Beyond Fruit Salad: 5 Incredible Ways to Cook Your Fruit

Fresh produce is a driving force behind menu planning from all over the world. There is so much you can do using fresh fruit, from sides to sauces to soups and desserts.

PEAR AND ALMOND TART

Using fruit in a dessert is obvious, but you may not realize how elegant a fruit dessert can be. Feel free to customize with a different kind of nuts, or add ¼ cup of chopped chocolate to the filling, and garnish with chocolate curls for a crowd-pleasing variation.

MORE: 7 Reasons Why You Want to Eat the Whole Watermelon

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, APPLE AND GINGER SOUP

This tasty Butternut Squash, Apple and Ginger Soup is is spiced with ginger and coriander then pureéd for a creamy texture.

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GRILLED PINEAPPLE SALSA

If you haven’t tried grilled fruit, you won’t believe the mouthwatering flavor that results when sturdy fruits like pineapple and peaches meet a smoky grill. Serve warm grilled fruit with ice cream for dessert, skewer fruit and chicken into a kebab, or try this smoky, spicy salsa on any grilled meat.

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HONEYDEW CUCUMBER SALAD

Crisp and refreshing, this delicate, monochromatic salad is simply delightful. Serve as part of a salad course, in small cups as an appetizer, or as a salsa over mild white fish such as tilapia.

MORE: 3 Great Summer Picnic Recipes

STONE-FRUIT “DUCK” SAUCE

This slow-simmered fruit sauce will remind you of duck sauce, but with an unmistakable fresh flavor. Customize it with optional add-ins like ginger, jalapeño pepper, garlic, or balsamic vinegar.