With the long days and rising temperatures one thing is for certain; I want to bask in the sun and not bake in the kitchen. When I sit down to the table, I want to cool off. What’s my trick? Sorbet!
For now, pineapple is my fruit of choice. Just the perfume of a perfect pineapple transports me to a tropical vacation in paradise; its vibrant, tropical flavor and juiciness makes a delightful sorbet.
Pineapple Praise
Pineapple is a good source of vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B1 & B6, folate and dietary fiber. It is low in calories, sodium, saturated fats and cholesterol. Bromelain, an enzyme found only in pineapples, has been used medicinally since ancient times to help reduce inflammation.
Pineapple Paradox… Fruit or Fruits?
Pineapples are actually not just one fruit but a composite of many flowers whose individual “fruitlets” fuse together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an “eye,” which is the rough spiny marking on the pineapple’s surface. Pineapple is not, strictly speaking, a fruit. Rather it is 100-200 fruitlets all fused together.
Care And Feeding Of your Pineapple
Put your pineapple in the refrigerator upside down for 30 minutes before you cut it so the sugar that settles at the bottom runs back into the pineapple.
Today’s Recipe:
The pineapple I purchased weighed in at 3lbs. After I cut it into useable pieces, it weighed 1lb. If your pineapple is a different size adjust ingredients to taste.
I prefer my sorbet less sweet so I wanted to kick up the flavor a notch with ginger. It was good, but I wanted more. I added chili powder. It was tasty, but it wasn’t what I was craving. Next I tried chipotle powder, which turned out to be overpowering. Then I tried cayenne powder… nirvana! It was just the right amount of pop to bring out the ginger and compliment the sweet, sweet pineapple.
Fresh Pineapple & Spicy Ginger Sorbet
Ingredients
- 1 large Dole pineapple peeled, cored & cut into 2" pieces
- 1/2 Teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- 2 Tablespoons raw honey or agave syrup
- 1/8 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
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Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until very smooth.
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Taste the puree and adjust sweetness if necessary.
Directions for ice cream maker
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Pour into ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Serve immediately (the mixture will be soft), or place in your freezer to harden for an hour or so.
Directions for freezer
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Put the mixture in a freezer-safe bowl in the freezer for 3 hours to partially freeze.
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Remove it from the freezer, beat it with a whisk until smooth, and return to the freezer, covered, for 4 hours or until firm.
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Store in an airtight container in the freezer.
Recipe Notes
Serves 4
A great way to serve Fresh Pineapple & Spicy Ginger Sorbet is in Spanish Cava or Sparkling Chardonnay Grape Juice. Just a few scoops will make a refreshing and festive drink.
Fun Facts about Pineapple
- Pineapples grow slowly, and can take up to two years to reach full size, so we pick and eat them when they are younger & smaller, but if they are left to their own devices they can reach up to 20 lbs.
- Pineapple canneries use every bit of the pineapple. The skins, core and end portions are used to make a variety of products including vinegar, alcohol and animal food.
In the American cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob’s home is a large pineapple. I think this is a perfect example of a pineapple left to its own devices.
I like SpongeBob’s interpretation of “Home, Sweet, Home”.
I personally like my home a bit sweet and juicy too. But that is another story.
… and then, she paused for thought.
Good Lord ! How did you create that hypnotically beautiful picture?!
Loved the ‘fun facts’ at the end of the post 🙂
And loved the sound of ‘Ginger’, ‘cayenne peppers’ 🙂
Exotic ! Sexy !
LOL Nusrat! I think I have been motivated by summer!
What an fantastic combination of flavors! It looks as though you nailed the sweet/spicy balance.
Thanks Dara! Coming from you is a true compliment.
Whoooooooo lives in a pineapple under the sea ?
Geez Louise…. exactly!
Oh my, I want a bite!!!!!! Now.
I have been turning my pineapples upside-down for ever and can’t remember why. Now I know!
😉
Thanks Nan. Such an easy recipe. I was not familiar with turning the pineapple upside down, but a DOLE representative confirmed it.
Charlie always laughs at me for turning the pineapple upside-down, it is a balancing trick. Good to know that it’s worth it. Thanks.
This looks and so refreshing! The thought of blending ginger, cayenne and pineapple together sounds so yummy!! Your photo just pulls you in and makes you want to grab that spoon.
What a wonderful recipe to share with us. Thank you, Cathy.
Thanks Pamela! I hope you try it. It is perfect for the hot weather we are having.
Brilliant!!! What great tidbits you share!… and it looks sooo yummy and creamy!
Thanks Alice. I am so glad you enjoy the information. I like doing the research as I find food so fascinating. It is almost Paleo-friendly.
Those flavors sound divine!
Cheri, it is the perfect flavor combination for summer!
A brilliant combination of flavors! Very refreshing for summer.
Thanks Lail for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the recipe this summer.
I think it’s time to bust out the ol’ ice cream maker. I love the spicy/sweet combo going on here!
Natalie, you will love this one. If I were you, double the ginger and cayenne. It is a real kick.
Woman! Are you trying to shame us all with your brilliant concoctions and incredible photography? You are amazing! 😉 CC
LOL Christina. I aspire to cook as amazing as you do.
Your photo makes this look so delicious. With the warm weather we’re having, I really need some of this right now. Time to go buy a pineapple…
Thanks Lynne. This dessert is perfect for the hot weather.