Sri Lankan spicy pineapple recipes are unique. It reminds me of the comfort of the cool ocean breeze on my face, under the hot sun. I enjoy making spicy pineapple recipes because they are delicious, easy to make, and bring me memories of my childhood every occasion I have them at my table.
ThePerfectCurry blog is filled with such stories of Sri Lanka intervened with my own experiences, memories, and food that I love from the island. Spicy pineapple dishes remind me of my past Sri Lankan summers. A curry bubbling away in a clay cooking pot, or a cool Sambal, has a similar effect. Additionally, fried rice giving off a spicy and savory aroma fills the air with nostalgia.
Pineapples from Sri Lanka are divine
Sri Lankan pineapple is a king among the tropical fruits that grows in the island. Like the crown it wears, the sweetness of Sri Lankan pineapple is unmatched anywhere in the world.
Commonly called Annasi, you often see Pineapples growing among tall coconut trees in rows, when you drive by coconut fields. Inter-cropping pineapples with coconut or bananas are a common practice among farmers in Sri Lanka. Picked when they are close to ripening, Sri Lankans love to eat pineapples when they are fully ripe and at their sweetest. Fully ripe pineapples are delicious, on their own or dusted with little salt and red chili flakes. It is perfect, easy to make snack among spicy pineapple recipes. Add red pepper flakes and salt with little lemon juice and coconut flakes to make a simple salad that complements and adds a refreshing element to rich rice and curry meals.
What does Sri Lankan pineapples taste like? A sweet flavor with dripping juices, laced with little tart or tongue numbing sharpness is a unique experience among tropical fruits. Pineapples are full of vitamin C and antioxidants that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. In Sri Lanka pineapples are used in many meat curry recipes to aid with digestion, because the fruit contains, Bromelain a group of enzymes help digesting proteins. Many Spicy pineapple recipes , like pineapple beef are popular in many southeast Asian countries other than Sri Lanka.
Snapshot of Spicy pineapple recipes from Sri Lanka| The curry, Sambal, and a fried rice.
Talking more about spicy pineapple recipes with Sri Lankan curry flavors, my own spicy pineapple curry has been making waves through the internet, lately. It is making me hungry to think about my delicious spicy pineapple curry, even now. The curry was well liked by everyone I shared it with, and liked by everyone who made an attempt to cook it.
There are plenty of fruit curry recipes in Sri Lanka, used ideally as a sauce, relish or a dip. My favorites among are June plum curry, and spicy mango curry. Those are the recipes, that I draw inspiration from when I try making a sweet fruit into a savory dish.
Fruits like pineapple, mango and June plum contain high amount of sugar as well as pectin, when simmered down with a right spice blend and herbs give a thick spicy and tart sauce. The spicy pineapple curry will also have ample sweetness to balance the tart and spicy flavors without any added sugar. These fruit curries will store long time without changing flavor and texture in freezer, because of the high acidity and sugar content of the fruit. Among spicy pineapple recipes, pineapple curry is my favorite to make because of that.
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Another of my favorite among spicy pineapple recipes, is delicious recipe of very Sri Lankan spicy pineapple salad. Hints of coconut, shallots , curry leaves and plenty of chilies in true Sri Lankan fashion, this salad is truly a amalgamation of flavors. I am quoting spicy Pineapple salad from the cook book Rambutan by Author and chef Cynthiya Shanmugalingam.
Spicy Pineapple Salad
Cynthiya describes it as “A tart, sweet salad sambal that is perfect with pork, beef or potato
My final favorite among my spicy pineapple recipes round up is Pineapple fried rice. Sweet, tart and very spicy with my own Sri Lankan spices. A pineapple recipe that is budget friendly and created with mix and match of pantry and freezer ingredients, you always have around.
Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot make savory dishes with canned pineapple, because you absolutely can, and I did just that! This recipe among all my spicy pineapple recipes has been particularly useful to restore my appetite, since seasonal flu has us down, with severe symptoms. I tweaked the original recipe to my own taste, adding plenty of crushed red peppers for spiciness. It is a very Sri Lankan thing to crave spicy food when going through cold and flu season.
Let us look at my easy pineapple fried rice recipe next. It’s easy one pot recipe that comes together under 20 minutes. Transform leftover rice, and a can of pineapples into this delicious quick meal and enjoy a bowl, to review your appetite and give warmth to a cold autumn day. Enjoy!
Sri Lankan Style pineapple Fried Rice
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Drain the pineapple juice in to a separate bowl and keep the pineapple pieces in a different bowl. We will only use little of the juices if needed.
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In a skillet on high, fry onions, garlic, ginger and green chili until soft.
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Add pineapple pieces and curry powders and salt to it. skip adding crushed red pepper at this step.
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Cook on high for 3 to 4 minutes, until pineapples starting to soften. Add protein of your choice. Ham or pork sausage works best in this recipe and I am using Italian pork sausage.
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Give everything a toss and add sliced curry leaved and follow by cooked rice. Mix in with pinapples and sausage, turning gently. Allow rice to toast well.
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Add crushed red pepper flackes and mix it in allow to keep cooking additional minute or two, taste and adjust salt to your liking. IF you would like to add more sweetness, spoon a table spoon or two pineapple juice over the rice and let it absorb.
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Garnish with few thinly sliced curry leaves and black curry powder. Enjoy !
