Grilled Pineapple with Spicy Salted Sugar
This traditional Thai street food is incredibly exotic, delicious, and refreshing. Better still, it’s super easy to make and is sure to impress anyone lucky enough to be presented with it. Whether you grill the pineapple or serve it raw, the spicy salted sugar is sure to awaken the taste buds with hot, sweet, salty, sour, and simply delicious flavor.
Grilled Pineapple with Spicy Salted Sugar Gluten-Free Recipe
SERVES 6 TO 8 To simplify with equally amazing results, don’t bother to grill the pineapple.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 fresh bird’s eye chile pepper (available at Asian markets) or other fresh, extremely hot chile pepper, minced, plus 2 for garnish (optional)
- 1 fresh pineapple
Instructions
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Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
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Place the sugar in a mixing bowl. Gradually add the salt, mixing as you go and tasting along the way, until there’s enough salt that the flavor comes through but doesn’t overpower the sugar. With protective gloves or your bare fingers, massage in the chile so the flavor spreads throughout and the mix tastes sweet with a hint of salt and heat. Wash your hands thoroughly (ideally before putting your fingers near your eyes!).
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Slice off the pineapple top along with enough pineapple for the top to stand upright. Set aside.
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Cut off and discard the pineapple’s brown outer skin, then slice the flesh into 1-inch-thick rounds. With a knife, core the tough center of each round, then grill the pineapple rings until grill marks appear, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Let cool, then slice into 2- to 3-inch wedges.
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Stand the pineapple top on a serving platter. Surround it with the grilled pineapple wedges, sprinkle with the spiced-sugar dip, and serve with extra dip.
Photography Chelsea Kyle
Styling Drew Aichele
