Pineapple can be eaten in many different ways. Eat it plain, add it to salads, grill it for a kabob, or cook it in a casserole. Click here to view a list of Top 10 Ways to Enjoy Pineapple. Today I’m going to show you one of my favorite recipes using canned pineapple.

Have you ever had a sore mouth from eating too much fresh pineapple? Did you know, this could be caused by an enzyme called bromelain. It is found in large quantities in fresh pineapple. The purpose of bromelain is to denature, or break down, proteins. Canned pineapple has been treated with heat and no longer contains bromelain. If you’re looking for a way to enjoy pineapple without a sore mouth, choose canned pineapple.

Here at Create Better Health we like to find unique ways to add fruits and vegetables to meals. This recipe does just that. It is loaded with lots of fresh veggies and a can of pineapple. Serve it over brown rice to make it a complete MyPlate meal!

First, chop all your veggies: 1 green pepper, 2 carrots, 2 stalks of celery, and 1 onion.

Next, make the sauce. Combine the pineapple juice from the can, water, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger and cornstarch. Stir until combined.

Cut the chicken into cubes, saute it in olive oil over medium high heat until cooked through. Add in your vegetables and continue to sauté until they are al dente. Al dente means firm to the bite. This is in between mushy, overcooked and hard, undercooked.

After that, add the sauce and keep stirring until it has thickened.

Serve over rice and garnish with pineapple chunks.  Enjoy!

What is your favorite recipe using pineapple? Enjoy!

Candi Merritt

Certified Nutrition Education Ambassador