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 Four-Hour Pineapple ».
Matt Taylor-Gross
Few fruits are as iconic as the pineapple. The universal symbol of hospitality, the prickly tropical fruit hides a sweet, juicy flesh that can instantly transport you to a tropical beach. It’s the perfect base for refreshing, sweet-meets-tart salsas and bright sauces to serve with meats. But it’s also excellent in desserts: Adding pineapple to cakes adds a little fruity sweetness and just the right amount of moisture. We particularly love making a pineapple jam to sandwich between two cookie shells for the ultimate tea cookies. And last but not least, don’t forget cocktails. A staple for bartenders, pineapple juice hearkens to the early days of booze trading and adds flair to a bevy of tropical cocktails, namely tiki classics. From pineapple cakes to salsas to tropical cocktails, we’ve rounded up our favorite pineapple recipes here.
If You Like Piña Colada
Leo Robitschek of Eleven Madison Park crafted this cocktail in honor of our 21st birthday, inspired by SAVEUR’s global influence. “While your average 21-year-old is spending their birthday getting a little too familiar with Jagermeister and Miller High-Life—not that there’s anything wrong with that—SAVEUR has already been around the world,” he says. “She’s sampled the best, and is hungry for more. Here, a perfect blend of some lesser-seen players: spicy rye, robust and savory-spiced velvet falernum, ancient and unapologetically vegetal green Chartreuse, and Linie aquavit, a spirit that, amazingly enough, has actually sailed around the world, aging in oak sherry casks to the rhythm of the rolling waves. Coconut, lime, and pineapple tie the package together; a somewhat more civilized yet totally delicious way to celebrate one’s twenty-first year.” Get the recipe for If You Like Piña Colada »
Pineapple and Pine Nut Torte
At Portland, Oregon’s Måurice 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.
Pawleys Rum Punch
Contributor Marshall Bright’s father makes this boozy fruit punch for the family every year during their annual beach vacation in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. A sprinkle of fresh nutmeg on top compliments the molasses-like flavor of the rum. Use freshly squeezed orange juice—it adds a bright flavor the bottled stuff can’t match. Get the recipe for Pawleys Rum Punch »
Grilled Sangria
Whether it’s juicing grilled limes into margaritas, charring tomatoes for bloody marys, or making this reimagined sangria with caramelized fruits, grilling your drinks will add smoky depth to every sip. Get the recipe for Grilled Sangria »