Cooking pineapple is a great way to intensify this tropical fruit’s natural sweetness. Pineapple is versatile and can be roasted, broiled, grilled, sauteed, or braised.
Prepare the Pineapple
To prepare a whole pineapple for cooking, first remove and discard the top leaves, then cut off a thin layer from the top and bottom of the pineapple so that it sits flat. Using a sharp chef’s knife, cut away the outer skin in a downward motion, rotating the pineapple as you go. You may need to use a small paring knife to remove any eyes. Then, carefully cut the pineapple vertically into quarters. The fibrous and bitter inner core can then be cut away, leaving four large pieces of pineapple that can be cut into the desired size and shape.
Cooking the Pineapple
Desserts are the most obvious choice for pineapple; you can’t go wrong with classic pineapple upside down cake. But this fruit can go savory too (we know that Hawaiin pizza is polarizing, but stick with us!). We love pineapple paired with tacos or in lettuce wraps. In both recipes the pineapple brings a welcome sweetness to savory shrimp and chicken. Try adding chunks of fresh pineapple to the bottom of the pan when making pork roast or mix some pineapple puree into BBQ sauce for a sweet and spicy glaze for chicken wings.
Feature Image: Anastasia Gepp from Pixabay
