Sweet and Spicy Thai Pineapple

by Tokyo Terrace on April 2, 2009

Sweet. Salty. Spicy. If you get as excited as I do about those three little words, you will LOVE what’s coming next…

My favorite foods often include both sweet and salty flavors. I cannot resist recipes that transform these very different components into one delicious combination of flavors. That’s why the fresh pineapple we had in Thailand last week quickly rose to the top of my list of favorite snack foods. Lucky for me, pineapples are in season in Japan right now! While I might as well promise my first born child for the amount of money I have to spend on a nice, ripe pineapple, it was worth the splurge to fulfill my craving. There are cheaper pineapples here, but they would take a few days to become ripe and I just couldn’t wait! Darn you expensive grocery stores with perfectly ripe pineapples!

Since we are moving right now, I am spending my days packing boxes of our things. Pineapple is a healthy snack that I can have to distract me occasionally from what can be a very frustrating task. (Note to self: do not move again for at least 2 years.)

The ingredients for the sweet/salty/spicy topping are simple and you most likely have them in your kitchen already. You can adjust everything to your own taste- spicy or not. Here is how I made my topping:

1 tablespoon dried red pepper flakes (if you can find dried Thai chili flakes, it would be more authentic)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you have the Thai chili flakes, don’t use this)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt

Mix all the ingredients together and sprinkle over the freshly cut pineapple.

Try this- you won’t regret it!

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  • dan church

    Hmm, i just had some pineapple today and it is on sale for cheap at the local farmers market… perhaps this is needing to be tried. Thanks!

  • dan church

    Hmm, i just had some pineapple today and it is on sale for cheap at the local farmers market… perhaps this is needing to be tried. Thanks!

  • Rachael

    Well, this was meant to be! I hope you like it. Thanks for the post!

  • Rachael

    Well, this was meant to be! I hope you like it. Thanks for the post!

  • White on Rice Couple

    Oooohhh. This is so good. The Vietnamese will eat pineapple like this too and it makes my mouth water everytime I think about it. As if it weren’t tasty enough on it’s own, the spicy, sweet, salty add ons send it over the top.

  • White on Rice Couple

    Oooohhh. This is so good. The Vietnamese will eat pineapple like this too and it makes my mouth water everytime I think about it. As if it weren’t tasty enough on it’s own, the spicy, sweet, salty add ons send it over the top.

  • Rachael

    Agreed! I like to do this kind of thing with popcorn too- anything to get the sweet/salty combo!

  • Rachael

    Agreed! I like to do this kind of thing with popcorn too- anything to get the sweet/salty combo!

  • Anonymous

    “Looks yummy to me”

    -Mr. Rahman, 2B, SMIS

  • Anonymous

    “Looks yummy to me”-Mr. Rahman, 2B, SMIS

  • Rebecca

    Nice and simple. That’s the way I roll. Do you think it would be good without the sugar?

  • Rebecca

    Nice and simple. That’s the way I roll. Do you think it would be good without the sugar?

  • Rachael

    Yes. The pineapple is sweet by itself, so it should still be yummy.

  • Rachael

    Yes. The pineapple is sweet by itself, so it should still be yummy.

  • https://tokyoterrace.com/2009/11/29/12-days-of-hors-doeuvres-and-cocktails-day-3/ 12 Days of Hors d’Oeuvres and Cocktails: Day 3 « Tokyo Terrace

    [...] Today’s pairing is one that I am particularly fond of. There are so many wonderful flavors going on in both the wontons and the cocktail. The Spicy Lemon is one of my favorite cocktail recipes (next to the Terrace Tonic, of course) that I have made. The slight sweetness from honey and the lemon juice combine perfectly with the heat of the hot pepper. It reminds me a little of Spicy Thai Pineapple. [...]

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