Looking for delicious recipes using pineapple? Look no further! (photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com)
When you think of pineapple, you probably think of somewhere tropical like Hawaii, not the dry desert climate of Arizona. But our climate is almost ideal for October’s sweet, juicy fruit of the month. The sunny color and summertime taste of pineapple can brighten even the bleakest fall day. To help you get as passionate about pineapple as we are at Fill Your Plate, here are some fun facts, helpful tips, and creative ways to use pineapple at every meal.
Historically Speaking
Pineapples are native to the Caribbean and South America. When Christopher Columbus came to the New World in 1492-93, he experienced his first pineapple on one of the Caribbean Islands. In colonial times, pineapples, like other exotic fruit, were seen as a luxury because of the time and expense required to import them from Central America.
The Sum of Its Parts
Although we think of a pineapple as a single fruit, it is actually created by the joining of many different fruitlets around a single core. Pineapples provide a good source of vitamin C and are believed to help support your body’s immune system and help relieve inflammation. An average cup of pineapple has 75 calories.
Choosing and Caring for Your Pineapple
When picking a pineapple, avoid any that are bruised or visibly damaged. Once you find one that looks good, hold it up to your nose and breathe in, if it smells sour at all, choose a different one. When you get it home, let it sit on the counter for one or two days to get the softest, juiciest result.
The best way to cut your pineapple is to start by slicing off the top and bottom with a sharp knife. Stand the pineapple up on the newly flat bottom and slice downward to remove the skin. Next, slice the fleshy fruit away from the core and discard the core. Cut the remaining fruit into chunks or slices.
How to Use It
Pineapple is great as a snack any time of day but it can also be a sweet addition to any meal. Here are some ways you can get more pineapple on your plate.
Breakfast
- Mango, Strawberry, and Pineapple Smoothie
- Pineapple Muffins
- Coconut French Toast with Grilled Pineapple
- Pineapple Breakfast Casserole
- Pineapple Cheesecake Danish
Salads
- Wheat Farmer’s Salad
- Aloha Coleslaw
- Pistachio Salad
- Tropical Salad with Pineapple Vinaigrette
- Perfect Fruit Salad
Main Dishes
- Pork Kabobs
- BBQ Pork with Grilled Pineapple Relish
- Seared Mahi Mahi with Grilled Mango Pineapple Salsa
- Sweet and Sour Pineapple Pork
- Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
Side Dishes
- Pineapple Fried Rice
- Pineapple Stuffing
- Pineapple Sweet Potatoes
- Carrot Pineapple Slaw
- Golden Pineapple Casserole
Desserts
- Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
- Pineapple Angel Food Cake
- Banana Split Cheesecake
- Pineapple Crisp
- Pineapple Orange Sorbet
Related articles
- Are Sweet Cherries the New Superfruit? (fillyourplate.org)
- What to Do With All That Fruit? (fillyourplate.org)
- 10 Ways to Fill Your Day with Fruits and Vegetables (fillyourplate.org)