If you’ve had your fill of comfort food and yearn for something fresh and light, turn to the tropics for winter’s seasonal fruits and vegetables. These sweet and savory recipes make the most of pineapples, bananas, avocados in fresh-tasting salads, curries, stir-fries, and more.
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RecipeSeared Scallops with Blood Orange-Shallot Sauce
Though worthy of company, this dish is made with just a few ingredients. Blood orange juice gives the sauce a lovely color, but you could substitute any kind of orange juice as long as it’s freshly squeezed. -
RecipePassionfruit & Citrus Salad with Coconut Meringues
Passionfruit, kiwi, mango, blood oranges, star fruit, and pineapple come together in a tropical salad that makes a refreshing winter dessert. -
RecipePineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp & Cashews
This classic Thai dish is full of contrasts: Tender rice is complemented by crunchy cashews; sweet pineapple and raisins bring out the salty backdrop of fish sauce; and fresh cilantro plays up the earthy notes in soy sauce. -
RecipeTropical Mango Sorbet
Papaya and pineapple juice build on the clean, sweet flavor of mango in this sorbet, while a splash of coconut milk smoothes its texture. -
RecipeAvocado, Mango, and Pineapple Salad with Pistachios and Pickled Shallots
A shower of peppery greens balances the sweetness of the mango in this salad, and lets the avocado shine through. -
RecipeFire and Ice Chili
Under- or barely-ripe bananas are a key ingredient in this quick curry. They’ll hold together in the sauce and they add a wonderful texture and body to the dish. -
RecipeTropical Upside-Down Cake
Here’s a dessert designed to beat the winter blues. Take one bite of this rum-spiked pineapple-mango cake, and you can practically hear steel drums playing an island tune. -
RecipePineapple, Papaya, Starfruit & Blood Orange Salad
One reviewer calls this vanilla-spiked salad “sunshine in a bowl” and the fresh mint is an especially refreshing accent. -
RecipeMillet Salad with Avocado & Citrus
Grain salads aren’t just for summer potlucks. This salad is the perfect way to brighten up grilled or roasted meat and seafood. -
RecipeRoasted Carrots and Pineapple with Brown Butter Vinaigrette
Made sumptuous yet light by the yogurt base, this soup makes an elegant starter. Skillet-roasted pepitas with lime and chile add a welcome crunch. -
RecipeCherimoya-Lime Sorbet
Inside the scaly green skin of a ripe cherimoya lies sweet, smooth flesh that tastes like a combination of banana, pineapple, papaya, and strawberry. It’s custardy texture becomes airy and mousse-like in this dessert. -
RecipeThai-Style Halibut & Banana Curry with Peanuts
Under- or barely-ripe bananas are a key ingredient in this quick curry. They’ll hold together in the sauce and they add a wonderful texture and body to the dish. -
RecipeSpicy Papaya Salad
This savory fruit salad is great with chicken, fish, or roast pork. The optional allspice is a nod to its Jamaican inspiration. -
RecipeRoasted Pineapple & Coconut Shortcakes
Move over, strawberries. Pineapple is delicious roasted and these shortcakes make a surprising winter dessert. -
RecipePumpkin Pineapple Mousse Pie
Give traditional pumpkin pie a sweet, tropical twist with the addition of crushed pineapple and pineapple juice.
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RecipeCold Avocado Soup with Chile-Lime Pepitas
Made sumptuous yet light by the yogurt base, this soup makes an elegant starter. Skillet-roasted pepitas with lime and chile add a welcome crunch. -
RecipeGlazed Pork Loin with Pineapple-Scallion Chutney
This twist on the classic pairing of pineapple and ham uses the fruit in a delicious maple-infused glaze and a sweet-spicy chutney for roast pork.
