The sweet tanginess of pineapple serves as a great contrast to a variety of savory dishes. From fried rice to stir fry to curries to even grilled cheese sandwiches, pineapple proves to be much more than just an ingredient in desserts or fruit dishes. So if you’re looking to add a little sweetness to your dinner this week, give one of these amazing recipes a whirl!

1. Pineapple Fried Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Source: Pineapple Fried Cauliflower Rice Bowl

The star of this Pineapple Fried Cauliflower Rice Bowl by Sapana Chandra is the pineapple, which peaks in late spring and into early summer and adds a subtle sweetness to an otherwise savory compilation of vegetables, including mushrooms and peppers. Unlike traditional fried rice, this bowl uses cauliflower rice.

2. Roasted Veggies and Pineapple With Tahini Sesame Sauce

Source: Roasted Veggies and Pineapple With Tahini Sesame Sauce

Savory vegetables and sesame tahini sauce meet sweet pineapple to create a delicious, nutritious, and filling Asian entree. You have to try this Roasted Veggies and Pineapple With Tahini Sesame Sauce recipe by Natalie Martin and Lexie Staten.

3. BBQ Chickpea Sliders With Pineapple Slaw

Source: BBQ Chickpea Sliders With Pineapple Slaw

Sliders have evolved to include pretty much anything served on a tiny bun. We took a plant-based approach with this recipe using nothing but chickpeas, BBQ sauce, and a few seasonings to create the savory, delicious filling on these bad boys. These BBQ Chickpea Sliders With Pineapple Slaw by Katie Koteen & Kate Kasbee are best served with this pineapple slaw to add just the right amount of sweetness and crunch for an irresistible party snack or summery dinnertime dish.

4. Salad Skewers with Hawaiian Pineapple Vinaigrette

Source: Salad Skewers with Hawaiian Pineapple Vinaigrette

These Salad Skewers with Hawaiian Pineapple Vinaigrette by Dawn Hutchins at Florida Coastal Cooking are sweet, salty, savory, and crunchy. This healthy salad-on-a-stick appetizer is sure to wow both your plant-based peeps and omnivores alike.

5. Pineapple and Peanut Sauce Tofu Wrap

Source: Pineapple and Peanut Sauce Tofu Wrap

Isn’t pineapple and peanut an oddly appealing flavor combination? This Pineapple and Peanut Sauce Tofu Wrap by Colorful Kitchen is the perfect medley of sweet and savory flavors. The key to preparing restaurant-quality tofu dishes at home is pressing the water out first. Thirty minutes will do the trick, but if you’re able to plan ahead, a few hours (or even overnight in the fridge) will give your tofu a fantastic texture.

6. South Indian-Style Pineapple Curry

Source: South Indian-Style Pineapple Curry

Like tomato and green chile, pineapple also entered Indian kitchens relatively recently. Over the years, it became highly popular in the southern and coastal regions of India. From fresh juices, sweets, pudding, and raita to curry, pineapple is used profusely in the southern states. This South Indian-Style Pineapple Curry by Hina Gujral is the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, salty, and tart. It tastes finger-licking good with steamed rice and fried papadum. And the pressure cook mode of an Instant Pot cooks the pineapple to perfection, making the curry all the more delicious.

7. Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pineapple

Source: Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pineapple

This Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Pineapple by Chris Bartis is melty, sweet, and salty. It’s simply outta this world. Onions are caramelized and then cooked with fresh pineapple, making the pineapple tender and allowing the flavors to mix. The cheese is stretchy like it should be, and the bread is crisp and buttery from the skillet.

8. Warming Jerk Jackfruit with Pineapple, Corn, Peppers, and Sweet Potato

Source: Warming Jerk Jackfruit with Pineapple, Corn, Peppers, and Sweet Potato

Jackfruit is a very useful vegan alternative to meat. It’s a versatile fruit that absorbs flavors well, making it ideal for savory dishes. You can buy it either in cans or vacuum-packed. Here we have lightly coated the jackfruit with a little bit of delicious jerk spice and balanced the flavors with roasted pineapple and other veggies. This Warming Jerk Jackfruit with Pineapple, Corn, Peppers, and Sweet Potato by Claire Swift and Sarah Biagetti is a vibrant array of colors and flavors. You can serve it straight from the tray, though our kids also like to load the pineapple, jerk jackfruit, and peppers into tacos with fresh crispy lettuce, rice, and black beans, eating the cobs and the wedges on the side.

Reprinted with permission from The Plant-Based Family Cookbook by Claire Swift and Sarah Biagetti, Page Street Publishing Co. 2021. Photo credit: Claire Swift

9. Sweet Pineapple Tempeh Stir Fry

Source: Sweet Pineapple Tempeh Stir Fry

A delicious, healthy plant-based sweet and sour like vegetable pineapple tempeh stir fry. This Sweet Pineapple Tempeh Stir Fry by Tara Binder is spectacular!

10. Pineapple and Cashew Stir Fry with Caramelized Tofu

Source: Pineapple and Cashew Stir Fry with Caramelized Tofu

Pineapples and caramelized tofu make this stir-fry even more interesting than your ordinary stir-fry. This Pineapple and Cashew Stir Fry with Caramelized Tofu by Stephanie Davies is the perfect dinner for summer, or for any occayou’re craving some fresh veggies!

11. Pineapple Baked Ham

Source: Pineapple Baked Ham

The Pineapple Baked Ham by Robin Asbell is a magazine cover-ready classic. Here, you can stroll down memory lane with a plant-based version, complete with a layer of white “fat” wrapped around it and a sweet, pineapple glaze.

Photo Credit: David Paul Shmit

12. Pineapple Teriyaki Portobello Burger

Source: Pineapple Teriyaki Portobello Burger

This Pineapple Teriyaki Portobello Burger by Gabrielle St. Claire will quickly become one of your faves! This recipe involves only a handful of ingredients. The marinade encompasses staple ingredients you should always have in your kitchen and packs a hint of sweetness, a hint of heat, multiple textures, and aesthetic appeal! If you’re looking for the perfect vegan sammie that you can whip up in a flash, here you go.

13. Pineapple Teriyaki Fried Quinoa

Source: Pineapple Teriyaki Fried Quinoa

Quinoa is great because it’s a whole grain that cooks in just 15-20 minutes so you can make a quick and healthy meal in no time. With that in mind, you’re not going to want to pass up on this Pineapple Teriyaki Fried Quinoa by Megan Calipari.

14. Pineapple Pizza Tacos

Source: Pineapple Pizza Tacos

In need of a shortcut to a perfectly crispy and thin pizza crust? Try tortillas! These Pineapple Pizza Tacos by Ella Suihko are topped with roasted chickpeas, corn, juicy pineapple, creamy avocado, and a drizzle of Sriracha.

15. Thai Pineapple Yellow Curry With Vegetables

Source: Thai Pineapple Yellow Curry With Vegetables

This Thai Pineapple Yellow Curry With Vegetables by Laura Nockett is a flavorful vegetarian curry made with pineapple, Thai eggplant, carrots, red pepper, and snow peas, in a creamy coconut yellow curry sauce.

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