There exists on Reddit, threads upon threads on whether pineapple belongs on pizza. It would appear that this debate has no end in sight because of the subjectivity of taste. The recurring theme at least for those that dislike it, is whether it is merely an issue of texture over taste.

Last week, I found an overly ripe pineapple that I had neglected, sitting in a fruit bowl, looking rather lonesome. Well, as lonesome as a pineapple can be I suppose. Anyway, I had marinated chicken thighs with the intention of making a scallion stir fried rice. At the last minute, I thought about adding fresh pineapples to it but then realized, perhaps it would make more sense to caramelize the pineapple separately. So, I cooked down (with no real measurements) pineapple, soy sauce, molasses, sugar and ground African bird’s eye chili. This was served atop the chicken and rice.

So could it work? A re-imagined version of pineapple on pizza? I think so. Where would one begin? Here’s one version I would try. Firstly, I would omit the tomato base and instead replace it with a cheese sauce or cheese base, opting for one that pairs well with pineapple. I’m a big fan of Comté but truthfully, I have never tried it on pizza. And then I would add the caramelized pineapple topping which would round out the pairing of sweet and savory rather nicely. At least that is what I concluded after my initial test (not pictured). Then I would garnish it with herbs that not only add color but enhance the respective flavors - cilantro for sure, dependent on the choice of cheese used. Personally, I think a happy medium can exist with pineapple on pizza, you just have to be willing play around with different flavors combinations.