If you want a side that balances your barbecue menu, fresh produce is the way to go! Fruits will not only add color and texture to entrees like grilled meat, but they will also make your meals more nutritious!

Just keep in mind that different fruits require different grilling treatments. Soft fruits like peaches, plums, papayas, and nectarines will cook quickly, while harder fruits like apples, pears, and pineapples will take longer.

Try these quick and easy grilled fruit recipes the next time you barbecue:

Grilled Caramelized Peaches

What do you need:

4 ripe white or yellow peaches, cut in half

4 ripe red plums, cut in half

4 small ripe bananas, halved lengthwise

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Combine brown sugar and melted butter in a large bowl. Add the peaches, plums, and bananas to the bowl and toss to coat with the brown sugar mixture.

Take a piece of sturdy aluminum foil and form a shallow “pan”. Place the fruits, cut side down, on the foil. Place the aluminum foil on a preheated grill (medium-high heat) and cook until the fruits are golden brown and caramelized around the edges.

Spicy Maple Grilled Fruit Skewers

What do you need:

• 2 cups of peach in pieces
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 cup of banana chunks
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 of teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Bamboo skewers, soaked in water.

In a medium bowl, combine the maple syrup, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, and ground cinnamon. Add the peach, pineapple, and banana chunks to the bowl and mix until the fruits are covered with the glaze. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

When ready, skewer the fruit alternately on skewers. Cook on a preheated grill directly over medium-high heat until caramelized, about 2 minutes. per side. Best served hot.

Grilled Cinnamon Sugar Grapefruit

What do you need:

• 3-4 grapefruits
• 1/2 cup of mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup of double cream
• 3 tablespoons unrefined golden icing sugar
• Juice of 1 lime
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon unrefined golden caster sugar

Whisk together the mascarpone cheese, cream, lime juice, lime zest and powdered sugar in a bowl. Set aside.

Cut the grapefruits in half. Combine the icing sugar with cinnamon and then sprinkle the cut sides of the fruit with the mixture. Roast the grapefruits, cut side down, for 4-5 minutes.

When ready, serve warm with the mascarpone cheese mixture.

These quick and easy grilled fruit recipes are what your barbecue needs!