RECIPE: Thai Lime Marinated Fruit Kabobs

Add a bold twist to your summer cookout with marinated fruit skewers — juicy watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe soak up a Thai-inspired blend of green curry, lime, coconut, and honey before hitting the grill for a sweet and smoky finish.

I’ve always been more of a savory girl, so the first time I tried grilled watermelon, I was shocked by how much depth of flavor it had. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to elevate grilled fruit, and these kabobs are my favorite creation yet. There’s just nothing like the bold aroma of Thai curry paste — especially when it’s paired with sweet ingredients like honey and coconut. The result is a marinade so good, you might never want to eat fruit plain again. Trust me, this will be your new go-to summer cookout side.

Ingredient Notes

• Fruit: Here, I used watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe. Honeydew, peaches, and strawberries are other great options, too.
• Thai lime marinade: Made with honey and coconut oil for sweetness, lime for tanginess, Thai green curry paste for depth and fragrance, and a pinch of salt to enhance each flavor.
• Fresh herbs: Mint and basil add so much summery, fragrant flavor — don’t skip them!

How to Make Marinated Fruit Skewers

1. Whisk together the marinade.
2. Cube the fruit and assemble the skewers.
3. Brush each skewer with marinade and grill eight minutes on one side and three to five minutes on the other side.
4. Garnish with fresh mint and basil.

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Chef’s Tips

1. Grilling: For the best caramelization, don’t move the skewers too much while grilling. Let the fruit get nice grill marks before flipping!
2. For an extra kick: Try drizzling the grilled skewers with a squeeze of fresh lime juice or a pinch of chili powder for an extra kick.
3. Let them cool: Don’t eat the skewers straight off the grill. Let the fruit cool a bit.

Meal Prep & Storage

These fruit skewers are easy to prep ahead and come together quickly on the grill.

• Marinate ahead: Cube the fruit and marinate it up to eight hours in advance. Keep the fruit refrigerated in a sealed container or zip-top bag until ready to assemble and grill.
• Assemble early: Skewers can be fully assembled a few hours ahead of time. Store them flat in an airtight container or on a tray covered with plastic wrap in the fridge.
• Leftovers: Grilled fruit skewers are best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. The texture softens over time, but the flavor holds up beautifully. Eat them chilled or chop up leftovers and toss them into salads or grain bowls.

FAQs

Can I make fruit skewers the night before?

Yes! Marinate and assemble the skewers the night before — just keep them covered and refrigerated until ready to grill.

What fruits are good for fruit skewers?

Besides watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe, other great options include honeydew, peaches, strawberries, mango, and even plums. Just choose firm, ripe fruit that can hold up to grilling.

Do I need to soak skewers for fruit?

If you’re using wooden skewers and grilling over open flame or high heat, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes beforehand to prevent burning. Metal skewers don’t need soaking.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these fruit kabobs alongside some of our other favorite cookout sides:

• Zucchini Tart
• Roasted Broccoli Salad
• Blueberry & Peach Salsa
• Potato Salad
• Pimento Cheese

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Thai Lime Marinated Fruit Skewers

Elevate your summer cookout with marinated fruit skewers! Watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe are brushed with a Thai marinade made with green curry, lime juice, coconut, and honey, before caramelizing on the grill.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine Thai

Servings 12

Calories 108 kcal

Equipment

• Grill If you don't have a grill, you can make these with a cast-iron grill or other stovetop grill.

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 watermelon
• 1 pineapple
• 1 cantaloupe
• Fresh mint
• Fresh basil Use Thai basil if you can find it!

Thai Lime Marinade

• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp Thai green curry paste
• 4 tsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

 

• Whisk together the marinade ingredients.
• Cube the fruit.
• Assemble the fruit cubes on the skewers.
• Brush each skewer with the marinade.
• Preheat the grill to medium and oil the grates. Grill each skewer for roughly 8 minutes, then flip and cook for 3-5 minutes.
• Transfer the skewers to a large serving tray and garnish generously with chopped basil and mint.

Notes

Serving size accounts for the marinade. There will be plenty of fruit leftover. Double or triple the marinade to use up all of the fruit — or, I like to have a bowl of fresh fruit on hand for easy summer snacking.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 106mgPotassium: 293mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 2275IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Thai marinade

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Hope you enjoy these flavorful fruit skewers!

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