Basic Cornbread Is Sweeter And More Tender With Just One Fruity Addition

What's better than a warm slice of cornbread, straight from the skillet? Whether it leans salty or sweet, a slice of this quick bread can add buttery flavor to any meal. Most home cooks are familiar with cornbread, whether you bake it or try another unexpected cooking method, but they might not have heard of another way to make it: adding pineapple. The tropical fruit makes it come out sweeter, much more tender, and tangier, leading to a unique bite.

Make sure to first chop up the pineapple into small pieces. You don't want big chunks in your cornbread; you want little pieces that blend well into the batter and don't overtake the original flavor too much. Raw pineapple contains an enzyme  called bromelain, which can break down the gluten in the cornbread and prevent it from rising correctly.  Saute the fruit before adding it to your recipe to essentially deactivate the bromelain and prevent rising issues. (This will slightly soften the pineapple's flavor, but it's worth it for a bread that bakes the way it should.) Then, mix the cooked fruit into your cornbread batter and bake as usual. If you don't have time to cook your pineapple, another option is to use canned crushed pineapple and add it directly to the batter — because the canning process neutralizes the bromelain. Just make sure you drain it beforehand.

Although pineapple adds sweetness to the cornbread, it still works well with savory flavors. Though it sounds counterintuitive, mixing shredded sharp cheddar cheese into your cornbread batter alongside the pineapple can make for a surprisingly delicious end result. The tangy, fruity flavor contrasts with the rich sharpness of the cheese. Pineapple pairs well with spicy flavors, too, especially jalapeño. Add jalapeño slices to the top of your cornbread or dice them up and and add to the batter as well.

For mains, you should also lean into pairings that contrast the cornbread with rich, savory flavors or a bit of spice. In the world of barbecue consider sticky barbecue pork ribs, burnt ends, or pulled pork. Caribbean cuisine, with its stewed meats and heavily spiced dishes, is also a natural pair. Dipping the sweet cornbread in the spicy sauces of an oxtail stew or alongside jerk chicken would make for a tasty bite. Pineapple cornbread also makes a great complement to soups and stews — again opt for recipes that are rich, savory, and spicy like red peas soup, a Caribbean classic with roots in Jamaica. This hearty bowl of goodness has similar components to chili (which this cornbread would also go well with), and features kidney beans, meat, and lots of spice, going great with the tangy cornbread. 

If you prefer sweeter flavors, you can stick to a more basic pineapple cornbread. In its simplest form, it's similar to the flavor of pineapple upside-down cake minus the cherries and gooeyness. Topping your cornbread with homemade honey butter makes for a unique sweet treat, too. Whether sweet or savory, this twist on cornbread might become a household favorite.