Grilled Strawberries

Summer fruit is one of the many reasons that I look forward to this season and every since I was a kid, strawberries have been one of my favorite summer fruits. Growing up in Southern California, I was lucky enough to have access to some of the best strawberries. Let’s face it, there’s not much about strawberries not to love! This recipe is super easy and I had a lot of fun making it.

While we all know that strawberries are delicious, they are also a nutritional powerhouse. First cultivated in ancient Rome, strawberries are now the most popular berry fruit in the world! Packed with vitamins, fiber, and particularly high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols, strawberries are a naturally low-calorie food. In fact, they are among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity and are a good source of manganese and potassium.  One cup of strawberries contains over 13% of the RDA of dietary fiber, yet has only 43 calories. The dietary fiber in strawberries helps to regulate digestion and curbs overeating. Thanks to the vitamin C, folate, and flavonoids, strawberries are a delicious defense against potentially cancerous cells. If that weren’t enough, one cup of strawberries contains an incredible 136% of the RDA of vitamin C!

A few tips:
Be sure to soak your skewers in water for at least 20 minutes to avoid burning. If strawberries are straight from the fridge, set out on the counter and allow them to arrive at room temperature before preparing. Also, be sure to clean your grill grates well before making these. If you don't, the strawberries will end up tasting like whatever you grilled last (like a steak). I learned this the hard way!

Recipe:

1 lb. Strawberries (preferably organic)

1T Balsamic Vinegar (more if needed)

1 pinch (less that ¼ t Himalayan Sea Salt)

Succant (dried cane sugar), or any organic sugar you’d like. Use as much as you need to completely coat the berries.

First, preheat grill to Med/High. Wash and dry strawberries then cut the tops off.

Add Balsamic and sprinkle with salt

(start with 1T Balsamic and add more as needed to completely coat berries)

Use a large soft spatula to gently toss the strawberries. Be sure to cover every nook and cranny.

Roll individually in sugar

Thread skewers.
Grill for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Stay close to the grill so you can keep an eye on them; the cook time will depend largely on the heat of your grill and the size of the strawberries.

Remove promptly and serve immediately.

These are great right off the grill; not so great the next day..:)

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

Take care and, as always, bon appetit!