Summer Produce on the Grill: A Flavorful Twist to Your Cookouts

As the summer nears its end, it's past time to elevate your backyard cookouts by incorporating grilled fruits and vegetables into the mix. While barbeque, hamburgers, and hot dogs are staples, expanding the menu to include produce can impress your family and friends. The good news is that almost any fruit or vegetable is enhanced on the grill, offering a wide range of enticing flavors.

When it comes to grilling produce, there are various methods to explore. You can cook them directly on the grill surface, use a grilling basket, or opt for heavy-duty aluminum or reusable baking pans. Before cooking, ensure the grill surface is clean and lightly coated with oil to prevent sticking. To enhance the taste of grilled produce, consider experimenting with different flavor profiles. Sweeten your creations with a splash of citrus juice, maple syrup, or honey. Try adding vinegar, herbs, or Carolina-style barbecue sauce to your vegetables for a savory twist. And if you're feeling adventurous, turn up the heat with spices like chili powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or a compelling curry blend.

When grilling fruits and vegetables, remember a few essential tips. Firstly, cutting the produce into at least one-half-inch pieces or slices is crucial. This ensures that they cook evenly and prevents them from becoming overcooked and mushy. Additionally, if you are planning to make kabobs, it is recommended to soak wooden skewers in water before grilling. This prevents them from burning and breaking during the cooking process.

Grilling vegetables can bring out unique flavors and enhance their natural sweetness. As vegetables cook on the grill, most of their moisture evaporates, causing the flavors to become more concentrated and the sugars to condense, which results in a sweeter and more flavorful taste. Some popular grill-ready veggies include summer squash (such as zucchini or yellow squash), asparagus, eggplant, onions, cabbage, peppers (both bell and hot varieties), corn on the cob, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and cucumber.

Grilling fruit is a wonderful way to enhance flavor and bring out its natural sweetness. When grilling fruit, the heat caramelizes its natural sugars, creating a deliciously sweet and slightly smoky taste. The process of grilling fruit is also quite simple and requires minimal preparation time. Some particularly well-suited fruits for grilling include pineapple, peaches, avocados, apples, nectarines, plums, papaya, mango, and apricots.

For example, grilled peaches are a summertime delight. To prepare them:

1. Heat the grill to medium heat and brush the peaches with oil.
2. Grill them cut-side down until they become soft, which usually takes 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Flip them to the skin-side down and continue grilling for another 4 to 6 minutes until they almost fall apart.

These grilled peaches can be a delightful dessert, especially when paired with a scoop of ice cream.

Grilled fruit is a delicious and low-fat summer dessert and a versatile treat. One way to enhance the flavor is by topping the grilled fruit with creamy ricotta cheese or drizzling it with honey, adding a touch of sweetness to beat the summer heat. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, sprinkling some chili powder on the fruit can create a surprisingly flavorful combination. Grilled fruit pairs exceptionally well with a scoop of ice cream or frozen low-fat yogurt, offering a refreshing and indulgent treat.

As we approach the end of the grilling season, take advantage of the remaining time to savor fresh produce on the grill. Visit your local Kuhns Market to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your shopping list to make the most of your grilling experience. There's still time to get grillin'!

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