Grilled fruit: 3 recipes you might not expect

Are you a fan of grilling? Does the sound of the sizzle, the heat of the embers, and the scents of the meat send you into rapture? From Northern Europe to the Mediterranean area to the USA, you are in good company!

But meat is not the only protagonist of the BBQ: fruit also lends itself perfectly to this type of cooking, as long as a few precautions are taken. Here are our tips for cooking delicious grilled fruit, and three tasty recipes to try right away!

Grilled fruit, to add a touch of freshness to your summer

A trend? A revolution? A subversion? None of these!

Grilling fruit is an effective and fun choice that enhances the aromatic properties of these essential products of nature, as well as giving rise to innovative desserts and unusual pairings to enhance meat, fish and vegetable dishes.

This is how pineapple, peach, apricot, mango, plum, melon, and strawberry but also watermelon, kiwi, grape, and banana are transformed into new textures and nuances and explode into a riot of flavors thanks to the typical smoking process of barbecue.

A starting idea that opens up an infinite world of varieties: grilled fruit can be served as it is, subjected to different methods of flavoring and marinating, and served in various combinations that everyone can experiment with as they wish.

The first piece of advice is to start with firm fruits: a fruit that is too soft and ripe would risk falling apart when heated.

As a second tip, we invite you to indulge in aromatic herbs, which combine perfectly with fruit... as long as you identify those suitable for the specific flavor.

Let's now look at three recipes that you can start practicing with friends right now!

Grilled fruit recipe: fruit skewers

A great summer classic with a refreshing touch, fruit skewers are always highly appreciated. Once you have cut the fruit into pieces and arranged it on the skewers, you can cook it on the grill at a temperature around 180°–200° until it is well caramelized. The appearance of grill marks on the fruit indicates that it has been cooked adequately: you can remove the skewers and serve them to guests!

Tip: If you use wooden sticks, before placing them on the grill, leave them immersed in water for about 15–20 minutes. This step will help keep the wood moist and prevent it from burning.

Salad with burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes and grilled peaches

We now present a delicious dish that's perfect for the hottest season of the year, very quick to prepare and ideal to serve both as an appetizer and as a main course.

The star is burrata cheese, a fresh soft cheese that is originally from Puglia and can now be easily found in supermarkets throughout Italy; it is remarkable on account of its extreme softness and its tender heart.

Let's now see how to proceed. In a dish, combine salad, small tomatoes (such as cherry, datterini, or piccadilly varieties) and, for a further summer note, radishes. Place the burrata on the plate and decorate it with a few basil leaves. Select hard peaches, cut them into coarse slices and grill them for five minutes. Add some balsamic vinegar: et voilà, the dish is served!

If you want to present this recipe as a unique dish, we recommend combining it with some slices of cured ham.

Hawaiian chicken with grilled pineapple

A must for lovers of light meat-based dishes and lovers of exotic flavors, Hawaiian chicken with grilled pineapple is ready in a few minutes and can be either sautéed or served as a skewer with the addition of bell peppers or onions.

The chicken marinade is very important, and is obtained by leaving the slices or chunks to rest for a couple of hours, possibly under vacuum, in a tasty mix consisting of ketchup, soy sauce, cane sugar, ginger, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper, lemon juice and salt. Meanwhile, cut the pineapple into slices and prepare the accompanying vegetables.

Grill the chicken until it is well cooked and the pineapple, taking care to turn the slices every 2/3 minutes. Serve immediately and... bon appétit!

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