Summer is back on my island. Or what I like to think of as my island, when in reality I live in a city at least a couple of hours from the nearest beach…even more if you are looking for the pristine shores you see in travel magazines. That being said, I am still a part of this archipelago and thusly take island life as my birthright. As I take tropical island fruits as my birthright.
Mangoes, bananas, mangosteens, guavas, papayas, chicos, rambutans, jack fruit, star apples, and pineapples…I love them all. Sweet, creamy, or juicy…they tell tales of warm sunny days and clear blue skies under which they basked with nary a care in the world. When the weather turns steamy, as it is unapologetically doing right at this minute, my thoughts and my market basket turns to these fine specimens of the tropics.
Mangoes, as I have already mentioned, are at the top of my list. I thank God every day that I live amongst the finest. Pineapples are a close second – its toe-curling sweetness and sticky juiciness heralds summer in with pomp and promise. Even succeeding in distracting me from the heat for the few glorious moments I am enjoying it. My favorite way to have pineapples is the same as with mangoes – straight from the fridge. There is nothing quite like chilled tropical fruit on a hot hot HOT summer day.
Although this isn’t bad either…
Brown Sugar Roasted Pineapple
- 1 small pineapple
- about 4 tablespoons brown sugar (I used demerara sugar with large crystals)
– Slice your pineapple as I did here, but leave the slices thick.
– Lay pineapple slices on a baking sheet or pan and sprinkle with brown sugar. Depending on the size of your pineapple, and your penchant for sweets, you may need more or less.
– Roast in a 200C oven for about 20-30 minutes or until edges are caramelized.
I know roasting fruit in the heat of our Philippine summer seems counter intuitive, and adding sweetness to an already perfectly sweet fruit may seem pointless, but hear me out. Sometimes one needs variety, even in the blinding heat of summer when all you want is to lay still with cold wet towels all over your body. Yes, I know that eating pineapple straight from the fridge is all you can fathom doing right now. But just try…try to get your flip-flopped feet to the oven and give this a go. It is too easy to even warrant a recipe, even if I did try to eke one out for you here. It is infinitely adaptable and forgiving (use as much or as little sugar as you want, use less or more than a whole pineapple, grab that bottle of rum and add a splash). And when you pile a couple of caramelized slices in a bowl with some vanilla ice cream you will be glad you took the little effort it takes to make this 🙂
If you are one of my co-islanders, hang on, as this is looking to be one of our hottest summers yet! If you are on the other side of world, perhaps in a place where it is as cold as it is hot over here, I’ll trade you some of this pineapple for a box of fresh snow!
That pineapple looks so tempting! A lovely way of preparing it.
Cheers,
Rosa
Ahh Jo – you forgot lansones! I miss Philippine fruits. The roasted pineapple sounds divine as well – would you trade some for timtams instead? 🙂
Sometimes it's just the beauty of living in a tropical country. I should try grilling some pineapples soon. We have some abundant mangoes in our garden – some indian and apple mangoes. I think some of them needs to be given away.
Gosh….now you make me really miss home. I miss the heat and all the tropical fruits very much 🙁 It's so bitterly cold here in Scotland. Love your roasted pineapple. I must try it.
I have had occasion to smoke pineapple. It was great!
Ooo, how delicious that all sounds and summer… I am slightly jealous now although we did see the sun today for the first time in … well forever so I cannot complain really. And your roasted pineapple brings me even more sweet summer memories!
Oh, I have some fresh pineapple in the refrigerator now and I know what to do with it! This sounds delicious! Just wish it were warm here to go with the luscious pineapple!
You really make me long for summer. This is a great idea for pineapple!
Pineapples are my favm even more than mangoes.
Yay for your summer. I am so HAPPY we are now in autumn. 😉
Hi Rosa! Thanks, I really enjoyed it!
Hi Trissa! Lansones, of course! Another delicious fruit! I’ve always longed for the berries and figs that we don’t have here, but at the end of the day I’m truly thankful for the wide array of tropical sweetness that we do have 🙂 Definitely, timtams are welcome!
Hi Divina! You are lucky to have that bounty right in your own backyard! If you need help finding new homes for your extra mangoes I’m always more than willing to make space…heeheehee 🙂
Hi Marymoh! Hang on and keep warm! Hope you can give this a go!
Hi Ed! Smoked pineapple…sounds intriguing!
Hi Junglefrog! Hope the sun will be making more appearances over where you are soon!
Hi Pam! Sending you warm thoughts! Hope you like the pineapple!
Hi Redmenace! Glad you think so 🙂 Wish I could send you some of my summer!
Hi Anh! Hang on for summer! And luscious pineapples! I can eat a load of this fruit!
It's the mangoes that I miss most. Both the indian and the "cebu" kind. We had a lot of mangoes in our orchard in the province and I remember when we were kids, my sibs and I would have our own stash. I don't know why we had to hide it haha…
This brown sugar roasted pineapple is refreshing, specially during the summer… i prolly will eat it with magnolia macapuno ice cream… or mantecado ice cream… now I'm craving for it na… hahaha!
Lol. I feel the same way about our home and I think I'm kind of lame compared to our brethren really out there in the pastures and beaches. Oh well! (But you can keep the jackfruit… sorry! 😛 )
Anyway, This looks phenomenal and I would love it on ice cream, or in a pie, or on panna cotta, or or or…
Grilled pineapple is great and I'm with you on cold tropical fruits. Yum. Even better cold tropical fruits on the beach. Heaven.
Joey, I'm with ya about the mangoes, top of my list everytime. But this brown sugar roasted pineapple is just as mouthwatering!
I envy you the bounty of fruits you have right now.
I LOVE PINEAPPLE!! I've been dying to try it cooked this way for awhile now. Time to get on that cause it looks so good!
Hi Malou! What a great childhood memory! Mmmm…love matecado ice cream…now you’ve given me a new idea for eating these!
Hi Manggy! Well, we still live here so we can claim the beaches as ours as well 😉 I love langka!!! I especially love them frozen…mmm!
Hi Wizzy! You said it…the beach would definitely make things perfect!
Hi Veron! Love our mangoes! I’m making the most of the fruits to keep my mind off the heat! 🙂
Hi Ash! Isn’t it just such a wonderful exciting type of fruit? 🙂 Let me know if you give it a try!
"Mangoes, bananas, mangosteens, guavas, papayas, chicos, rambutans, jack fruit, star apples, and pineapples…I love them all" me too! me too! And oh our mangoes!!
I've done this as well, but on the grill. So good! But I always feel guilty adding sugar to things Mother Nature has already sweetened perfectly.
Yum, goes well with grilled halibut too! And true, this makes me miss home a lot…
Hi Nens! Ah my sister in fruit 🙂 I know what you mean about the added sugar…but what can I do, I’m greedy! 😉 I wish I had a grill!
Hi Mirage! Mmmm…must try it with grilled fish…I imagine with grilled pork as well!
Tropical fruit from the tropics! I do miss living in these parts.
Hi Bordeaux! These parts miss you too I’m sure! 🙂
Mmm that looks delicious! I love pineapple. I used to eat so much, I would get very painful acid stomach! Maybe roasting them beforehand will help 🙂
Looks colorful n yummy!
Hi Pippa! Not sure if the roasting will help the acid but I hope it does! 🙂
Hi Aruna! Thanks 🙂
Looks amazing!
Thanks Jo! 🙂
I'm with ya on the tropical fruits 🙂 Thank God every day I now live in Thailand where I CAN take incredible fresh fruit all year round completely for granted (and those pineapples are a must-try!)
Hi Tasty Thailand! Truly! Although I must admit I sometimes have flashes of insane jealousy at those who can enjoy an abundance of berries and figs…but then I just take a bite from a mango and I quickly forget them!