More than just a snack … tasty ways to enjoy grapes
Red, green, black, seedless or not, it doesn’t matter, we just love grapes. They are the perfect, portable snack and a fabulous addition to cheese boards and platters. But grapes are so much more versatile than just being a sweet and juicy snack; in fact they can be used in a bunch (pun intended) of ways that you may not have considered. Read on for some ideas to try.
Raw or cooked, sweet or savoury, grapes are a versatile ingredient that can be used in everything from drinks to desserts.
Try freezing grapes and adding to a glass of wine or your favourite cocktail to keep it chilled without watering it down. If you’re entertaining a punch filled with fresh fruit including grapes is always a welcome addition to the drinks menu.
Roasting grapes creates a whole new level of flavour that you absolutely have to try. Simply preheat the oven to 120C and arrange grapes in a single layer on a lined baking tray. Sprinkle with a little salt (for savoury dishes) and bake until the grapes have softened and are nice and juicy. Use the cooled roasted grapes in salads or stuff them inside chicken breasts with onion and garlic and bake in the oven.
You can take cooking grapes one step further by oven-drying them. Preheat the oven to 100C and cook on a lined baking tray until very soft and shrivelled (about 6 hours). Leave to cool and then store in an airtight container for up to one week. These make an excellent addition to cheese boards as they are the ideal accompaniment for cheese.
Offset the bite of chilli and the zing of lime by adding chopped green grapes to salsa. Serve atop steak, fish, chicken, or with a pile of corn chips to scoop up the fabulous flavours.
Grapes are a natural option for dessert. Try roasted grapes with Greek yoghurt or panna cotta, or make a fruit salad with fresh red grapes, strawberries, raspberries and cherries dressed with white balsamic vinegar. For something different coat green and red grapes in a thin layer of white chocolate and chill before serving; you’ll love the combination of crispy grape and the hit of creamy, crunchy chocolate.
