Pineapple Salad

Name: Pineapple Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped; 1 cup green cabbage, chopped; 1/2 cup pineapple tidbits canned, drained; 2 tbsp fresh cilantro; 2 tbsp red onion, chopped; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp olive oil; 1 tsp honey

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Eating a pineapple salad made with green lettuce and cabbage covered in a light apple cider vinegar dressing is a delicious way to start your meal. Using canned pineapple tidbits allows you to make this salad any time of the year, so if you are needing a light and yummy salad, look no further.

Tasty pineapples, arugula and cabbage with a dressing on a fork close up.

Using canned pineapple in your salad recipe ensures consistent quality and taste all year round, as it is preserved at peak ripeness and unaffected by seasonal fluctuations. This makes your pineapple salad an excellent and economical choice any time of the year, particularly beneficial for managing chronic kidney disease with its stable nutritional content. Canned fruits like pineapple provide a reliable and delicious fruit option for your diet, regardless of the season.

This Pineapple Salad is a part of the Mother's Day Brunch. This recipe, Strawberry Baked Oatmeal, Salmon Omelette, and Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls.

For More Recipes and Ideas --->> Get Your Free Meals and Recipes That Are Perfect for Pre-Dialysis Diets, Pre-Dialysis with Diabetes, or Dialysis Diets.

This salad pairs well with this amazing asparagus pasta side dish recipe. It makes a great part of a Mother's Day Brunch Meal as well.

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Ingredients
Instructions for this Recipe
Variations on Pineapple Salad
Storage
Top tip
FAQ about Salads with Pineapple
Related Kidney Friendly Meals
Pairing CKD Recipes

Ingredients

Romaine Lettuce: Adds crunch and volume; it's low in potassium, making it suitable for a kidney-friendly diet.
Green Cabbage: Provides fiber and vitamins while being low in potassium, beneficial for CKD management.
Canned Pineapple Tidbits: Offers a sweet and tangy flavor; it's lower in potassium compared to fresh pineapple and is consistent in nutrient content due to the canning process.
Fresh Cilantro: Enhances flavor with minimal sodium, helping to keep the dish kidney-friendly by avoiding excess salt.
Red Onion: Adds a sharp, slightly sweet flavor and is low in potassium, which is ideal for CKD diets.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Gives a tangy taste without adding sodium, making it a healthier choice for enhancing flavor in CKD diets.
Olive Oil: Provides healthy fats that are good for heart health, important for CKD patients who are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Honey: Offers natural sweetness without the need for processed sugars, which can be beneficial in managing blood sugar levels for CKD patients.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for this Recipe

This is a quick 2 step recipe for salad with pineapple.

pineapple salad ingredients in a bowl before adding dressing

1. Mix lettuce, cabbage, pineapple, cilantro and onion together in a bowl

dressing for pineapple salad mixed together

2. Immediately before serving, whisk together vinegar, oil, and honey. Pour over salad mix and toss to coat.

You can easily make this between cooking all the food, and when you are ready to serve you can combine all the ingredients for a light and tasty pineapple salads recipe for two.

Hint: Make your pineapple salad even better by letting the pineapple salad dressing—made of apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and honey—sit for about 10 to 15 minutes after mixing it. This resting period allows the flavors to meld together more fully, enhancing the overall taste of the dressing when poured over the salad. This simple step can make a noticeable difference in the flavor of your finished dish.

Variations on Pineapple Salad

Making the salad a little differently if you like to try different flavors is a great twist on a delicious recipe. You can try out these other options for salads that are good for people with CKD.

Mango and Bell Pepper Salad:
- Substitute pineapple with diced mango, which is also low in potassium.
- Add red bell pepper for a sweet, crunchy texture; bell peppers are very low in potassium.
- Replace cilantro with a sprinkle of fresh basil for a different but equally fresh herbal note.
Apple and Carrot Salad:
- Use diced apples instead of pineapple for a sweet and tart flavor; apples are lower in potassium.
- Shred carrots to add color and nutrients without significantly increasing potassium content.
- Swap red onion for a small amount of grated ginger to give a slightly spicy kick without adding sodium.
Pear and Spinach Salad:
- Substitute pineapple with diced pears, which are low in potassium and add a soft, sweet contrast.
- Use baby spinach instead of romaine lettuce for a change in texture and a good source of low-potassium greens.
- Introduce a small amount of toasted almonds for a nutty flavor and extra crunch, keeping the portion small to manage phosphorus intake.

Pineapple salad on a plate overhead shot with fork on side

Storage

To store your pineapple salad effectively, follow these steps to ensure it remains fresh and delicious:

Keep the Salad and Dressing Separate: If you have leftovers or are preparing the salad in advance, store the salad mix and dressing separately. This prevents the salad from becoming soggy.
Refrigerate in Airtight Containers: Place the salad mix in an airtight container and refrigerate. The dressing should also be stored in a separate airtight container in the fridge.
Consume Within a Few Days: For the best quality and freshness, consume the salad within 1-2 days. The dressing can last a bit longer, typically up to 5 days, if refrigerated properly.

By keeping the components separate and using airtight containers, your salad will maintain its texture and flavor when you're ready to enjoy it again.

Top tip

A top tip for enhancing your pineapple salad is to chill all the ingredients before assembling. This not only helps to keep the salad crisp and refreshing but also enhances the flavors, making it particularly enjoyable on a warm day. Cold ingredients ensure that the salad remains fresh from the first bite to the last, especially when served immediately after dressing.

FAQ about Salads with Pineapple

Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

Yes, you can use fresh pineapple if you prefer. Fresh pineapple will offer a different texture and a slightly more acidic taste compared to canned pineapple, which is typically softer and sweeter due to the syrup it's preserved in. Just be aware that fresh pineapple may have a higher potassium content, which could be a consideration for those with CKD.

What can I substitute for apple cider vinegar if I don't have it?

If you don't have apple cider vinegar, a good substitute is white wine vinegar or lemon juice. Both alternatives provide a similar tartness and acidity that can brighten the flavors of the salad without altering the overall taste profile too much. Lemon juice, in particular, adds a fresh citrus note that complements the pineapple well.

Looking for recipes that go together in a meal like this? Try these:

Pairing CKD Recipes

These are my favorite side dishes to serve with pineapple salads:

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