Asian Caramelized Pineapple is an easy sweet and tangy topping perfect for your favorite Asian dishes. Try it with stir fried noodles soon!
This recipe takes the sweet Hawaiian fruit and adds savory, tangy ingredients that make it perfect for an Asian dish. It can dress up classic meals like Sweet and Sour Pork or Teriyaki Chicken.
Sabrina’s Asian Caramelized Pineapple Recipe
Asian Caramelized Pineapple is an awesome way to turn regular pineapple into a sweet and savory delight. Cooking it creates a rich, caramel glaze that brings out the fruit’s natural sweetness while adding some tasty depth. It goes great with grilled meats or can even be used as a fun topping for desserts, making it a wonderful addition to your cooking that’s sure to impress!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 20 ounces pineapple chunks , drained
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Add vegetable oil to a large skillet on high heat.
- Toss pineapple chunks with soy sauce, sesame oil, and ground ginger.
- Add pineapple chunks and brown on each side for 4-5 minutes (they will release liquid at first).
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Chef’s Note
Toasted sesame oil is a common ingredient used a lot in all kinds of Asian cuisine. It’s one of those ingredients that adds so much depth and the nutty aroma is mouthwatering. Be careful though, that aroma packs a big punch! A teaspoon may not seem like a lot, but trust me, it will add a ton of flavor. Always measure it into a separate prep bowl or small dish before mixing it in so you don’t accidentally add too much. Even though you don’t need a lot of this oil to make any dish, it has a long shelf life so the bottle will last you many, many recipes!
Table of contents
About this Recipe
If you’ve tried my recipe for Grilled Pineapple, then you already know how amazing pineapple can be served with your favorite dinners. In this recipe, pineapple chunks cooked in delicious soy sauce and sesame oil served over delicious savory dishes are truly a flavor-bomb combination. The pineapple juice adds a sweet tang that brings out the deeper, richer flavors in the savory ingredients. I especially like them on Spicy Peanut Noodles because the sweetness balances out the fiery heat and the sesame brings out more tasty nutty flavor.
Ingredients
- Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil has a high smoke point, making it suitable for deep frying and pan frying foods at high temperatures without smoking or burning quickly.
- Pineapple Chunks: Pineapple chunks are used in both savory and sweet dishes.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: Low-sodium soy sauce can be used in fruits and marinades for meats, poultry, seafood, and vegetables, imparting flavor without overwhelming saltiness.
- Sesame Oil: Sesame oil has a distinct nutty flavor that adds depth and richness to dishes.
- Ground Ginger: It is commonly used in sweet and savory dishes, including curries, stir-fries, marinades, soups, and baked goods.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Drain: Drain the canned pineapple well before using, as excess liquid can affect caramelization.
- Combine ingredients: Toss the pineapple chunks in a large bowl with sesame oil, ground ginger, and soy sauce until well coated. If you’re worried about making a mess, use a gallon-size bag. Seal the ingredients in the gallon-size bag and shake until coated.
- Cooking: Add the pineapple to a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Use a wooden spatula to move the pineapple around so it cooks on different sides. At first, it will release pineapple juice, but that will slow down over the cooking time.
- Serve Warm: Asian caramelized pineapple is best served warm or at room temperature to enjoy its full flavors.
- Cook Pineapple Just Enough: Cook the pineapple until it is heated and caramelized. Overcooking can make the pineapple too soft.
- Pineapple Uniformly: Make sure the pineapple chunks or wedges are evenly sized to ensure even caramelization and cooking.
Pairing Suggestions
- Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken: This is an easy recipe for Asian takeout. Chicken is in a sweet and savory sauce with honey, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
- Chinese Fried Rice: A quick recipe to make with leftover rice, soy sauce, vegetables and eggs and my secret ingredient for the perfect Chinese restaurant flavor in just 10 minutes!
- Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham: This recipe is a breeze. It requires just three ingredients and no oven space to lose!
- Easy Shrimp Stir Fry: In less than 20 minutes, this shrimp with an easy honey garlic soy sauce, plump seared shrimp, and vegetables.
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Pork Chops: These Pork Chops are tender and juicy at the perfect level, prepped with amazing flavor and cooked in just a few minutes.
- Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: This is a classic American pineapple upside-down cake made with yellow pineapple cake and maraschino cherries. It makes a delightful dessert.
How to Store
- Serve: To keep the Juicy Pineapple fresh don’t leave it at room temperature for more than a couple hours.
- Store: Store the cut pineapple in an airtight container, it can stay in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: You can also freeze the pineapple in a sealed Ziploc bag for up to 6 months.
Ideas to Serve
- Stir-fries: After making a stir fry in a large skillet, you can top it off with Caramelized Pineapple for some extra sweetness.
- Perfect Party Snack: You can put out a large bowl of pineapple and your favorite finger foods at your next party. Guests can serve up the sweet topping over whatever appetizer they like. I put it out for Chinese New Year, and it was one of the first things to go!
- Rice Bowls: Make yourself an easy Asian rice bowl. Add Fried Rice or Steamed Rice to serving bowls topped off with your favorite grilled meats or crispy baked tofu. Pour some teriyaki sauce over the top, then add the pineapple for an unbelievable dish.
- Cocktails and Beverages: You can use it to garnish tropical cocktails or mocktails. It also pairs well with coconut water or as a topping for fruit smoothie bowls.
- Cheese Platters: Serve alongside cheese platters, particularly with creamy cheeses like brie or goat cheese. Garnish the pineapple with lime.
- Dessert Topping: Use it as a topping for a bowl of vanilla ice cream or yogurt, or incorporate it into desserts like pineapple upside-down cake, tarts, classic cheesecake, or fruit crisps.
- Salads: Pineapple is a tasty topping for mixed greens, fruit salads, or fruit with chili powder. It pairs nicely with spinach, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and avocado.
- Sandwiches and Wraps: Include it in sandwiches or wraps with grilled chicken or pork, lettuce, and a spicy mayo or teriyaki sauce.
- Hot Chocolate Sauce: Use it as a topping with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce.
Alternative Cooking Techniques
Grilled Method
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Brush pineapple slices or wedges with a light oil coating to prevent sticking.
- Grill the pineapple directly on the grates until grill marks appear and the pineapple caramelizes slightly, about 3-5 minutes per side.
- Optionally, brush the pineapple with a mixture of caramel sauce (prepared separately) and lime juice during grilling for added flavor.
Baked Method
- Preheat your oven to around 400 degrees.
- Arrange pineapple chunks or pineapple spears on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake or roast the pineapple until caramelized, typically around 20-30 minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce and lime juice before baking or roasting for enhanced flavor.
Frequent Questions
This dish has a savory, sweet flavor and a sticky caramelized coating.
It can be slightly spicy if you add red chili flakes or other spicy ingredients. However, the spice level can be adjusted according to personal preference.
Fresh, ripe pineapples are best for caramelizing. Choose pineapples that are firm yet give slightly to gentle pressure. Cut the pineapple into chunks, which hold their shape better during cooking and offer a natural sweetness.
Yes, you can use an indoor grill to make the pineapple. Indoor grills, such as electric grills or grill pans, can provide a convenient and effective way to achieve caramelization while imparting a grilled flavor. An outdoor grill is a fantastic method that adds a smoky, charred flavor to the fruit.
Variations
- Flavorings: For extra tart flavoring, add fresh lime or lemon juice to the soy sauce mixture. 1-2 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice should be plenty. You could also add fresh cilantro, sweet chili sauce, Teriyaki sauce, or shrimp marinade to experiment with the original recipe.
- Add-ins: Mix some extra recipe ingredients as the pineapple is cooking. Garlic powder or minced cloves of garlic would taste great. One or two medium-large garlic cloves should do nicely. You could also add red onion, green onions, bell peppers or any other type of peppers.
- Spicy: Add a dash of Sriracha or sprinkle on some red pepper flakes for some spicy notes. If you’re using Sriracha, go light and taste test. You don’t want to overdo the spice.
- Brown Sugar: For sweet pineapple, mix brown sugar into the soy sauce. The brown sugar will caramelize beautifully with the other ingredients. You could also mix brown sugar with the spice for a sweet and spicy blend.
- Oil: If you don’t have sesame oil, use coconut or olive oil.
Related Recipe
More Sweet and Savory Pineapple Recipes
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