The use of grapes in foods such as jellies and jams is something that has been around since the Biblical times. But there is so much more that you can do and make with these green and red jewels than just jellies, jams, and even wine. You can make grapes the centerpieces of all kinds of meals. These include savory suppers and sweet desserts.
Now that you know how healthy they are for your body and mind, you can start to look beyond grapes being only a snack. So it’s time to unleash their potential by adding them to desserts, main dishes, salads, and appetizers.
1. Sweet Breakfast Salad Topped with Grapes
There’s nothing better than this sweet, healthy recipe to get you energized for the rest of the day.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound of seedless grapes
- 2 oz of softened cream cheese
- 2 oz of sour cream
- 1/2 tbsp of brown sugar
- 1/2 tbsp of pecan pieces
- 1/4 tsp of vanilla
- 1/8 cup of white sugar
Method:
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Apart from the pecan pieces and brown sugar, mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
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Sprinkle the pecan pieces and brown sugar on top.
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Place the bowl in the refrigerator the night before. Then take it out the following morning and toss it properly. The salad is ready to be served cold.
2. Grilled Tuna with Caper and Grape Salsa
An unusual tangy and sweet salsa with capers and grapes can jazz up your favorite grilled tuna.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup – lemon juice (fresh)
- 1 tbsp – olive oil
- 2 tbsp – chopped parsley (fresh)
- 1/3 cup – rinsed and drained capers
- 2 cups – grapes, halved
- 1 minced shallot
- 4 tuna steaks
- Some black pepper and salt
Method:
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Preheat your outdoor grill at medium-high and oil the grate.
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Mix together parsley, shallot, capers, grapes, as well as olive oil. Add some seasoning of black pepper and salt. Set it aside.
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Brush lemon juice on the tuna steaks. Sprinkle seasoning on top of that too.
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Cook the steaks on the grill until they are done. You can cook them for 2-3 minutes on each side.
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Then serve the grilled tuna with the caper and grape salsa.
3. Rosemary Grape Focaccia
Enjoy a delectable combination of sweet and salty grapes with rosemary and Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound – whole wheat pizza dough (prepared)
- 1/2 cup – Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 2 cups – grapes
- 1 tbsp – olive oil (extra-virgin)
- 2 tsp – rosemary leaves (fresh)
Method:
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Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Apply some cooking spray on a baking sheet.
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Stretch and pat the dough on a mild floured surface using damp hands. The dough might not stretch easily. So you need to wait for at least 10 minutes before trying to stretch it once again. Then move the dough onto the baking sheet.
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Drizzle some oil over it along with rosemary and Parmesan cheese. Place the grapes on top of that and lightly push them into the soft dough.
4. Bake this until it turns golden at the edges. This is also the time when some grapes will burst. The approximate baking time is somewhere between 20 to 30 minutes. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes before you serve it.
4. Chicken Crostini and Caramelized Grapes
This delicious recipe is proof that you can caramelize more than just onions.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp – chopped flatleaf parsley (fresh)
- 3 tbsp – sherry (medium-sweet)
- 2 tbsp – olive oil (extra-virgin)
- 1 tbsp – rinsed and drained capers (small)
- Leaves from a large rosemary sprig (fresh)
- Only one garlic clove
- 500g of grapes, small and seedless
- 25g of butter
- 1 thinly sliced French baguette
- 4 finely chopped shallots
- 350g of chicken livers, chopped
Method:
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Preheat your oven at 200 degrees. Spread out the grapes on a baking tray, preferably non-stick. Then roast the grapes for not more than 30 minutes. To prevent them from sticking, you might have to shake the baking tray once in a while. Wait for the grapes to caramelize.
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Then lower the temperature to 140 degrees and roast the grapes for another 45 minutes. By this time, they will have shriveled up. Remove them and keep them aside.
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Now it’s time to toast some bread slices. Rub garlic on the slices and sprinkle some oil on top. Set it aside.
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Heat the butter and olive oil in a pan. Place the shallots in it and cook them gently until they become soft and light brown in color.
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Then add the chopped pieces of chicken livers with rosemary. Cook this on high heat for at least 2 minutes.
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Once the chicken liver is cooked, add the sherry. Let this cook for another minute. Then bring in the parsley, capers, and seasoning.
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Place the pieces of the chicken liver on each toast and top it off with 2 to 4 caramelized grapes. Now your dish is ready to be served.
5. The Perfect Country Grape Tart
If you want to prepare not only a gorgeous but the most delightful pastry, then you should learn how to make this rustic tart with grapes.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 3-6 tbsp of ice water
- 10 tbsp of butter, chopped
- 1 tbsp of sugar
- 1 1/2 cup – flour
- Grapes (keep some extra with twigs attached)
Method:
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The first step is to prepare the crust (by using the food processor). Process the butter, salt, and flour till it starts to look like bread crumbs. The butter should become as small as tiny peas. Keep adding water to the dough till it holds together.
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The second step is to flatten out the dough. So place the dough on a mild floured surface and smear it using your bare hands. Make sure that it has been flattened out completely before you wrap it in plastic and refrigerate it.
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After refrigerating the dough for at least an hour, roll it into 6-inch wide small circles or a single 12 inches circle (the latter is better). Then place it in the refrigerator once again for not more than 20 minutes.
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Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place some grapes at the center of the rolled dough. Then fold the outer dough on top of the grapes, pleating the whole thing.
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Add more grapes and do more pleating at the bottom. Here you can use the grapes with twigs.
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Brush some water on the dough and sprinkle the sugar over it.
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Bake this until the tart becomes golden brown. This is the time when the grapes will wrinkle and their juices will start to leak. After 15-20 minutes, rotate the baking sheet and let it bake again for another 15-20 minutes. Then let the tart cool for at least 20 minutes before serving it.
6. Grape Pie
A beautiful home-baked grape pie like this is just what you need for a wonderful combination of color and flavor.
Ingredients:
To prepare the pastry:
- 18 tbsp – unsalted, chilled butter chopped into tiny pieces
- 1 tsp of salt
- 2 1/2 cups of flour
- 10 tbsp of ice water
- To prepare the filling:
- 2 pound of stemmed grapes
- 1 cup – sugar
- 2 tbsp – tapioca
- 1 tbsp – butter (unsalted), chopped into tiny pieces
Method:
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First, you need to prepare the pastry. Whisk salt and flour together. Use two table knives to add the butter into the flour. Work it into the mixture thoroughly.
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Drizzle the ice water on the dough and stir it using a fork. Work the dough into a ball and place it on a mild floured surface. Then divide it into 2 separate balls, one should be slightly bigger in size. Wrap both the balls in plastic and refrigerate them for at least 2 hours.
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Next comes the filling. Remove the pulp of the grapes and place it on a saucepan. Don’t throw the skins away, just set them aside in a bowl. Cook the pulp on medium heat until it becomes soft. This should take not more than 8 to 10 minutes.
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Then add the pulp to the skins placed in the bowl. Make sure to press the solids with the help of the spoon. Now is the time to discard the seeds. Set the mixture aside for a while before you add tapioca and sugar into it.
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Preheat your oven at 400 degrees. Place the bigger dough ball on a mild floured surface and roll it into a twelve-inch round. Transfer the grape filling to the pastry bottom and place butter over it.
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The other dough ball should also be rolled in the same manner into a ten-inch round with a hole measuring 1 inch in the center. This is for the steam to escape. Then cover the filling with the pastry.
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Fold and crimp the edges. Bake the dough for not more than 20 minutes. Following which lower the temperature to 350 degrees and bake until it becomes golden brown. This should take at least 40-50 minutes. Let the pie cool for a while before serving it.
Wrapping It Up
Consuming grapes is now a science-approved thing for most of you. You can increase your consumption of grapes and see increased signs of mortality. Grapes are super foods because they contain powerful vitamins, antioxidants, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. Plus, they’re water-containing fruits.
Given how healthy grapes are, a few grapes recipes are a part of our feature. As you already know, eating nutritious fruits helps you fight both chronic and age-related diseases, but always eating fruits as fruits can seem boring. I’ve featured a few delicious grape recipes that’ll give you the upper hand at doing your health the right way!
