Pineapple Packs a Punch in These Recipes

Few fruits are as iconic as the pineapple. The universal symbol of hospitality, the prickly <a href="https://www.saveur.com/tropical-fruit-recipes/">tropical fruit</a> hides a sweet, juicy flesh that can instantly transport you to a tropical beach. It's the perfect base for refreshing, sweet-meets-tart <a href="https://www.saveur.com/best-salsa-recipes/">salsas</a> and bright sauces to serve with meats. But it's also excellent in desserts. Here are some of our favorite ways to use pineapple. (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
Sweet grilled onion and pineapple stand up against rich marinated pork in these easy, Hawaiian-inspired skewers. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/teriyaki-pork-pineapple-skewers-recipe/">Pineapple and Pork Teriyaki Skewers</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
Some ingredients obscure raw oysters, others enhance them. Just as lemon juice brightens and cleans their flavor, so too does Thai basil, marinated pineapple, and a squeeze of lime. A sprinkling of dark-burgundy-colored urfa biber chile flakes, commonly known as urfa, adds a smoky dimension. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/raw-oysters-with-grille-pineapple-and-thai-basil-recipe/">Raw Oysters with Grilled Pineapple and Thai Basil</a> (Ted Cavanaugh/)
Slow-cooking pineapple whole on the grill concentrates and enriches its flavors while keeping the fruit tasting bright. "The pineapple must be very ripe," Mallmann says. "If not, it's useless. The slower you do it, the better." Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.saveur.com/whole-grilled-pineapple-dessert-recipe">Four-Hour Pineapple</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
Pineapple juice sweetens and tenderizes beef short ribs in this classic Korean grilled dish. Ask your butcher for bone-in short ribs cut in half crosswise. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Kalbi-Korean-Grilled-Beef-Ribs/">Kalbi (Korean Grilled Beef Ribs)</a> (Landon Nordeman/)
These sandwich cookies, adapted from chef Frederico Ribeiro of New York's Te Company, are an homage to the classic Taiwanese pineapple cake. Here a super-buttery vanilla bean shortbread gets a nutty dose of hazelnut flour, and sweet pineapple-rosemary jam gets balanced by the spicy, fermented, and grassy flavor of Japanese yuzu kosho paste. Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.saveur.com/pineapple-linzer-cookie-recipe">Spicy Pineapple Linzer Cookies</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
Top your hot dog with pineapple, avocado, and red cabbage for added crunch and sweetness. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/pineapple-salsa-hotdog-recipe/">Pineapple Salsa Hot Dog</a> (Farideh Sadeghin/)
After stumbling upon fresh rambutans, test kitchen assistant Jake Cohen used this Malaysian tropical fruit to make this spicy and sweet summer curry. Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.saveur.com/summer-rambutan-curry-recipe">Summer Rambutan Curry</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
This zippy raita gets its punch from green Thai chiles and its sweetness from pineapple. A piquant mixture of black mustard seeds, dried red chiles, and curry leaves lends the sauce an earthy spice. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/kaitha-chaka-pachadi-spicy-pineapple-yogurt/">Kaitha Chaka Pachadi (Spicy Pineapple Yogurt)</a> (Ingalls Photography/)
At Portland, Oregon's <a href="http://www.mauricepdx.com/">Måurice</a> restaurant, pastry chef Kristen Murray layers sponge cake with buttercream and white chocolate ganache, and garnishes the torte with honeyed pineapple slices and candied pine nuts. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/pineapple-and-pine-nut-torte/">Pineapple and Pine Nut Torte</a> (Joseph De Leo/)
Hummingbird cake is a luscious, fruit-and-nut-studded layer cake served in Atlanta's Watershed restaurant. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/hummingbird-cake/">Hummingbird Cake</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
The addition of buttermilk in this ultra-retro dessert keeps it from being too cloying and renders cookie salad totally appropriate for the adult palate. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/buttermilk-cookie-salad/">Buttermilk Cookie Salad</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
"When I introduce this dish to my friends for the first time, they are confused and a little hesitant to eat it. Once they try it, though, they fall in love." – Leah Cohen of Pig & Khao. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/philippine-tropical-fruit-salad-recipe/">Philippine Fruit Salad</a> (Matt Taylor-Gross/)
This recipe comes from the chief of the Arcata Fire Department in Humboldt County, California, and is considered an all-time favorite among the firemen. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Pineapple-Upside-Down-Cake-1000068229/">Pineapple Upside-Down Cake</a> (Helen Rosner/)
Puréed scallops and whipped egg whites lend heft and creamy texture to these crab cakes from Ocean Bleu @ Gino's restaurant in Newport, Oregon. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/crab-cakes-with-chipotle-aioli-and-pineapple-salsa/">Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aïoli and Pineapple Salsa</a> (Andrew Ingalls/)
Tropical fruit adds sweetness and acidity to this fragrant, spicy salsa. The tart pineapple is a perfect foil for rich meats, stewed chicken, and roasted fish. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/Mexico-pineapple-tomato-salsa-recipe/">Fresh Pineapple Salsa (Salsa de Piña)</a> (Todd Coleman/)
Southern Vietnamese cooks often simmer catfish steaks with caramel sauce, and use the fish's head and tail in this refreshing soup brightened with tamarind and pineapple. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Classic-Sour-Fish-Soup/">Canh Chua Cá (Sour Fish Soup)</a> (Penny De Los Santos/)
Garlic and Sriracha balance the sweetness of pineapple in this Southeast Asian-inspired pickle; a splash of fish sauce adds a robust savory edge. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Piquant-Pickled-Pineapple/">Piquant Pickled Pineapple</a> (Helen Rosner/)
With just two ingredients—puréed pineapple and sugar—these paletas are unbelievably simple to assemble. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Pineapple-Ice-Pops-Paletas-de-Pina/">Pineapple Ice Pops (Paletas de Piña)</a> (Michael Kraus/)
This version of the cake is a potluck and bake sale favorite; the addition of crushed pineapple helps to keep it sweet and moist. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/classic-carrot-cake-recipe/">Classic Carrot Cake</a> (Todd Coleman/)
Sweet, spiced, and dense, with a bright rum glaze, a sophisticated take on classic Christmas fruitcake is a perfect holiday treat for giving as a gift—or for keeping to yourself. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Orange-Pineapple-and-Walnut-Fruitcake/">Orange, Pineapple, and Walnut Fruitcake</a> (Helen Rosner/)