Skip to content

Top Navigation

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Recipes
  • Cooking 101
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
SUBSCRIBE
Pin FB

Explore Cooking Light

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 31-Day Healthy Meal Plan

      Our 31-day calendar of meals and tips shows you how to cook more and love it with fun, family-friendly meals that come together quickly and deliciously. Read More
    • Dinner Tonight: Quick and Healthy Menus in 45 Minutes (or Less)

      Hundreds of delicious recipes, paired with simple sides, that can be on your table in 45 minutes or less. Read More
    • Our Favorite Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

      Who ever said that chicken wings, doughnuts, and pizza couldn't be healthy? Read More
  • Recipes

    Recipes

    See All Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Diabetic
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking Light Live
  • Cooking 101

    Cooking 101

    See All Cooking 101
    • Essential Ingredients
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Meet the Chef
    • Cooking Resources
    • Budget Friendly
    • Smart Choices
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living

    Healthy Living

    See All Healthy Living
    • Weight-Loss
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Home
    • Travel
    • Nutrition 101
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Superfast Fruit Recipes

Superfast Fruit Recipes

By Text: Jason Horn and Cooking Light staff August 18, 2009
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
From appetizers to salads, entrées to desserts, these 20-minute recipes use fruit to demonstrate nature's sweetness.
Start Slideshow

1 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken with Dried Plums and Sage

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chicken with Dried Plums and Sage

Pounding the chicken breasts flat ensures juiciness and quick cooking so you can focus on the sweet-sour sauce. The plums and onions are sweet, but sage, the familiar herb that flavors Thanksgiving stuffing, gives the sauce a warm and hearty feel. Add brown rice, bulgur, or whole-grain couscous for a healthy fiber-rich meal.

1 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Softened Plums with Vanilla Yogurt

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio
View Recpe: Softened Plums with Vanilla Yogurt

The ideal summer dessert is fresh, juicy, not overly sweet, and not overly complicated, which is why this end-of-season treat features only six ingredients. Skip turning on the oven by cooking the plums just on the stove. The plums cook just long enough to often slightly and release their juices; use a knife and fork to dive in. Butter, honey, and orange juice mixed with juice from the peaches creates a light syrup that is simply divine. Sub any toasted nut or seed for the granola. This recipe serves four people, and each portion of three peach halves topped with yogurt and the peach syrup contains just 25g of added sugar, 184 calories, and 6.6g of fat.

2 of 30

3 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Melon and Prosciutto Salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Melon and Prosciutto Salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano

Salty and unctuous, prosciutto is a classic match for fresh melon, and a topping of Parmigiano-Reggiano (the real stuff is worth it here) adds another layer of savory flavor. Make this salad the centerpiece of an easy antipasto meal. Serve with a platter of olives, roasted peppers, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and, if you're feeling ambitious, add your favorite grilled or roasted veggies, too.

3 of 30

Advertisement

4 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Browned Butter Bananas with Orange-Brandy Sauce

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Browned Butter Bananas with Orange-Brandy Sauce

Browning gives butter a rich and complex flavor that keeps this dessert from feeling overly sweet, as do the acidity and alcohol in the sauce. The result is an elegant dish that cooks in about four minutes. Try chocolate or mint-chip ice cream to give the recipe a whole new taste.

4 of 30

5 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Snapper with Grilled Mango Salsa

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Snapper with Grilled Mango Salsa

Fire up the grill and keep the stove off: This entire dish cooks over the flames. The chunky fruit salsa with mint, avocado, and lemon brings out the subtle flavors of the fish. The whole dish cooks in under 15 minutes and has only 246 calories per serving.

5 of 30

6 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

Crumbled feta can be substituted for the goat cheese in this recipe.

6 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Skillet Pork Chop Sauté with Peaches

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Skillet Pork Chop Sauté with Peaches

The bright, bold flavors in this dish mean you don't need a side with a lot of high-impact flavors. Serve over quick-cooking couscous.

7 of 30

8 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pineapple Chicken Satay

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Pineapple Chicken Satay

Round out this meal that is full of fresh and bright flavors with rice and sugar snap peas.

8 of 30

9 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Peanut Butter, Banana, and Flax Smoothies

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Peanut Butter, Banana, and Flax Smoothies

Peanut butter and banana smoothies are usually a splurge item. Luckily, we have a healthy version that doesn't skimp on flavor. If the smoothies seem too thick, add another tablespoon or two of milk.

9 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rum-Spiked Grilled Pineapple with Toasted Coconut

Credit: Howard L. Puckett
View Recipe: Rum-Spiked Grilled Pineapple with Toasted Coconut

This tropical dessert couldn't be easier, and it cooks on a grill pan, so you can make it any time of year. For a twist, use a mango-, coconut-, or other-flavored rum in the glaze mixture.

10 of 30

11 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pork Chops with Ginger-Cherry Sauce

Credit: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: Pork Chops with Ginger-Cherry Sauce

Using bottled preserves creates a nice thick sauce extra quickly, and it makes this recipe versatile; you can use apricot, plum, or whatever fruit preserves you have on hand. The ginger gives a slight spicy tinge to the sauce that works nicely with the pork. You can also use this recipe with chicken breasts or steak.

11 of 30

12 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Peach Salad with Cumin Dressing

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Peach Salad with Cumin Dressing

Cumin and black pepper add a unique spice element to what would otherwise be a standard fruit salad. We cheat with frozen peaches, but use fresh berries to make the whole salad feel fresher. Pair this with a Southwestern or Mexican main like tacos or tostadas.

12 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Brennan's Bananas Foster

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Brennan's Bananas Foster

Any dish you set on fire (on purpose) is guaranteed to impress guests, but this New Orleans classic is so quick and easy you can make it for the family any night. Crème de banane adds a deeper banana flavor, but it's not a part of most home bars―you can leave it out if you want. Ice cream is an absolute must―there's enough caramelly sauce to coat both it and the bananas.

13 of 30

14 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Summer Cherries Jubilee

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Summer Cherries Jubilee

A cherry pitter makes short work of this recipe, but if you don't have one, just place two or three fruits at a time under the flat side of a knife and hit the knife lightly (not as hard as you would to crush garlic). The pits will pull right out with the stems, bringing this surprisingly sophisticated dessert together in a flash.

14 of 30

15 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lamb Chops with Sautéed Apples

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Lamb Chops with Sautéed Apples

The mint jelly that often accompanies lamb is made with apples, so this dish makes perfect sense. The warmth of the cinnamon and clove with the tenderness of the lamb makes this a comforting fall or winter dish. Serve with rice pilaf or wild rice.

15 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Stone Fruit Salad with Toasted Almonds

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Stone Fruit Salad with Toasted Almonds

This isn't a fruit salad; it's a dinner salad with fruit on top. A white-wine vinaigrette made with nutty almond oil, crunchy almonds, and creamy goat cheese make for a remarkable dish on their own, but sweet and fresh plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and cherries bring it to another level. Add some chopped cooked chicken or canned tuna for a more substantial meal.

16 of 30

17 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

Credit: Howard L. Puckett
View Recipe: New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw

Crunchy and creamy are the two most important characteristics of a good slaw, but this recipe turns the traditional on its head. Sweet apples form the base of the salad, along with a generous helping of raisins, while balsamic vinegar in the dressing keeps things from getting too sweet. This is a great last-minute potluck or picnic recipe, or you could toss in some almonds to make it a healthy lunch.

17 of 30

18 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Avocado Soup with Citrus-Shrimp Relish

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Avocado Soup with Citrus-Shrimp Relish

Botanically, avocados are in fact a fruit, and if you have any doubt of their sweet flavor, try squeezing a lime over an avocado half and eating with a spoon―makes a great breakfast. This soup is thick and creamy, and a meal in itself with its topping of lemony shrimp, but it weighs in at less than 300 calories a bowl.

18 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Picante Three-Melon Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Picante Three-Melon Salad

Spicy and sweet go great together―witness the popularity of flavors like Mexican chocolate, cayenne candied almonds, and pepper jelly―and this fresh salad is no exception. Eat as-is for a side, or chop the melon smaller and use atop grilled chicken or fish or as a salsa.

19 of 30

20 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fresh Peaches with Sabayon

Credit: Karry Hosford
View Recipe: Fresh Peaches with Sabayon

Sabayon is an elegant wine-and-egg custard whose creaminess is a great match for any kind of stone fruit―peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, or a combination. This simple recipe is perfect for a summer dessert any time. Make it part of your regular rotation.

20 of 30

21 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Moroccan Chicken with Fruit and Olive Topping

Credit: Beau Gustafson
View Recipe: Moroccan Chicken with Fruit and Olive Topping

Opposites attract in this recipe: The concentrated sweetness of dried fruit and the briny sharpness of olives combine seamlessly to give plain chicken breasts huge flavor. Regular or Israeli couscous are great, authentically Moroccan sides, but any grain would be tasty―bulgur, barley, rice pilaf, even grits or polenta.

21 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fruit Medley with Mint and Lime

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Fruit Medley with Mint and Lime

A bowl of fresh fruit is great on its own, but the little bit of dressing up this recipe provides elevates it incomparably. A five-minute mint-lime syrup coats the fruit, turning it into a dish fit for company, either as appetizer or dessert.

22 of 30

23 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Grilled Stone Fruit Antipasto Plate

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Grilled Stone Fruit Antipasto Plate

With its deeply flavored dressing and deliciously fresh fruit, this dish can serve as appetizer, salad, or dessert. It's a great introduction to pluots―a cross between a plum and an apricot with the firm texture of the former and the sweet juiciness of the latter. They're pretty commonly available, but you might overlook them if you haven't heard of them.

23 of 30

24 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Dried Fruit

Credit: Beau Gustafson
View Recipe: Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Dried Fruit

Four ingredients (not counting salt, pepper, and cooking spray) are all this dish takes and it cooks in less than 10 minutes. It has a unique combination of sweet, savory, and meaty flavors. A salad containing pungent blue or tangy goat cheese would make an excellent counterpart to the sweet pork.

24 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Majiggy Fruit Salad

Credit: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: Majiggy Fruit Salad

Seven-year-old aspiring chef Cyrus Johnson created this no-cook salad and submitted it to our Reader Recipes column in 2007. We love it because it's so fast and so versatile: Swap in your favorite jam or jelly in the creamy yogurt dressing, and use whatever fruit's on hand. No matter what you create, you'll have a great healthy workday snack or side.

25 of 30

26 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Black Forest Parfaits

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Black Forest Parfaits

Strawberries would be a good substitute for the cherries in this quick dessert. For a less sweet parfait, try using plain Greek yogurt in place of the vanilla frozen yogurt.

26 of 30

27 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Individual Apple Crisps

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis
View Photo: Easy Individual Apple Crisps

You can also peel and coarsely chop the apples, if you prefer. For more tender apples, decrease the heat to 400° and bake 5 to 10 minutes longer.

27 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Poached Fruit Over Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr
View Recipe: Poached Fruit Over Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

Any unsweetened juice (such as apple or cherry) will work. We love a mix of dried plum, pear, and apple. Dried figs, apricots, and cherries would also be delicious.

28 of 30

29 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Broiled Grapefruit with Ginger and Maple Cream

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Broiled Grapefruit with Ginger and Maple Cream

Not overly sweet, this elegant, seasonal dessert is a grapefruit-lover's delight. To whip the maple-infused cream into fluffy peaks with ease, start with a frozen metal bowl and whisk. Using chilled tools helps the cream to develop and hold body quickly.

29 of 30

30 of 30

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Berry-Mango-Almond Shake

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Berry-Mango-Almond Shake

Serve as a special dessert, or divide this fruity shake into smaller portions for a cool and creamy afternoon treat.

30 of 30

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Text: Jason Horn and Cooking Light staff

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 30 Chicken with Dried Plums and Sage
    2 of 30 Softened Plums with Vanilla Yogurt
    3 of 30 Melon and Prosciutto Salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano
    4 of 30 Browned Butter Bananas with Orange-Brandy Sauce
    5 of 30 Snapper with Grilled Mango Salsa
    6 of 30 Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza
    7 of 30 Skillet Pork Chop Sauté with Peaches
    8 of 30 Pineapple Chicken Satay
    9 of 30 Peanut Butter, Banana, and Flax Smoothies
    10 of 30 Rum-Spiked Grilled Pineapple with Toasted Coconut
    11 of 30 Pork Chops with Ginger-Cherry Sauce
    12 of 30 Peach Salad with Cumin Dressing
    13 of 30 Brennan's Bananas Foster
    14 of 30 Summer Cherries Jubilee
    15 of 30 Lamb Chops with Sautéed Apples
    16 of 30 Stone Fruit Salad with Toasted Almonds
    17 of 30 New-Fashioned Apple and Raisin Slaw
    18 of 30 Avocado Soup with Citrus-Shrimp Relish
    19 of 30 Picante Three-Melon Salad
    20 of 30 Fresh Peaches with Sabayon
    21 of 30 Moroccan Chicken with Fruit and Olive Topping
    22 of 30 Fruit Medley with Mint and Lime
    23 of 30 Grilled Stone Fruit Antipasto Plate
    24 of 30 Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Dried Fruit
    25 of 30 Majiggy Fruit Salad
    26 of 30 Black Forest Parfaits
    27 of 30 Easy Individual Apple Crisps
    28 of 30 Poached Fruit Over Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
    29 of 30 Broiled Grapefruit with Ginger and Maple Cream
    30 of 30 Berry-Mango-Almond Shake

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Cooking Light

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithCooking Light is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Cooking Light may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Cooking Light. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.cookinglight.com

    View image

    Superfast Fruit Recipes
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.