Skip to main content

Grilled Fruit with Lemon Zabaglione

This is a very simple dessert that anyone can master. Bananas, pineapple, and stone fruit that is firm and not too ripe are best in this recipe. Grilled fruit also make a great salad (toss in some beautiful cherries or grapes). It’s also wonderful at breakfast served with yogurt and granola. And it makes a fabulous chutney when combined with raisins, juice, and Indian spices (see page 190). So, when you grill fruit, grill some extra to make these other dishes.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

1/3 cup packed brown sugar or maple syrup
Juice of 2 oranges
2 nectarines or peaches, halved and pitted
3 plums, halved and pitted
2 bananas, halved lengthwise
1 pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
Lemon zabaglione (recipe follows)
Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Lemon Zabaglione

2 large eggs
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
Grated zest of 2 lemons
Juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup Muscat or other dessert wine
(makes about 6 cups)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare a medium-hot fire (425° to 450°F) in a wood-fired grill.

    Step 2

    Stir the sugar into the orange juice until dissolved. Brush the cut fruit with the sugar mixture.

    Step 3

    Grill the fruit, cut side down, for about 5 minutes, or until the fruit is slightly soft and well marked. Move to indirect heat and continue to cook to the desired softness. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

    Step 4

    Slice the fruit and keep each kind in a separate bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow flavors to mix.

    Step 5

    Portion an assortment of the fruits into 6 bowls. Top with the zabaglione and garnish with mint leaves.

  2. Lemon Zabaglione

    Step 6

    Combine all the ingredients in a stainless steel bowl and set aside.

    Step 7

    Choose a saucepan large enough to set the bowl over and fill it with 2 inches of water. Bring to a simmer.

    Step 8

    Whisk the egg mixture in the bowl. Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk vigorously until it is about triple in volume and thick and frothy. Lift the bowl off the steam a few times, while whisking, to insure that the mixture does not get too hot and scramble the eggs. The total cooking time will be about 8 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk to cool slightly. Serve now, or cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface and use within 2 hours. It may need to be whisked again just before serving.

Reprinted with permission from Wood-Fired Cooking: Techniques and Recipes for the Grill, Backyard Oven, Fireplace, and Campfire by Mary Karlin, copyright © 2009. Photography copyright © 2009 by Ed Anderson. Published by Ten Speed Press.
Read More
Like Greek lemon potatoes and gochujang chicken stir-fry.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.
Add a bag of potato chips and you've got yourself a party.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like fattoush salad and strawberry shortcake roll.