7 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Grilled Summer Fruit

Heighten the natural sweetness of fruit with a little time on the grill.

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Food stylist: Anne Disrude
Prop Stylist:  Meghan Guthrie

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Food stylist: Anne Disrude Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

Fresh and juicy stone fruits, berries and tropical fruit varieties are sublime on their own right now, at the peak of summer. But give them some time on a fiery grill and their natural sugars will caramelize and their delicate flavors will be heightened. Try these sweet and savory dishes showcasing grilled fruit.

Our Grilled Mango with Jalapenos (pictured above) makes a gorgeous side dish to serve alongside tacos, grilled pork or fish. Sear mango slices seasoned with cayenne until grill marks appear, then squeeze a fresh lime over the top. Finish the mango slices with some Mexican crema, sliced jalapenos and cilantro.

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Photo by: David Malosh

David Malosh

Fruit on a stick gets an upgrade with our Grilled Fruit Skewers with Chili and Lime. Just slide watermelon, pineapple and mango chunks onto skewers, marinate them in lime juice for a half-hour, then give them a little time on the grill for the fruits’ natural sugars to caramelize. A dusting of lime zest, chili powder and salt gives the fruit a citrusy-spicy-savory kick.

Food Stylist: Stephana Bottom
Prop stylist: Marina Malchin

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Food Stylist: Stephana Bottom Prop stylist: Marina Malchin

©Con Poulos

Con Poulos

Dessert doesn’t get easier (or more delicious) than this 10-minute, five-ingredient recipe for Warm Plums with Gelato. Simply brush halved pitted plums with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, then grill until they're soft and juicy. Top the plums with hazelnut gelato and chopped toasted hazelnuts — or whatever ice cream and nuts you have on hand .

Our Grilled-Peach and Almond Ice Pops combine two of summer’s greatest hits: grilled fruit and portable frozen treats. Char some peach slices on the grill, then blend them up with almond milk, lemon juice and a homemade ginger syrup. Once the pops are frozen and ready to be served, dip them in chopped smoked almonds for crunch.

Photo by: Stephen Murello ©Stephen Murello

Stephen Murello, Stephen Murello

Ellie Krieger’s Grilled Pineapple with Vanilla Ice Cream and Rum Sauce may look and sound like a decadent dessert, but it's actually on the lighter side. Grill up some pineapple slices, plop a scoop of ice cream in the middle, then drizzle a little brown sugar caramel sauce with rum over the top for a delicious trifecta of flavors.

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Arugula Salad with Grilled Fruit

EI-1201 Arugula Salad with Grilled Fruit

Make the most of the fleeting stone fruit season with Giada De Laurentiis’ Arugula Salad with Grilled Fruit. It takes only eight minutes to throw together this sweet-and-savory dish — and that includes a few minutes at the grill getting sear marks on juicy apricots and crisping up salty pancetta. Peppery arugula, toasted hazelnuts and a quick homemade vinaigrette bring all the flavors together.

Photo by: Stephen Johnson ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

You might think plump, ripe strawberries can’t get any sweeter, but Grilled Strawberry Kebabs with Lemon-Mint Sauce prove that theory wrong. Drizzle the berries with a minty lemon sauce sweetened with a touch of maple syrup and pop them into your mouth one by one, or serve the skewers atop slices of grilled pound cake.

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