Dehydrated Pineapple Cubes

Pineapple

Compared to fresh fruit, dehydrated fruit loses water and concentrates fibre, sugars and minerals, thus becoming a nutritious, satiating and not excessively caloric snack. It is a product prepared from fresh pineapple, peeled, cut and subjected to dehydration using hot air.

Pineapple ( Ananas comosus ) is a fruit native to the tropical area between Central America and South America. This plant prefers a consistently warm climate throughout the year.

The pineapple is covered with a leathery brown rind and the fruit inside has a very juicy, sweet and slightly acidic pulp, pleasant to the taste and with an intense and characteristic fragrance. Surrounded by the pulp, in the center there is a fibrous stem, hard and therefore not pleasant to eat.

The Indians called this fruit " anana " or " perfume ", while the conquistadors believed it was a sort of tropical, or rather Indian, " piña " and even in Europe it was called the "royal pine cone".

This fruit can be consumed in different ways: fresh, cooked, juiced or preserved.

Properties and Benefits

Eaten dried or fresh, the pineapple fruit contains numerous benefits for our body and our health.

The high presence of vitamin C guarantees correct functioning of the immune system and faster absorption of iron. Furthermore, if you eat pineapple at the end of a physical activity, any sense of fatigue and tiredness is significantly reduced.

Pineapple is also rich in magnesium and potassium , elements of fundamental importance for the nervous system, for building the skeleton, for muscle contraction and for fat metabolism.

Vitamin C from pineapple is a valid help both "internal" and "external". For example, it helps treat acne and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Pineapple is a rich source of this vitamin. Eating pineapple wedges or simply drinking fresh juice helps you reap the benefits of vitamin C and prevent hair loss by increasing its texture. Daily consumption of pineapple can help prevent and alleviate inflammatory conditions that affect the scalp, thanks to anti-inflammatory enzymes.

Among the health benefits of pineapple we also find the ability to improve respiratory health, cure coughs and colds, improve digestion, help lose weight and reduce cellulite, improve eye health, reduce inflammation...

Pineapple is often considered a " fat burner" and a "metabolism accelerator" thanks to the presence of Bromelain . This is why the so-called "pineapple diet" is so well known.

Bromelain allows you to easily digest the most complex proteins. The acids it contains improve diuresis and this characteristic makes it one of the most recommended foods in diets, especially for reducing cellulite.

Sliced ​​dehydrated pineapple is tasty and delicious, a great satiating snack to enjoy!

Yogurt cake with pineapple and raisins

For the cake:

- 250 g of 00 flour

- 50 g of potato starch or cornstarch

- 200 g of granulated sugar (even 180)

- 3 medium whole eggs

- 100 g of dehydrated pineapple

- 3 spoonfuls of sultanas

- 2 jars of pineapple flavored yogurt (not cold from the fridge)

- 1 tablespoon of sunflower seed oil

- 1 sachet of baking powder

To decorate:

- 1 500g box of pineapple in syrup

- Candied cherries or black cherries in syrup to taste

- Powdered sugar

- A few spoonfuls of Rum

METHOD :

In the bowl of the mixer, whip the sugar and whole eggs to a soft cream. In a second bowl, insert the pineapple and add warm water mixed with the Rum until all the fruit is covered. Leave everything to soak for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do the same with the raisins.

Turn on the oven in static mode at 180°, butter and flour the mold (I use 26 cm donuts). Sift the flour with the starch and the yeast, and add them by spoonfuls to the swollen mass of eggs and sugar, alternating with the yogurt and finally add the oil.

Let the pineapple drain well then pass it through the food processor for a few seconds, you will obtain a mixture that is much easier to mix into the dough without it being appreciated by those who don't like it. Also dab the raisins and then add them together with the pineapple to the mixture, mixing gently with a spatula.

Pour everything into the dough and bake for about 45 minutes in the oven. Once the time is up, let the cake with pineapple and raisins cool. Drain the pineapple from the syrup and sprinkle the icing sugar.