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Summer is here and it's time to fire up the grill and throw a few (socially distanced outdoor) parties or just enjoy it with family. Summer brings an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and believe it or not, most of them can be grilled. Grilling fruits and vegetables provides a nice caramelization and robust flavor.
Before throwing fruits and vegetables on a grill, there are a few tips to follow to get the best results for flavor and texture.
First, you will want to coat your produce with a tiny bit of olive oil to prevent it from sticking to the grill. Keep the size of the fruits and vegetables large or add them to skewers to keep them from falling through the grate.
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Veggies
Vegetables can be cooked over medium to high heat. Most vegetables can go straight to the grill but harder vegetables such as potatoes, squash, and fennel will need to be pre-cooked beforehand.
The most popular summer vegetables to grill include eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, and corn. Eggplants, zucchini, and carrots should be cut into large slices, tomatoes can simply be cut in half and corn should stay in the husks before adding them to the grill.
Another great way to grill vegetables is in aluminum foil. (Did anyone else learn how to do this in Girl Scouts, or was it just me?) This is best for harder vegetables such as potatoes or smaller vegetables susceptible to falling through the grates, like green beans.
Take a long sheet of foil, add one layer of choice vegetables, season with salt and pepper and fold it over to make a pocket. Place in the grate and cook until tender.
Here are some great examples of the skewer method and foil packs:
Zucchini and Squash Kebabs by Pink Fortitude
Vegetable Foil Packets by Happy Foods Tube
Foil Packet Potatoes by The Betwitchin Kitchen
Grilled French Vidalia Onions by An Affair From The Heart
Fruits
Fruit is cooked best over medium heat and the grates should be very clean. Fruits grill much faster than vegetables due to their high-water content, softer texture, and high sugar content so you will need to keep an eye on them and not walk away. Pick fruits that are firm and just about to be ripe.
Most fruits can simply be cut in half and placed on the grill. Other fruits like apples or melons need to be cored, peeled and cut into large slices.
The best fruits to grill include apples, pineapple, pears and melons because they are generally more firm than other fruits. Soft fruits such as mangos, papayas, and peaches can be grilled too but require a lot less time or they will turn mushy.
Bananas are another great choice to grill, simply cut it half, lengthwise with the peel and place flesh down over an oiled grate for about two minutes.
Here are some simple grilled fruit recipes to inspire you:
Fruit Kabobs by I Heart Naptime
Spicy Grilled Watermelon With Creme Fraiche by Floating Kitchen
Grilled Peaches With Vanilla Ice Cream by Life Made Simple Bakes
Grilled Pineapple by Healthy Little Foodies
Keep these tips in mind when you prepare your grill this season. Don’t just go for the meats - add some vegetables and fruits to your grill and gain some new tastes and flavors!
And if you want to beef up your grill and BBQ skills, go here for my top picks on grill and BBQ basics that everyone should own.