In Season: Pineapple
Photograph from Gaetan Lee on Flickr
Although pineapple is available year-round, that sweet and tangy ripe pineapple that we all love is at its prime from March to July. This fruit, native to the southern part of Brazil and Paraguay, made its way to the United States by way of Christopher Columbus, who found it on the island of Guadaloupe in 1493 and carried it back to Spain. The Spanish became quick fans and brought pineapple to the Philippines. Eventually, this herbacious perennial traveled all the way to Hawaii and Guam early in the sixteenth century. The pineapple reached England in 1660 and began to be grown in greenhouses for its fruit around 1720. Today, pineapples are second only to bananas as America's favorite tropical fruit.
Pineapples have extraordinary juiciness and a bold tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. Pineapples are made of many flowers whose individual fruitlets bond together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an "eye"--the rough spiny marking on the pineapple's surface. The area closer to the base of the fruit has a higher sugar content boasting a sweeter taste and more tender texture.
Pineapple is an extremely versatile fruit that is a standout in appetizers, entrées, desserts, and it can be used easily in both sweet and savory dishes. We have compiled some of our favorite pineapple recipes to inspire you in the kitchen with this deliciously season fruit.
Pineapple Recipes, Tips, and Ideas
- Caramelized Pineapple with Pineapple Sherbet
- Pineapple Nut Loaf [Orange Blossom Water]
- Pineapple Tart [Beachlover Kitchen]
- Ginger Pineapple Fried Rice
- Duck Breasts with Pineapple, Chile, and Soy
- Tacos Al Pastor with Roasted Pineapple-Habanero Chile Salsa
- Chicken and PIneapple Stirfry
How do you like to use pineapple?
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9 Comments:
Grilled pineapple wedges with dulce de leche drizzled over the top.
kathyvegas at 3:15PM on 05/30/09
Claire, this was a lovely read, and nicely informative, too. I appreciated the part about the flowers and fruitlets - nice illustration. I always thought of pineapples as a variation on a pine cone, but flowering fruitlets? Now, I find the exotic pineapple even more beautiful and intriguing.
I love pineapples and can't get enough of them when they are in season. Especially the Hawaiian pineapples, which are much sweeter than their South American counterparts.
Caramelized pineapples are the ultimate, and I love them in both sweet and savory applications. Here in California, beautiful Hawaiian pineapples started showing up in February, and I have enjoyed at least one a week, since. I will be sad when the season is over, and will most likely be whipping up some pineapple sorbets, ice creams, and probably a sauce or two to preserve them for while.
Of the season so far, my favorite recipes have been a wonderful pancake inspired by Nicole at Baking Bites (my tweaks on her recipe are stated in the comments section, should you be interested - it was the best pancake experience of my life!), a Caramelized Pineapple Brown Butter Tart I am completely in love with, and the Pineapple Duck dish at my local Thai restaurant.
Next up, pineapple and pork - Luau style! Mmmm...
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 3:37PM on 05/30/09
Hi Claire,
My blog name is (Orange Blossom Water), not (Cherry Blossom Water).
Thanks
Dimah
Dimah at 4:55PM on 05/30/09
Pineapple is my FIRST favorite tropical fruit and my first favorite fruit from any region, in fact. But I must say, I long for the pre-golden hybrid for a LESS sweet, more authentic pineapple taste, and my local markets have carried only the new, golden variety for the past several years now. This severely limits my indulgence of fresh pineapple, and I miss it ever so much. *sigh*
BobbieAnne at 5:09PM on 05/30/09
@Dimah. Sorry for the error. I will fix that ASAP.
Claire Sellers at 5:28PM on 05/30/09
When people start cooking with pineapple, they've run out of ideas.
Leper at 11:45PM on 05/30/09
I love pineapple it all it's forms. From pineapple upside down cake, to grilled slices to shish kebobs. It is always a treat.
Just made some pineapple/orange salsa to serve with jerked pork. Oh, it was a tropical kick that made us feel like we were in the Caribbean.
CJ McD at 4:47PM on 05/31/09
Best part, you can grow your own simply from planting the stem. Not a tree...a real pineapple. Note: it takes about 2-3 years....
http://www.howcast.com/videos/176423-How-To-Grow-Your-Own-Pineapple-At-Home
souldawg at 1:40PM on 06/01/09
Whoa, that was an awesome link souldawg! I had no idea. I'm going to do it as soon as I get my next pineapple.
jenh718 at 1:49PM on 06/01/09