How to cut a pineapple and 3 amazing pineapple recipes.

In this article I will show you a great technique for cutting up a fresh pineapple. A lot of people remove the skin first, but the juices are lost and the cutting board will get very watery and slippery. Scroll down to see a video to find the the easiest and quickest way to cut a pineapple.

Pineapple is a very versatile winter fruit that adds a bold and juicy flavor to sweet and savory dishes. This healthy fruit is loaded with vitamin C and is a great source of manganese, a nutrient involved in bone formation.

Scroll down to find three healthy recipes for parfait, salsa and a delicious coffee cake…

In this short video Dani Spies from cleananddelicious.com shows you one of the least wasteful ways to cut up a pineapple into bite sized pieces.

Take a look at the How-To Cut A Pineapple video:

All you really need to cut large fruit like fresh pineapple is a cutting board and a large kitchen knife.

Now that you know how to cut up a fresh pineapple, here are some fun and healthy recipes for you to try out.

Pineapple-Raspberry Parfait

Ingredients You Need:

• 2 – 8-ounce containers (2 cups) nonfat peach yogurt
• 1/2 pint fresh raspberries, (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks

Preparation:

Divide and layer yogurt, raspberries and pineapple into 4 glasses.

Curried Pineapple & Dried Fig Salsa

Ingredients You Need:

• 1 cup dried whole Mission figs, stemmed (about 6 ounces)
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• Pinch of crushed red pepper, or to taste
• 1 1/4 cups water, or as needed
• 1 3/4 cups diced fresh pineapple
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened coconut chips, or shavings

Preparation:

1. Combine figs, curry powder, crushed red pepper and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until the figs are softened and plumped, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on their dryness. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the figs to a cutting board, leaving the liquid in the pan. When cool enough to handle, cut into quarters and transfer to a medium bowl.
2. Add pineapple to the liquid in the pan. Return to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced and the pineapple is well coated, about 5 minutes. Add the pineapple mixture to the figs; stir to combine.
3. Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add coconut and toast, stirring, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the coconut into the fruit. Serve the salsa warm, at room temperature or chilled.

Pineapple Coffee Cake

Ingredients You Need:

• 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups diced fresh pineapple chunks, blotted dry and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Whisk egg, yogurt, oil and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until just blended. (Do not over mix.) Fold in pineapple. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Combine pecans and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the batter.
5. Bake the cake until the top is golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm. Variations This quick coffee cake can be made with a variety of fruit. Try rhubarb, blueberries or peaches. If using frozen fruit, increase the baking time by 10 to 15 minutes.

Now that you know how to cut a pineapple, these delicious, healthy and easy recipes featuring fresh pineapple will be a breeze to make. Enjoy!

Do you have a fresh pineapple recipe you would like to share? Leave your comments below.