A Grilled Apricots Recipe Perfect For Dessert
In countries around the world, dessert is often as simple and satisfying as a single piece of perfect fruit. We've followed their lead, but gussied it up a bit with yogurt, toasted nuts, and a bit of maple syrup. The result—a warm, cool, and crunchy bowl filled with fiber, protein, and healthy fat—is about as good as dessert ever gets. (In fact, this is so healthy, we almost filed it in the breakfast chapter, which you can certainly do as well.) Plus, these grilled apricots will save you 600 calories than eating a Love It size order of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Peach Pie Filling and Walnuts at Cold Stone Creamery. Now that's something to love and a reason to have seconds! This recipe is so healthy, you might even be able to get away with having your leftovers for breakfast (we won't tell!).
Nutrition: 170 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated), 18 g sugar
Serves 4
You'll Need
2 apricots or peaches, halved and pitted
2 cups plain Greek-style yogurt (we like Fage 2%)
4 Tbsp chopped toasted walnuts (The easiest way to toast nuts is to roast them in a dry pan set over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice as they toast.)
4 Tbsp maple syrup (If you don't have real maple syrup, or live near a local farmer's market, you're better off with honey or agave syrup than Aunt Jemima.)
How to Make It
- Heat a grill, stovetop grill pan, or broiler until hot.
- Cook the fruit until nicely caramelized on the outside, about 5 minutes.
- The fruit should be softened but still maintain its shape.
- Top each fruit half with 1⁄2 cup yogurt, 1 tablespoon walnuts, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup.
Eat This Tip
Trapped inside every piece of fruit is a bounty of natural sugars. By applying heat to the surface of the fruit—whether from grilling, sautéing, or broiling—you concentrate those sugars. The result: a luscious, intensely sweet piece of fruit that—with a bit of whipped cream or, in this case, yogurt—stands alone as a healthy dessert. Among the best fruits for cooking are figs, peaches, apricots, nectarines, pineapples, pears, bananas, cherries, clementines, and apples, but why not take a few chances with some other favorites? Choose ripe but firm fruit that will hold its shape after cooking. Most fruit needs no more than 5 minutes on a grill, under a broiler, or in a sauté pan with a bit of butter. It'll be such a tasty treat you may not even notice how healthy it is for you!
This recipe (and hundreds more!) came from one of our Cook This, Not That! books. For more easy cooking ideas, you can also buy the book!
