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Grapes are a staple fruit in our household. Typically consumed as a snack during one (or all 3!) of our meals, we eat these by the bunches. We’re right in the midst of grape season, and during a recent visit to my local Walmart, I found an abundance of these deliciously sweet clustered fruits in red, green, and black varieties. I love getting creative in the kitchen, so when Walmart asked me to create a grape-themed recipe, I started brainstorming all of the sweet and savory ways to use grapes. Every wine-themed event I’ve attended has traditionally paired grapes with an assortment of gourmet cheeses, so I knew I wanted my recipe to include a soft cheese. Mascarpone ranks high on my list of favorite cheeses, so I decided to create a simple Roasted Grape, Walnut and Mascarpone Tart.
I was intrigued by the gorgeous black grapes on display in the produce section, and upon doing a bit of research I found that their dark color means they are just a tad less sweeter than red or green grapes but pack in a ton of important disease-fighting nutrients including antioxidants and other polyphenols. Grapes in any variety can help support a healthy heart (including lowering blood pressure) and a healthy colon, protect the eyes and brain from disease, and support men’s urinary and reproductive health. However, over here we don’t need much convincing because we absolutely love grapes in all colors and varieties.
When I first began my journey towards wellness through real, wholesome foods, I struggled in the produce section. I’d often purchase fruit and vegetables that were over or underripe which impacted the meals I was cooking and how frequently we were consuming them. These days, I’ve found that local growers or produce commissioners’ websites can provide a wealth of information including recipes, information about a particular fruit or vegetable, and tips on selecting the ideal fruit or vegetable at the grocery store. Here are some easy ways to select and store grapes:
1. Look for grapes with green, pliable stems and plump berries.
2. Don’t be concerned if you see a powdery-white coating on your grapes. This is called “bloom” and is a naturally occurring substance that protects grapes from moisture loss and decay.
3. Once at home, you can store your grapes (unwashed) for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Avoid storing grapes near aromatic foods such as green onions or leeks as they will absorb these odors.
4. Wash grapes just before using them in a recipe or consuming them.
Once I picked up a generously sized bunch of purple grapes, I decided to roast them for my sweet tarts. Just like grilling, roasting grapes brings out their intrinsic sweetness, intensifying it! In addition to the grapes, you’ll need a container of Mascarpone Cheese, a handful of Walnuts, a Vanilla Bean, a touch of dark honey, and Mini Fillo Shells. I opted to purchase Athens’ No-Bake Mini Fillo Shells, but you could easily make a flaky dough or use store-bough fillo dough for these tarts. Here is my recipe for this simple Roasted Grape, Walnut and Mascarpone Tart.
- Athens Mini Fillo Shells
- 1 bunch of red grapes
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tablespoon dark honey
- 1 vanilla bean split lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons of finely chopped walnuts
- Fresh Rosemary
- Olive Oil for roasting grapes
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Remove Mini Fillo Shells from the freezer and allow to thaw.
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Arrange grapes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet
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Drizzle olive oil over grapes
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Roast grapes at 400 F for 15 minutes or until the grapes begin to burst. Do not over-roast as the grapes will begin to char
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While grapes are roasting, combine mascarpone cheese, honey, and vanilla bean seeds (do not add the pod)
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Place a thin layer of chopped walnuts on the bottom of each mini fillo shell
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Fill each tart with the mascarpone-honey mixture using a pastry bag (you can also place in a Ziploc bag and cut off a small portion of the tip)
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Allow grapes to cool before placing on top of each tart
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Garnish with rosemary
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Serve immediately
This recipe was absolutely delightful and took less time than I expected. As an afterthought I decided adding cardamom would go nicely with the mascarpone mixture. If you’re looking to create a more savory recipe, you could substitute goat cheese for the mascarpone, omit the honey, vanilla bean, and cardamom and replace those ingredients with a touch of garlic, onion, thyme, salt, and pepper.
If you’re looking for more tips on selecting and using grapes (including some fantastic recipe ideas), be sure to visit Walmart.com/produce (the site changes as new produce comes into season). You’ll also learn more about Walmart’s 100% freshness guarantee.
What are your favorite ways to use grapes? I’d love to hear your tips and recipe ideas!
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