Bright and juicy with a hint of sourness, it’s hard to not love this slightly prickly tropical fruit that’s indigenous to South America. Different nations from all over the world have adopted this majestic bunch of berries (yes – a pineapple is a group of berries fused together!) as part of their cuisine. It’s jam-packed full of vitamin C as well as the enzyme bromelain, which helps to reduce inflammation. A single pineapple is a huge serving to eat on its own but fear not, for we have prepared a spread of delightful dishes and desserts you can make with this sweet and sour fruit.

1. Sweet and Sour Chicken

The Cantonese have really nailed pineapple use in savory recipes with this crunchy and chewy Sweet and Sour Chicken. Known in Cantonese as Ku Lo Yuk, this aromatic dish is a hot favorite at economy rice stalls, cze char eateries and Chinese restaurants alike. Pineapples are key to making the addictive sauce in this dish, and the addition of honey and sugar speeds up the caramelisation of this sweet and sour fruit. We love the added crunch of the red and green peppers, and are unashamed of ladling generous portions of this umami sauce over our steaming hot plates of rice. Want your deep-fried chicken chunks to stay crispy and warm while you make the sauce? Keep it in a hot oven, double fry it (for guaranteed crunchiness) or just simply don’t let it cook in the sauce for more than 10 seconds by coating it really quickly and then serving.  

• Related: 10 Simple Asian Appetisers For Easy Eating

2. Gula Melaka Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Pineapples are super easy fruits to work with (once you’ve mastered the art of removing the skin) for baking. Their fibrous nature means they hold up well to the high heat compared to other common fruits like apples and pears, giving you a beautiful finish for this Gula Melaka Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Gula Melaka and pineapples go so well together in this easy-to-make dessert. The intense nutty and almost coffee like flavors of the coconut palm sugars enrich the sweet and sour notes of the pineapple, giving you an extraordinary cake that is way more flavorful than your average butter bakes. Serve it warm and its heavenly aroma will surely draw everyone around the house to it. Oh, and if you’re often stuck with cakes that don’t come off their bottoms easily despite some vigorous shaking, perhaps its time to upgrade your cake tins.

• Related: 10 Quick and Easy Desserts to Sweeten Your Day

3. Prawn And Pineapple Curry

Want to maximize the flavors, fibers and colors of pineapples? Then add this Prawn And Pineapple Curry dish to your dinner tonight! This attractive Thai-style curry combines fresh succulent prawns with soft chewy eggplants and juicy sautéed pineapples in a lusciously rich and spicy gravy. The creaminess from the coconut milk balances out the spicy kick from the chili padi, though you can reduce the number of chilies if you are serving it to the younger ones. Another tip to retain the beautiful red color of the chilies without the heat is to deseed all of them first before blending. Pair this sweet and tangy dish with a bowl of steaming rice and let the grains soak up all that goodness.

4. Pineapple Tart

These cute little Pineapple Tarts are a fun way to fill a stay-in weekend with the kids. If you have one or two ripe pineapples sitting at home, you could even make the jam by yourself. The benefit of home-made jams is that you can control the amount of sugar and additives that go in. Roll out the dough and cut them into funky shapes with cookie cutters – an activity that the kids will surely love. If you don’t have cutters, you can fashion some round ones out of skinny drinking glasses or shape the balls with your hands. These tea-time treats don’t always have to be enjoyed over the Lunar New Year – you can make them for parties for post-meal desserts alike. Besides, who doesn’t like a chewy sticky sweet tart every now and then?

5. Ikan Kerisi Asam Jawa

Asam stew has this tangy sweet and sour taste that’s made possible by a few main ingredients such as asam keping (super sour), tamarind (sour-sweet) and pineapples (sweet-sour). A spoonful of this spicy concoction is sure to wake up your senses, and the right amount of savory from the belecan, shallots and ikan bilis keeps you coming back for more. This yummy dish is really popular in Sumatra and Malaysia, and you’ll definitely catch a whiff of it when someone is preparing the classic Ikan Kerisi Asam Jawa. It goes well with most fishes, so don’t worry if you don’t have any snapper at home. Want some vegetables soaking up this mouth-watering sauce as well? Feel free to toss in some lady’s fingers (okra) or tomatoes while the gravy is simmering.

• Related: 10 Must Try Seafood Recipes

6. Healthy Pineapple Tarts (Nastar Sehat)

For the health-conscious cooks who skipped the decadent pineapple tarts above because of a sugar overload, these Healthy Pineapple Tarts (Nastar Sehat) might be the perfect alternative you are seeking. They are equally tasty and crumbly – the earthy scent of vanilla essence and cinnamon, and the natural sweetness of pineapples will make you forget that this is a healthier version of the festive treat. Roll them up and bake them for a sweet snack anytime of the day.