Anything interesting to do with a whole ripe pineapple?

[Tehama]

My neighbor, who was going out of town for a while, gave me a whole pineapple last night so it wouldn't spoil in their kitchen. It is definitely ripe and ready to use. Anything interesting to do with this pineapple? Thanks!

[Eat_Nopal]

I probably shouldn't be giving away my future restaurant recipes :) but, consider carving a "filet" of pineapple & griddling to some carmelization, serve it over a Oaxacan black bean sauce rich in dried shrimp & avocado leaves, as well as bread crumbed, fried Chevre tenders.

[monavano]

Similarly, there's the pineapple "chop" ala Thomas Keller's The French Laundry cookbook. As done by TFLAH: http://www.frenchlaundryathome.com/

www.houndstoothgourmet.com

[Eat_Nopal]

I will not stand for comparisons of my illuminated ideas with the crap Thomas Keller comes up with!!!

No, but seriously.... fried pastry cream & creme fraiche... yaaaaaaawn. I would expect more from him. No wonder, I've read some of the few criticisms of TFL is that they don't know what to do with Vegetables or Fruits.

[cassoulady]

there is a recipe in Craig Claibornes NYT cookbook for pineapple chicken, and the chicken is served in a hollowed out pineapple along with pineapple pieces. I have never made it but have always wanted to!

[kare_raisu]

Thank the great Eat Nopal:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/340696
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepache

[HillJ]

pineapple puree is delicious for yogurt, atop pound cake, on pancakes or french toast.
cook down cubes with a dash of allspice and chill/store in refrig.

fresh pineapple is delicious in green salad with a balsamic drizzle.

pineapple smoothie-add half a banana and a dash of almond extract
give it a good blend and you're good to go!

[mlgb]

I made a "breakfast quesadilla" a few weeks ago with a jalapeno-flavored tortilla, cheese, and some diced pineapple.

[Diane in Bexley]

If you don't want to eat them right away, you can make a riff on sorbet that tastes pretty good:

1 whole pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 in pieces, FREEZE SOLID in plastic bag
sugar to taste
1-2 T dark rum, vanilla, or flavor of your choice

In large food processor bowl, place frozen pineapple chunks, sugar and rum, process in pulses till achieved consistency (we like ours slightly chunky, not baby food soft)

You can serve the puree as is or freeze in large covered plastic container

[odkaty]

I just cut them into chunks and toss with salt, pepper, and fresh lime juice. A pineapple barely lasts a day in our house.

[adventuresinbaking]

Sangria!

Grab a bottle of decent red wine, add some roses lime, toss in some pineapple, whatever else strikes your fancy, and use some good frozen strawberrys as ice cubes.

[wawajb]

This: http://carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/...

Of course....that doesn't include the recipe, but you can get a pretty good idea I'd think.

[JonParker]

I haven't found anything that I like as well as just cutting it up and eating it. I eat three of them a week during the winter months when I can't get decent fresh berries.

[morebubbles]

1. grill rounds of it, serve with ice cream
2. make a salsa, serve with fish etc.
3. chop & use to make a pineapple upsidedown cake