A pineapple meat dish

Among sweet-and-sour dishes, there are many combinations of ingredients. One refreshing combination that my household likes greatly is that of pineapple and meat. The meat can be anything from ready-to-use items like sausage, ham, to leftover cooked meat. It's preferred that the meat is rather salty. The pineapple provides the sweetness and the fruit juice to the dish. It should be the last item to be added, else the pineapple will break down with too much heat. Ketchup is also an essential ingredient not only to enhance the flavor of the dish, but also to provide a soft gluey texture. Other than meat and pineapple, one or two more vegetables can be added, to give a more interesting color, texture and flavor. Vegetables that would go well in this dish are those that are juicy but won't turn watery on heat, can be eaten raw but not leafy, such as celery, bell pepper. The ratio of meat to vegetables to pineapple is roughly 1:1:1 by volume. I also like to use a flavored oil to give the dish a touch of herbs and spices.


Recipe: Sweet and sour dish of pineapple, ham and celery (for 2)


Ingredients:
- 4 oz ham, cut to 1/2" cubes
- 3/4 cup pineapples, cut to 3/4" cubes
- 1/2 cup celery, cut to 1/2" cubes
- 1 tablespoon (TB) chipotle bread dip oil
- 2 teaspoons (tp) parsley flakes
- 2 TB ketchup


Procedure:
1. Place ham cubes in a small pan with enough water to cover them. Boil for 3-5 minutes to remove the salt and to soften. Drain water.
2. Heat chipotle bread dip oil in a sauce pan. Add ham and celery to fry for a few minutes until it has developed a freshened green color. Mix in pineapples and parsley flakes. Add 2 TB ketchup and stir for 2-3 minutes until the ingredients are incorporated with the ketchup. Serve right away.

Another flavorful variation is to add apple and the stems of some fast-cooking greens, such as choy sum.