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Oma's Easy Grilled Grapefruit (gegrillte Pampelmuse)

Oma Gerhild

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

This easy grilled grapefruit, or gegrillte Pampelmuse, is a simple old-fashioned breakfast or brunch dish that looks a bit special without much fuss. It’s lovely for company, nice on a brunch buffet, and ready in very little time.

Oma's Recipe Rundown

  • Ease of Making: Very easy
  • Taste: Warm, juicy, lightly caramelized, with that sweet-tart grapefruit bite
  • Time: About 20 minutes total
  • Best Served With: Brunch spreads, scrambled eggs, or as a simple breakfast starter
  • Gluten-Free: Yes, naturally gluten-free

Top Tips for Best Results

  1. Loosen First: Run a grapefruit knife around the segments before grilling. It’s much harder once the fruit is hot.
  2. Pick Red Grapefruit: Red grapefruit is usually sweeter and looks prettier once grilled.
  3. Use Coarse Sugar: A coarser sugar gives a nicer melted, browned top than fine sugar. The recipe specifically prefers coarse granulated sugar.
  4. Serve Right Away: This is best hot from the grill or broiler, while the butter and sugar topping is still bubbling and glossy.

My Mutti started making this decades ago when grilled grapefruit became popular and showed up in some German cookbooks. It’s not a classic German recipe, but it did find its way into plenty of home kitchens. In German, grapefruit is commonly called Grapefruit, but Mutti always called it Pampelmuse, the older, more traditional name.

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Easy, delicious, and full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, this grilled grapefruit is a lovely way to start the day or enjoy as a refreshing boost later on.

If served as appetizers, use small grapefruits. One serving is half a grapefruit. If served for breakfast, make some scrambled eggs with bacon to go alongside.

Oma Says,

This appears to have been a 'fad' recipe from decades ago. I must admit that I've not seen this on restaurant menus for years or shown online ... perhaps it's time to bring it back!

Ready for grilled grapefruit?

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Oma's Easy Grilled Grapefruit (gegrillte Pampelmuse)

Easy grilled grapefruit recipe with caramelized sugar and butter. A simple breakfast or brunch idea with old-fashioned charm.

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Bake Time:

10 minutes

Total Time:

20 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 grapefruits
  • about 2 tablespoons butter
  • about 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (preferably coarse)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat grill or broiler
  2. Cut grapefruits in half. Using a grapefruit knife, release the fruit from the rind as much as possible without breaking through the rind.
  3. Put pieces of butter on top of each half and sprinkle with sugar.
  4. Grill or broil until sugar is melted and top is nicely browned, about 10 minutes. 
  5. Serve immediately.

Notes/Hints:

  • Use red grapefruit if they are available. Not only are they usually sweeter, but they look so pretty once they are grilled.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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Oma's Grilled Grapefruit ... an oldie but a goodie!

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