dish. Here are a few favorites:

• Brown Sugar and Cinnamon–Make a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture and coat each pineapple piece before grilling. Be sure to oil the grill plate before grilling.
• Honey and Citrus Glaze–Create a glaze using 1 part lemon or lime juice to 3 parts honey. Add a dash of black pepper for a spicy flavor. Brush glaze over each pineapple slice before grilling.
• Spicy Honey Marinade–Marinate pineapple pieces in honey, melted butter, and a dash of hot pepper sauce. Place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Serve grilled pineapple as an appetizer, a side dish, or a dessert. It pairs especially well with fish, but also makes a great complement to pork, chicken, and beef. You can add it to salads, dice it up for salsa, or even put it on a hamburger. Preparing the pineapple with a sweet glaze makes it a delicious dessert option served alone or with vanilla ice cream.

No matter which way you slice it, grilled pineapple will soon become a family favorite and a frequent request at all your backyard barbecue events.

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Are you grilling pork tonight? How about fish or chicken? Sausages? If you’re looking for something different to complement any of these meats–something other than the ubiquitous baked potato–try adding grilled pears to your menu. The mild, sweet flavor of pears works well both as a dessert and as a complement to any number of other dishes.

Basics for Grilled Pears

Like many other grilled fruits, grilled pears are simple, quick, and easy to get right. You’ll be amazed at how delicious they can be with just a hint of smoked flavor from the grilling process.

Start by slicing your pears in half and scooping out the center. You can peel if desired, but grilled pears also turn out well when you leave the skins on. Brush each piece with olive oil to prevent sticking. Heat your grill to medium-high and place pears directly on the grill plate. Grill for about 10 minutes, or until grill marks appear and pears feel slightly soft. Serve them as-is or add them to a recipe for a delicious summer dish.

Serving Ideas for Grilled Pears

With your pears fresh off the grill, you can add them to a variety of recipes. Try these ideas to get you started:

• H’ors Doeuvre–Slice pears into half-inch thick pieces. Grill for 5-10 minutes. Place each pear slice on a piece of toasted french bread, spread with cream cheese or goat cheese, and drizzle with honey for a delicious bruschetta.
• Salad—Chop grilled pears into cubes and serve with mixed greens, walnuts or almonds, and feta cheese.
• Side dish—Brush with a mixture of hot sauce and olive oil for a spicy side. After grilling, fill centers with blue cheese or your favorite soft cheese.
• Dessert–Serve with vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce for a sophisticated meal encore.

Gaining Confidence on the Grill

Becoming a true grill master means being willing to try new ideas and utilizing the grill to its fullest potential. One of the ways to learn what your grill is capable of is to experiment with unusual menu items like grilled vegetables and fruit. Pears offer a good starting point because they have a firm texture that holds up well under grilling and they offer a mild flavor that works with a variety of meat entrees.

Next time you fire up the grill for your famous pork chops or chicken, try adding a few pears to the mix. Your guests (and your family!) will be impressed with your culinary prowess–and they’ll be asking for more!

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Are you looking for a way to use your summer peaches? Hoping for an alternative to peach pie or cobbler? Then you need to try peaches on the grill! Grilled peaches are deliciously caramelized with a unique flavor you can only achieve by grilling. They make wonderful desserts, but you can also branch out and serve them as a side dish, a meat garnish, or a fabulous breakfast option.

The Secret to Perfect Grilled Peaches

The secret is that grilled peaches are super easy! With this one simple technique, you’ll be creating delicious grilled peach dishes that your family and friends swoon over. Good-bye frozen peach cobbler from the grocery store. Hello delicious, fresh from the grill perfection.

• Heat grill to medium-high.
• Slice peaches in half and remove pits. Brush with oil.
• Place cut side down on grill for about 5 minutes, or until you see grill marks.
• Turn peaches over and grill a few more minutes, until grill marks appear and peaches begin to soften.

That’s it! Now, top those peaches with something delicious like honey, cinnamon, ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt.

Grilled Peaches in a Foil Packet

Another way to grill peaches is to put them in a packet made of aluminum foil and grill over medium heat. Slice peaches into eighths and remove skin if desired. Place in the center of an aluminum foil square. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Fold the edges of the foil up around the peaches and crimp the edges to make a sealed packet. Place packet on pre-heated grill for about 10 minutes. Serve peaches over scones or with vanilla ice cream. Be sure to save the delicious juice left in the pouch for a sweeter dish!

More Serving Ideas

Here are some additional ways you can serve your grilled peaches:

Grilled Peach Salad–Drizzle peaches with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Toss with spring greens, blueberries, almonds, and feta cheese.

Cinnamon Honey Butter Peaches–Melt two tablespoons of butter and stir in honey and cinnamon to taste. Drizzle over peaches and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Peaches ‘n Cream–Fill the centers of grilled peaches with Greek yogurt and drizzle with honey. Garnish with fresh mint. Serve as a breakfast dish or hors d’oeuvre.

Peach Heaven–Grill peaches using the foil packet method. Serve with a slice of angel food cake and drizzle generously with the juice from the packet. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.

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Grilled fruit makes the perfect complement to any meat or fish entree, and it also delivers a spectacular grand finale to your meal as a dessert. If you’ve never considered tossing fruit on the grill, try adding it to your menu the next time you fire up the barbecue.

Looking for some ideas to get you started? Try grilled nectarines as a delectable summer choice. Nectarines work well on the grill because they have firm flesh that won’t get mushy under heat, they caramelize well, and their flavor is subtle enough to pair with a variety of entrees or dessert options.

Perfect Grilled Nectarines Every Time

Mastering your grill technique for fruit dishes will open doors to a wide variety of recipe options. Once you have the basic idea, you can experiment with different flavors and textures.

• Heat grill to medium-high.
• Slice nectarines in half and remove pits.
• Brush with butter or oil to prevent sticking. Butter will add a nice flavor to the finished product.
• Place on clean grill plate, cut side down, for about 4-5 minutes, or until you see grill marks.
• Turn nectarines over and cook until grill marks appear on the other side.

Another grilling method for nectarines is the foil packet. Cut nectarines into wedges and place inside an aluminum pouch. Add any desired seasonings, and then seal the packet. Place on the grill over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until the nectarines begin to soften. Open and enjoy!

Recipe Ideas for Grilled Nectarines

Grilled nectarines make wonderful side dishes, breakfast choices, and desserts. Try some of these recipes to get your creative juices flowing.

Grilled Nectarines with Cheese–Halfway through the grilling process, sprinkle nectarines with feta cheese and pepper. Serve with grilled pork or fish, or as a breakfast dish.

Honey and Cinnamon Nectarines–Place nectarines in foil pouch as described above. Before sealing the pouch, drizzle the fruit with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt or whipped cream.

Grilled Nectarines with Balsamic Vinegar–Brush nectarines with Balsamic vinegar before placing on the grill. Baste with the vinegar two or three additional times during the grilling process. Serve as a garnish over pork tenderloin or with ice cream for dessert.

Grilled Nectarine Salad–Drizzle nectarines with honey and grill as described above. Serve in a salad with mixed greens, sliced almonds or walnuts, and honey dijon dressing. Sprinkle with crumbled feta or blue cheese.

Try Your Own Recipes!

Grilled nectarines are a wonderfully versatile dish, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Try sweet dishes incorporating cinnamon, honey, nutmeg, ice cream, yogurt, brown sugar, and other delicious accoutrements, or opt for a more savory dish using cheese, pepper, and a savory sauce. Either way, you won’t be disappointed!

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Move over ice cream! Grilled bananas are taking the dessert table by storm, and once you’ve tasted the custardy goodness of a banana fresh off the grill, there’s no going back. But don’t take my word for it. Try one of these delicious recipe options and watch your family and friends…well, go bananas.

Grilled Bananas with Topping

A simple grilled banana can be dressed up any number of ways by adding your favorite sundae toppings. Start with a medium-hot grill. Place unpeeled bananas directly onto the grill, and cook for 4-5 minutes per side. The banana skin will darken and bananas will feel soft. Remove from grill, peel, and scoop fruit out into a dish. Top with caramel drizzle, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate bits.

More Recipe Ideas for Grilled Bananas

Once you have the basic grilling technique down, you can try lots of different ideas for spicing up the basic grilled banana:

• Banana Boats–Slit banana skin open before grilling. Stuff chocolate pieces and miniature marshmallows inside skin. Grill for 10-12 minutes.
• Cinnamon-Sugar Bananas–Slice bananas into quarters and peel. Sprinkle with lemon juice, then roll in cinnamon and brown sugar mixture. Place in foil packet and grill for 5-6 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
• Chilled Chocolate Peanut Butter Bananas–Grill bananas as described above. Prepare chocolate peanut butter ganache: Mix 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Simmer on stovetop for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Immediately stir in 5 oz. of chopped dark chocolate pieces and 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Drizzle ganache over grilled bananas and place in refrigerator until ganache firms.

Health Benefits of Grilled Bananas

Bananas have been linked to numerous health benefits, including increased seratonin levels (the brain chemical responsible for positive moods), lower blood pressure, reduced muscle cramping, better digestive health, and even antacid benefits for people with heartburn. But not everyone enjoys the taste of a banana straight out of the skin. Grilling bananas changes their texture and offers a bit of a twist on the natural banana flavor. And while it’s possible to smother your banana in lots of non-healthy toppings (hey, who doesn’t love a great dessert!), you still get all of the great health benefits bananas bring to the table.

Looking for a healthier grilled banana? Serve with an ounce or two of dark chocolate for heart-healthy antioxidants or drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon for a less sugary dessert option. You can also add bananas to a fruit kebab for a delicious side dish.

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Apricots function well either as a side dish with pork or beef, as part of a salad, or as a stand-alone dessert. Grilling them imparts an added layer of flavor as the fruit caramelizes. If you’ve never tried apricots on the grill, you’re in for a delectable treat.

Getting Started with Grilled Apricots

It doesn’t take long on the grill for an apricot to develop that delicious grilled flavor and texture. Choosing slightly less ripe fruit will help them hold up better and not turn mushy during grilling. Cut the apricots in half and remove the pit. Brush with oil and then place the fruit on the grill cut side down for about 3-5 minutes, or until you see grill marks.

Grilled Apricot Recipes

Wondering how to serve those luscious grilled apricots you just took off the grill? Try some of these taste bud tantalizing recipes:

• Grilled apricots with yogurt and toasted pecans–Fill the divot in each apricot with a dollop of vanilla yogurt and top with toasted pecans and cinnamon. Add a drizzle of honey if you want a sweeter option. Serve chilled for dessert or a delicious breakfast addition.
• Apricot and feta cheese salad–Chop grilled apricots and toss with spinach or arugula, walnuts, and feta cheese.
• Apricot hors d’oeurves–Transfer grilled apricot halves to a platter and fill with goat cheese. Sprinkle with black pepper and garnish with a sprig of rosemary or parsley.
• Pork Loin with Apricots–Grill pork loin according to recipe. Serve with grilled apricots and scallions. Drizzle with maple honey glaze to complete the dish. 
• Chocolate Apricot Dessert–Drizzle grilled apricots with melted chocolate and sprinkle with sliced, toasted almonds for a delectable dessert.

Of course, there are many other ways to prepare grilled apricots. Their diversity offers a wide array of recipe options encompassing side dishes, main courses, salads, breakfasts, and desserts.

 Perfecting Your Grilled Apricots

If your apricots seem over- or under done, use these indicators for perfectly grilled fruit. You should be able to remove the fruit from the grill easily, with no sticking. Watch for the skin to begin separating from the fruit. The fruit should be soft to the touch, but not mushy.

Leaving apricots on the grill too long will result in a charred, mushy mess. Some chefs prefer to cook over indirect heat in order to lessen the possibility of overcooking. Either direct or indirect heat will produce good results, however, as long as you keep a close eye on the fruit during the cooking process.

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Potatoes and vegetables are generally the go-to sides for most meats, but one often-overlooked option is the grilled apple. Grilled apples pair well with pork, fish, and poultry, bringing a sweet flavor to an otherwise savory meal. Who says the sweets have to wait for dessert?

Grilled Apple Basics

The secret to a great grilled apple is to choose a variety that has both good flavor and firm texture so that it will hold up well on the grill. Favorites include Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady. These varieties have a strong, tart flavor to balance out any sweet glaze you might want to add, as well as a crisp texture that won’t turn mealy during the cooking process.

Ready to try some apples on the grill? Follow this basic recipe:

• Remove core from apples. If you use an apple corer rather than slicing the apple into pieces, you’ll have nice pretty rings for a delicious display. Remove apple skins if desired.
• Slice  apples into 1/2 inch thick pieces or rings. Thicker slices will require longer cooking time.
• Brush both sides of apple with oil or butter to prevent sticking.
• Place on grill for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until grill marks appear.
• Drizzle with glaze if desired; cook for an additional minute per side. Alternatively, you can drizzle with honey and sprinkle with desired seasonings.

Grilled Apple Recipes

There are several ways you can dress up a basic grilled apple. Try one of these options for a delicious side dish your guests can’t stop talking about:

• After grilling, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Make a glaze with maple syrup, brown sugar, apple cider, and cinnamon. Brush glaze onto apples during the last few minutes of grilling.
• Slice apples into wedges and place in aluminum foil packet. Drizzle with caramel and grill for 8-9 minutes, or until you can easily pierce with a fork.
• Create a guilt-free side dish by marinating apples instead of using calorie-laden toppings. Combine orange juice, honey, and fresh herbs (try mint for a refreshing complement to the apple flavor); place apples in marinade for a couple of hours before grilling.

Secrets to Perfect Grilled Fruit

Fruit on the grill is a new concept for a lot of backyard chefs, but keep these pointers in mind and you’ll have perfect fruit dishes every time. Keep a close eye on the fruit while it’s cooking. It only takes a couple of minutes. Brush fruit with oil, or you’ll be scraping it off the grill with a spatula. Try grilling fruit over indirect heat until you perfect your technique. It will be less likely to char that way.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to try something new! Grilled fruit may become a new family favorite!

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Looking for something new to change up your grilling repertoire? How about trying something you may not have considered before: fruit kebabs! Grilled fruit offers new and exciting taste possibilities, so get ready to expand your knowledge and impress your friends.

How to Grill a Fruit Kebab

Grilling a piece of fruit caramelizes it, allowing the sweet juices to bubble to the surface and enhancing the flavor. You can also bring out the flavor of fruit with a basting sauce or seasoning. Follow these steps for perfectly grilled fruit kebabs, every time:

• Choose which fruits you want to include on your kebab. Fruit with high water content (like citrus) and very delicate fruits (like raspberries and blackberries) usually don’t grill well. Try to include a variety of textures and flavors for variety.
• Remove skin and seeds. Chop into chunks no thicker than half an inch. This will allow the fruit to cook evenly.
• Soak fruit pieces in water for about 15 minutes before grilling. The excess water helps keep the fruit from burning while on the grill.
• Skewer each piece of fruit, alternating varieties like you would for a vegetable or meat kabob.
• Brush with vegetable oil or a basting sauce to prevent sticking.
• Grill the fruit kebab over medium to high heat for 3-5 minutes, turning often. Firm fruits like apples or pears may need longer cooking time, while soft fruits such as strawberries will just need a couple of minutes.

Fruit Kebab Basting Recipes

Basting your fruit kebab with a sweet sauce can add a little extra pizazz to an already unique taste experience. Try some of these glazes and sauces for a truly delicious dessert:

• Maple, cinnamon, and ground cumin. Mix well and coat fruit pieces before skewering.
• Brown sugar, pineapple juice, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla–Stir until sugar dissolves; then brush onto fruit skewers before grilling.
• Chocolate sauce–Use a store-bought sauce or make your own!
• Caramel sauce–Bring brown sugar, cream, butter, and vanilla extract to a boil. Simmer for 5-7 minutes while whisking gently; then drizzle over fruit. After grilling, top fruit kebabs with shredded coconut

Other Flavor Ideas

In addition to glazes or sauces, you can also try including a marshmallow or two on your fruit skewer. As it melts, it will drip down over the fruit. Alternatively, try sprinkling cinnamon and nutmeg over the fruit before grilling.

Next time you need a dessert that will wow the crowd, consider adding fruit kebabs to your summer grilling menu. Grilling fruit may sound unusual, but it will result in a dessert every bit as delicious as your favorite fruit pie–only with much less work!

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