Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze
As the New Year approaches and I’m getting appetizers ready to serve, I know I need some fresh, simple recipes on the table. Most appetizers are super cheesy, made of bread, and quite heavy. But my Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze are a nice retreat from the norm.
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These skewers are the perfect appetizer for New Year’s Eve. They require no utensils, are great for resolutions to eat better, and the balsamic glaze drizzle is stunning!
Since we are on New Year’s Eve, resolutions, and a low-calorie diet (I’m sure), let’s chat a little about this simple glaze. You are going to be shocked at how easy it is to make. You simply pour balsamic vinegar into a saucepan and reduce it by half. It will turn into a sticky glaze, much like a syrup. And I know you might think it will have that “sharp” vinegar taste, but you would be wrong.
As it reduces, the vinegar actually loses that “sourness” and turns slightly sweet. Some people add just a touch of sugar (balsamic brown sugar glaze) to make it even sweeter. This little glaze is delicious and goes so well on desserts and fruit.
For my recipe, I decided to omit the extra sugar and keep the glaze pure and very healthy. (After all, New Year’s Eve is practically holding hands with New Year’s resolutions, which will keep you on track.) It’s the easiest way to add flavor to dishes without the extra calories, fat, or sodium.
Balsamic vinegar also has a lot of other health benefits besides being tasty and low-calorie:
- It helps with diabetes management by limiting spikes in blood glucose levels. That is a big deal for those who must abide by a medically restrictive diet.
- The acid found inside this vinegar has antimicrobial properties.
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Feel free to use any combination of fruits that you like. I chose pineapple, strawberry, and Kiwi because they are the fruits my family likes most and are substantial enough to stay on a skewer. I also like the bright pops of color—green, yellow, and red- that show off the brown balsamic glaze.
Here are some other delicious fruits that would be perfect for your skewers, as well as some variations on the glaze.
- Maraschino Cherries—I love cherries, and this jarred fruit would be great in this combo. Little pops of red would not only be beautiful but also super sweet!
- Mango—Adding a little orange would add even more visual interest and a nice tropical flavor that pairs well with the pineapple.
- Warm spices like whole cloves and cinnamon will add a beautiful complexity and tons of flavor to the glaze, making it delicious on more things than just fruit. Drizzle it over the outside of the ham at Christmas dinner as an alternative to the traditional brown sugar ham glaze.
- Swap the balsamic vinegar for apple cider vinegar and add orange juice to the glaze for a nice natural fruitiness.
And don’t just make this “side dish” for New Year’s Eve or pool parties in the Summer. It’s so beautiful and tasty that it most certainly belongs on the Christmas spread, the Thanksgiving feast, and beside that beautiful spiral ham at Easter dinner.
Tips for Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze:
- Use a spoon to see when the glaze is ready. When the balsamic coats the back of a spoon and doesn’t immediately run off, you know it’s done.
- Cut your fruit into big enough chunks to stay on the skewer. Fresh pineapple needs to be used instead of canned pineapple slices. They aren’t “sturdy” enough.
- Don’t drizzle your fruit until you are ready to serve.
- If you don’t want to glaze the fruit on your serving platter, set it on aluminum foil for easy cleanup and transfer it to the serving dish. I actually prefer to serve it on a beautiful cutting board.
- If you want to add more sweetness but keep this glaze healthy, use a zero-calorie sweetener.
Make Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze with me on YouTube!
Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze Ingredients:
- 6 pineapple spears
- 7 strawberries
- 2 kiwis
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze Instructions:
- First, pour the balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan and cook it over medium-high heat until it reduces by half. The cooking time for that to occur will be between 10-15 minutes.
- Second, once the vinegar is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, remove it from the heat and set aside. Let it cool to room temperature.
- Third, using a sharp knife, chop the pineapple spears into chunks.
- Next, chop off the tops of the strawberries and quarter them.
- Then, peel the kiwis and cut them into thick slices.
- Take four large skewers and begin layering the fresh fruit on the skewers. You can arrange the fruit in any order that you like. I like to do two pineapple chunks between single slices of kiwi and strawberry.
- Then, after the fruit is on the skewers, lay them flat on the cutting board.
- Next, with a large spoon, drizzle the balsamic glaze over the fresh fruit skewers.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Storage for Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze:
- Remove the fruit from the skewers and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Store the remaining glaze in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What are the Macros for Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze?
Makes 4 servings (Nutritional information below is for 1 serving = 1 skewer)
- Calories – 194.25
- Protein – 2.4 grams
- Carbs – 42.5 grams (net)
- Fat – 2.29 grams
Check out some of my other delicious party food!
Jimmy Dean Sausage Balls with Pepper Jack Cheese
Baked Brie with Honey and Walnuts
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Easy Pineapple, Strawberry, Kiwi Skewers with Balsamic Glaze
Equipment
- 4 skewers
- 1 small saucepan
- 1 large spoon
Ingredients
- 6 pineapple spears
- 7 strawberries
- 2 kiwis
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- First, pour the balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan and cook it over medium-high heat until it reduces by half. The cooking time for that to occur will be between 10-15 minutes.
- Second, once the vinegar is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, remove it from the heat and set aside. Let it cool to room temperature.
- Third, using a sharp knife, chop the pineapple spears into chunks.
- Next, chop off the tops of the strawberries and quarter them.
- Then, peel the kiwis and cut them into thick slices.
- Take four large skewers and begin layering the fresh fruit on the skewers. You can arrange the fruit in any order that you like. I like to do two pineapple chunks between single slices of kiwi and strawberry.
- Then, after the fruit is on the skewers, lay them flat on the cutting board.
- Next, with a large spoon, drizzle the balsamic glaze over the fresh fruit skewers.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
