Emilee Unterkoefler
The pineapple is a perfect addition to a meal if you need bright colors and flavors for your next dish! From delicious dishes to fancy presentation, there’s a lot you can do with the entire pineapple.
Depending on what you are making, pineapple can be served warm, cold, or even as decor. Check out these fruity-fun recipes, and ways to use your cored pineapple as a decorative container.
Fish Tacos with a Pineapple Pico de Gallo
Fish tacos are a summer favorite, but ever tried adding a sweet salsa fresco? Pico de Gallo (also known as salsa fresco) is a fresh combination of tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper. It’s a version of salsa, only chunkier and made with fresh ingredients.
Below is a simple recipe for lightly fried fish tacos topped with a refreshingly sweet pineapple pico de gallo. If you aren’t a fan of flakey white fish, you can swap it out for grilled chicken, shrimp, or even steak.
Ingredients
- 8-10 corn tortillas
- 1 pound flakey white fish like cod or haddock
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1-2 tbsp seasoning salt
- 1 lightly beaten egg in a separate bowl
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Ingredients for Pico de Gallo
- 1 cup of grilled pineapple (cut into small cubes)
- 2 roma tomatoes (diced)
- 2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
- 1 tbsp minced pickled jalapeno
- Juice from one freshly squeezed lime
- Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)
Directions:
Mix the pineapple, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, and fresh herbs. Finish with lime juice from a freshly squeezed lime. Set your salsa in the fridge until you are ready to put your tacos together.
Mix the flour and seasoning salt in a bowl. Beat one egg in a separate bowl. Cut your fish into small strips about the length of your tortilla and set aside. Warm up the stove to medium heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Dip the halibut or cod into the egg, then into the flour mixture. Fry the fish until you reach a golden brown, or until the fish is cooked through. The fish should only fry for about two minutes on each side, and will easily flake apart when broken in two if it is fully cooked.
Warm your corn tortillas in a hot skillet, add your fried fish, and top your tacos with the pineapple pico de gallo. Enjoy with tortilla chips and guacamole.
Teriyaki Steak Tips with Grilled Pineapple
Steak tips are another popular grilled meal and super easy to put together, and as long as you marinade them long enough, they are always tender and oh so flavorful. Try these teriyaki beef tips with grilled pineapple.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ -2 pounds of sirloin grilling tips
- 1 pineapple, prepped and cut into cubes
- 1/2 bottle of teriyaki marinade of your choice
Directions:
Prepare your sirloin tips by cutting them into inch size cubes. Place your beef tips into a large Ziploc bag, and add about half of the bottle of teriyaki sauce. Let the beef marinate for at least eight hours, but preferably overnight. Once you prep your pineapple, set it aside.
Cook your steak tips on the grill, and continue checking the temperature until you have almost reached the desired temperature. Add your pineapple for the last two minutes. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of your tips. Below are temperatures listed to help you reach the desired degrees of doneness.
- Rare: 125-130 degrees
- Medium-Rare: 130-140 degrees
- Medium: 140-150 degrees
- Medium Well 150-155 degrees
- Well: 160+ degrees
Serve this steak tip entree with your favorite veggies or a baked potato.
Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
Grilled shish kabobs are a summer classic, and can be fun to put together by getting the family involved. This straightforward recipe is vibrant and sweet, and you’ll surely be asked to make it again. You’ll only need a few simple ingredients. Don’t forget to grab some skewers when you go shopping.
Ingredients
- 1 large red bell pepper, cut into one-inch pieces
- 1 pound of chicken breast, cut into one-inch cubes
- 1 pineapple, prepped and cut into one-inch cubes.
- 1 cup of your favorite teriyaki sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Take a rectangular pyrex dish and pour enough water inside to coat the bottom of the pan. Take about 10-12 skewers out and place them in the pan with water. Let them soak for an hour. By soaking your skewers, you will prevent them from burning on the grill.
Once your ingredients are prepped, place on the skewers starting with your chicken, then pineapple, then bell pepper. The delicate fruit may become soft and come off of the skewer, so placing it between the chicken and pepper ensures the pineapple stays in place.
Fire up your grill to medium and add your skewers. As your kabobs are grilling, base them with teriyaki sauce. Grill until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with jasmine rice and finish with a warm teriyaki sauce drizzle.
Serve Some “Yum” in a Hollowed-Out Pineapple
Next time you’re invited to a barbeque or summer party, show off your edible arranging skills by making a fruit salad and serve it inside a hollowed-out pineapple. Using a pineapple corer, remove the fruit of the pineapple and cut it into cubes with your chef knife.
Sit your pineapple upright, and take a serrated knife to cut the fruit in half, from top to bottom. Using your knife, cut out the core that is left behind. Add in a mix of beautiful in-season fruit like strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and blackberries.
Another fan-favorite is serving a fresh dip out of the fruit. Why not take the pineapple pico de gallo recipe from above, and serve it with tortilla chips. Your friends will surely love it!
Kick Back, Relax, and Imagine You’re in Hawaii
Nothing says “tropical” like sipping a fruity fresh smoothie from a gorgeous pineapple. Once you have cored your pineapple, take a serrated knife, and carefully cut the center core out.
Choose some of your favorite fruits to blend into a delicious drink. Pineapple, strawberries, and banana go great together. Add a few ice cubes, a bit of cold water and mix using your household blender or nutribullet.
Add a few ounces of coconut rum or flavored vodka to create an adult beverage.
Pour the smoothie into the hollowed-out pineapple, and add a strawberry or pineapple wedge as your garnish. All you need is a straw to imagine yourself soaking up the sun on a beach in Hawaii.
As you can see, a variety of dishes can be created, highlighting just one single fruit, this time being a pineapple. All it takes is a daring mind-set and a little creativity.
