Supplying almost half of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, pineapple also contributes calcium, iron, potassium and dietary fiber. Look for pre-cut chunks at the supermarket, or choose fresh-smelling whole pineapples. Slice the scaly side and top away to reveal the fruit's edible flesh. Pineapple chunks or rings are well-known ingredients for treats such as pineapple upside-down cake or the dessert salad ambrosia. Yet the use of pineapple chunks also extends to main-course foods.
Tropical Fruit Salad
Mix chunks of pineapple with whatever other fresh fruits strike your fancy. Using other tropical fruits like kiwi, banana and mango extends the summery theme, but feel free to mix pineapples with Northern fruits such as apples, pears and blueberries. Dress your salad with honey, yogurt or raspberry vinegar. Serve the salad in the hollowed-out cavity of a pineapple shell for a festive touch.
Kabobs
Grilling brings out the natural sweetness of pineapple. Large slices of pineapple may be grilled directly on the grate, but chunks fit well on wooden or metal kabob holders. Alternate with marinated ham or pork, peppers and cherry tomatoes, and grill them until the pineapple turns golden and the meat cooks thoroughly.
Savory Pork Dishes
Pineapple and pork are classic partners in Caribbean cooking. Dice pineapple chunks, radishes and bell peppers for a salsa-like topping on pork chops, or add the fruit to pork and sweet potato stew.
Homemade Pizza
"Hawaiian" pizzas with ham and pineapple are increasingly popular at pizzerias. Create your own version at home with store-bought pizza dough, pineapple chunks and a few toppings, including ham, bacon or barbecued chicken. Dice the pineapple chunks and any other vegetables and cook the chicken, bacon or ham, as needed. Spread pizza shells with pizza sauce and top them with pineapple, grated cheese and your chosen toppings.
Main-Dish Salads
Add a Hawaiian twist to the traditional chicken or seafood salads by adding pineapple chunks. Mayo Clinic's recipe for pineapple chicken salad combines pineapple chunks with cubed, cooked chicken breast, fresh broccoli, red onions and baby spinach leaves. Toss with your favorite vinaigrette. If you prefer to not to mix fruit with veggies, combine the pineapple and chicken with apple chunks, walnuts and halved red grapes instead, perhaps replacing the tangy vinaigrette with a yogurt-based creamy dressing.
Smoothies
Freeze fresh pineapple chunks for several hours or overnight. Combine frozen pineapple chunks with equal amounts orange juice, yogurt, frozen berries or mangoes and a fresh or frozen banana. Blend until you reach the consistency you prefer. If you don't have time to freeze the pineapple chunks, use the same recipe, but substitute frozen yogurt or ice cream in place of the regular yogurt.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Pineapple
- Mayo Clinic: Pineapple Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- National Institute of Health and Human Development: Smart Snack Cookbook
- FoodReference.com: Pork, Pineapple and Sweet Potato Stew
- Fine Cooking; Caribbean Grilled Pork, Chicken or Turkey with Pineapple Salsa; Pamela Anderson; July 2006
- Iowa State University: Fruit Salad
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