Summer is peak pineapple season, and the tropical fruit provides a refreshing element on barbecue menus. When it's time to fire up the grill, here are a few ways you can include fresh pineapple in your summer spread.

How to Include Fresh Pineapple in a Summer Dish

1. Grilled Steak, Pineapple & Avocado Salad

Fresh pineapple provides a complementary sweetness to the savory steak and creamy avocado. Season your steak with salt and pepper, then grill it with sliced pineapple rounds. Layer avocados sliced into half-moons between the pineapple and steak. Finally, drizzle a blended pineapple olive oil dressing over the dish, which can be served at room temperature, making it the perfect simple salad to graze on throughout the party. 

2. Jerk Baby Back Ribs With Pineapple Salsa

Baby back ribs are popular additions to summer barbecues, but if you're looking for a way to break from the norm, switch it up with a warm Caribbean spice rub, including nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne, and chile powder. Marinate the spice-rubbed ribs in red onion, soy sauce, jalapeño, and apple cider vinegar for 6–24 hours before grilling. After grilling, let the meat rest before brushing it with a pineapple brown sugar glaze. Finally, top the ribs with a bright salsa made of diced fresh pineapple, jalapeño, cilantro, lime, and bell pepper. 

3. Shrimp Pineapple Skewers

This tropical combination brings the island energy to any summer gathering. You can jazz up this skewer combination with different marinades and vegetables along with the shrimp and pineapple. Whether you want to dazzle your guests with spicy garlic and lime or sweet chili, shrimp and pineapple skewers are sure to be a hit. 

4. Grilled Pork Chops With Pineapple Turmeric Glaze

Pineapple juice is the star in this recipe as the unexpected addition to the marinade, which includes honey, vinegar, mustard, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, and turmeric. Baste the pork chops with the marinade several times as they grill over direct heat for about 4 minutes. The sugar in the pineapple-marinated pork will char the outside of the meat in the same way sugar caramelizes in crème brûlée, creating an irresistible crunch.

5. Grilled Pineapple

Whether you grill a halved pineapple or cut it into spears or rings, a few minutes on the barbecue will make the fruit into an easy snack, side, or topping to an existing dish. Make it dessert by cutting the pineapple into spears and brushing them with a blend of brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter before you pop them on the grill.

Find the fresh pineapple you need for your summertime cooking at Dole/Tropical Fruits Distributors of Hawaii in Honolulu. While known for their famously sweet Royal Hawaiian® Tropical Gold Pineapples®, they also sell local papayas, Waialua coffee, and Hawaiian chocolate. If you can't make it to the islands, these fruits can be shipped in cases for free across the U.S. Call (808) 847-3234 or visit them online to find out more about their offerings.