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Yasmin Fahr is a writer/editor at thedailymeal.
When it comes to grilling, most people think of the requisite burgers and dogs with maybe some corn or chicken thrown in there. But don't forget about the sweet world of grilled fruit In its prime during the summer months, fruit gains a smoky-sweetness from the grill and pairs well in both sweet and savory dishes.
What fruits work well on the grill? Tropical fruits like bananas, pineapples and mangos. Melons: cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon (try it with a bit of smoky salt or feta). And stone fruits such as peaches, nectarines and cherries -- and even pears and apples. Essentially, almost any fruit is ripe for grilling. All fruits are nutritious and low in fat and calories but packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Though most fruit can just be eaten raw, grilling adds a new component to the mix. I picked up a copy of the newly released book, "Fire it Up," which has more than 400 grill recipes and an excellent section on grilling fruit, to learn the best ways to do it.
What's the best way to grill fruit? Authors Andrew Schloss and David Joachim recommend direct, medium-high heat to "get the job done quickly without turning the fruit to mush." They write that while fruit eaten fresh tastes best at the peak of ripeness, "For grilling, you want slightly under ripe fruit so it won't fall apart or get mushy."
Most fruit benefits from being sliced or halved and grilled fleshy side down, but apples and pears can be cored and cooked whole , and the same goes with stone fruits that just need to be pitted. The benefit of grilling fruit is to caramelize the natural sugars that are released from it coming in contact with heat, and getting those gorgeous grill marks.
Try serving the fruit as dessert with ice cream, topped with fresh herbs like mint or basil, in a salsa served atop grilled meats or fish, or simply grilled alongside chicken, pork, bison or fish.
Click here to find more unlikely foods to grill.
What are some other unlikely foods you've grilled? Please let me know.
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