3 Refreshing Pineapple Recipes To Try

1. Sautéed Pineapple

This elegant dish makes a great appetizer as well as a luscious dessert.

Makes 4 servings

2    teaspoons margarine

½   of a medium, ripe pineapple, sliced crosswise into 1-inch slices, skin removed

1    tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar (You may need more or less, depending on the ripeness of the 

      pineapple.)

½   teaspoon ground cinnamon

Melt margarine in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add pineapple.  Cook, turning pineapple frequently, until lightly browned on both sides.

Combine sugar and cinnamon, mixing well.

Place pineapple on serving plate and sprinkle with sugar mixture.

Serve hot.

Each Serving Provides

Calories 96

Total Fat 2.4g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 23mg

Total Carbohydrate 18.4g

Dietary Fiber 1.6g

            Protein 0.4g

2. Baked Pineapple with Creamy Coconut Sauce

Baking really brings out the flavor of fresh pineapple. Served warm, this easy, refreshing dish makes a great appetizer or dessert.

Makes 8 servings

Coconut Sauce:

1⅓      cups low-fat (1%) cottage cheese

¼        cup firmly packed brown sugar

3         tablespoons skim milk

1½      teaspoons vanilla extract

¾        teaspoon coconut extract

Pineapple:

1        medium ripe pineapple

4        teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar

          Ground cinnamon

To prepare sauce:

In a blender, combine all sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth. Spoon into a bowl and chill several hours, or overnight.

To prepare pineapple:

Preheat oven to 375°.

Remove and discard top of pineapple.  Cut pineapple lengthwise into quarters.  Remove and discard center core.  Cut each quarter into chunks, but leave the chunks resting in place in the shells.

Sprinkle brown sugar along the top ledge of each quarter.  (It will run down during cooking.)  Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon.

Wrap each quarter tightly in aluminum foil. Bake 1 hour.

Carefully unwrap pineapple, and sprinkle with additional cinnamon.  Serve hot and top each serving with 3 tablespoons of the sauce.

Each Serving Provides

Calories 126

Total Fat 0.9g

Cholesterol 2mg

Sodium 161mg

Total Carbohydrate 24.4g

Dietary Fiber 1.4g

Protein 5.3g

3. Pineapple-Grapefruit Combo

Tart and tangy, yet so refreshing, this combination is a perfect marriage of flavors. Serve it as an appetizer, a dessert, or a delicious addition to breakfast.

Makes 4 servings

¼       medium ripe pineapple, cut into bit-sized pieces, skin removed or 1 cup canned pineapple tidbits (packed in juice), drained

1        medium grapefruit, peeled and sectioned, then cut into bit-sized pieces, white membrane discarded

½       cup vanilla nonfat yogurt

2        tablespoons confectioners' sugar

1        teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients, mixing well.

Serve right away.

Each Serving Provides

Calories 97

Total Fat 0.1g

Cholesterol 1mg

Sodium 18mg

Total Carbohydrate 22.2g

Dietary Fiber 1.1g

Protein 1.9g