As the summer season heats up, so do millions of backyard grills and barbecues. Our instinctual love affair with cooking over an open fire has evolved to include cooking just about anything over a fire, including fruit. If you haven’t tried grilled fruit, you will be surprised at how easy, quick and delicious it can be. Grilling intensifies the flavor of fruit and softens its texture. The natural sugars in fruit combined with a sprinkling of sugar or a sweet marinade caramelizes the fruit as it cooks, adding beautiful color and flavor.

The first step to perfectly grilled fruit is to make sure that your grill is clean. After the grill is clean, oil it so that the fruit does not stick. This can also be accomplished with marinades that contain oil or butter.

Grilling fruit over a gas grill is easy and convenient, but grilling fruit over a charcoal grill will add additional flavor that you can’t achieve with gas. Choose fruit that is barely ripe – this will make it easier to handle on the grill and you won’t compromise any flavor. If you’re making kebabs, try threading two skewers through the fruit to prevent the fruit from spinning.

To add flavor, try rubbing spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and/or allspice on the fruit. You can also experiment with various marinades. Marinate fruit in fruit juices or brandy or rum. The taste will amaze you!

Grilling fruit is not only delicious, easy and quick, it is also low-fat, naturally gluten-free and casein-free. Serve grilled fruit alone or with gf ice cream or soy ice cream for a spectacular combination.

Any other reasons to try grilled fruit? Yes! It is practically foolproof. Just about any fruit will work, from nectarines and melons, to citrus fruits and bananas.

So, surprise everyone tonight and serve anyone of these fantastic grilled fruit recipes!

Grilled Fruit Kebabs
Grilled Bananas
Grilled Nectarines with Mascarpone Cream
Grilled Peaches with Blackberry Sauce & Ice Cream
Grilled Pears with Chocolate Nut Sauce

- Glutenfreeda