Grilling with fruit is an easy and staple technique in the summertime – it gives fresh flavor to ordinary BBQ dishes and is a healthy compliment to whatever it is your grilling. This recipe is a Spicy Hawaiian Chicken with a Grilled Pineapple Salsa, made of cilantro, jalapeno pepper and onion (if you prefer a less spicy dish, substitute a red bell pepper instead of the jalapeno). The BBQ sauce is spicy and sweet made with honey, garlic, hot sauce, ketchup and soy sauce (you can also make less spicy by adding more ketchup and soy and honey in place of the hot sauces). The dish is rounded out by a side of rice, perfect mixed in with the pineapple jalapeno salsa and grilled chicken. Top it off with a refreshing frozen watermelon martini (recipe following) – made with vodka, fresh juicy watermelon, crushed ice and some cosmopolitan martini mix…now that’s a sweet and savory dinner perfect for a summer night. Enjoy!
Grilling with fruit is an easy and staple technique in the summertime - it gives fresh flavor to ordinary BBQ dishes and is a healthy compliment to whatever it is your grilling. This recipe is a Spicy Hawaiian Chicken with a Grilled Pineapple Salsa, made of cilantro, jalapeno pepper and onion (if you prefer a less spicy dish, substitute a red bell pepper instead of the jalapeno). The BBQ sauce is spicy and sweet made with honey, garlic, hot sauce, ketchup and soy sauce (you can also make less spicy by adding more ketchup and soy and honey in place of the hot sauces). The dish is rounded out by a side of rice, perfect mixed in with the pineapple jalapeno salsa and grilled chicken. Top it off with a refreshing frozen watermelon martini (recipe following) - made with vodka, fresh juicy watermelon, crushed ice and some cosmopolitan martini mix...now that's a sweet and savory dinner perfect for a summer night. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 1/4 c pineapple juice
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Country Sweet sauce
- 1 tbsp Chili Garlic sauce
- 1/2 tbsp Cholula hot pepper sauce
- Fresh ground pepper
- 4 chicken breasts (skinless, boneless, preferably organic for plumper breasts)
- Cooking spray
- 4 pineapple slices for grilling, then diced
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and deveined, chopped (or 1/2 red bell pepper)
- 2 cups cooked rice (white or yellow)
Instructions
- Combine the first seven ingredients to make the BBQ marinade and add the chicken breasts, storing in a Ziplock bag or covered baking dish, reserving some of the marinade for basting. Let marinate for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the rice per package instructions, keep warm and fluff with a fork when ready to serve.
- To prep the grilled pineapple salsa, chop the jalapeno pepper, red onion and cilantro into a medium dice, mix together and set aside to add grilled pineapple for serving.
- Heat the grill or grill pan over medium-high heat (spray the grates or pan with cooking spray just before grilling). Grill chicken breasts about 6-7 minutes per side, basting with the reserved marinade a few times on each side until the chicken gets a nice golden brown color and grill marks. Grill the pineapple slices about 1 minute until browned and chop into medium diced pieces. Mix pineapple chunks into the jalapeno, onion and cilantro mixture, and serve with the chicken and rice. Garnish with some extra cilantro leaves and salt and pepper to taste.
Frozen Watermelon Martinis:
4 shots vodka
4 cups ice
2 cups fresh watermelon
1 cup cosmopolitan martini mix
Mix all ingredients together in a blender and serve in martini glasses with fresh watermelon wedges for garnish.
Makes 4 cocktails.
