Pineapple-Apple Chicken

I love this recipe. It sounds more labor intensive than it is. If you brine the day before, it takes about an hour from start to serving. Chopping the apples takes about 10 minutes. Waiting for the sugar to dissolve, the apples to soften, and the pineapple to heat takes 15-20 minutes. 

INGREDIENTS, except for brine (see below)

Chicken tenderloins, brined, enough for one layer in a 9 x 13 baking dish, approximately 6-8 pieces.

1 16-ounce can pineapple chunks

½ cup water

¼ cup brown sugar

3 Tablespoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

3 small apples, cubed

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Grated cheddar cheese

Brine

¼ cup salt

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 cup water

Brine prep: Mix ingredients in small saucepan over low heat. Stir until salt is dissolved. Cool to room temperature. Pour into storage container (I use a one-gallon ziplock bag). Add chicken. CHICKEN MUST BE COVERED COMPLETELY. Brine for at least four hours. Overnight is preferred.

MAIN PREPARATION

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside.

Drain pineapple, reserving the juice. Set aside. Combine juice, water, sugar, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon into large saucepan (at least 4-quart). Simmer over low-to-medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Add apples. Simmer until apples are soft, stirring occasionally.

While mixture is stewing, remove chicken from brine and pat dry. Layer the tenderloins in the bottom of the baking dish.

Once apples are soft, add coconut and pineapple. Simmer until thoroughly heated. Pour over chicken, spreading the apples and pineapple evenly over the chicken. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle cheddar cheese to taste over the dish. Bake additional 10 minutes.

Serves approximately 3-4 people, 2-3 tenderloins per person.

I serve the chicken and fruit over organic brown rice with almonds, with a side dish of green beans or zucchini.