Grilled fruit is a great way to add to any meal, the sweetness of fruit is only made better as the natural sugars caramelize from the heat and flame. Just imagine a beautiful pork loin with grilled pineapple, apricots or apple! Or an appetizer of creamy cheeses served over grilled pears and apples. Then dessert, ohhhh dessert! It can be as simple as fruit sliced into large chunks, caressed with butter and sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, or any combination of the three.
The question is, what HAVEN’T you thought of to do with fruit on the grill?

METHOD

1. Place the fruit in a container filled with cold water and lemon juice for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will preserve the flavours and juices on the grill.
2. Preheat grill to medium, 350ºF, unless instructed otherwise by a specific
   
3. recipe. Place a drip pan beneath the rack to prevent flare-ups from marinade and/or dripping juice.
   Note: Fruit has a high sugar content and some recipes often call for alcohol, which is very flammable, so a little caution will prevent disasters.
4. While grill is preheating, remove the fruit from the water bath and brush with butter or flavoured oil or toss in marinade to coat well.
5. When the grill is ready, brush the rack or basket with a light coating of vegetable oil to help prevent sticking. Or you can skewer your favourite fruits together to make a fruit-kebab.
6. Place the fruit directly on the rack or pack in an even layer in the basket. Cook, basting with selected flavouring and turning frequently until lightly charred and warmed. Harder fruits will benefit from closing the lid for 3 to 5 minutes to allow the heat to penetrate and allow them to roast a bit.
7. Fruit is done when lightly charred and when the hard fruits are tender when pierced with a skewer. Take care not to allow to burn or overcook until they become soft and mushy. The best flavours come from fruits that are just tender and before the natural sugars have begun to burn.
   

Yogurt-whip Dip

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Chill until you’re ready to use.

The trick is to be adventurous when grilling fruit. It should be served hot. Grilled strawberries with a shortcake pastry and freshly whipped cream, grilled bananas served with ice cream, sauce, and other fixings. Try an assortment of favourite fruits grilled to perfection and served with dipping sauces like the above mentioned Vanilla-whip Dip.

Happy Grilling!