Caramelized Pineapple with Siempre Tequila and Saffron

What to do when your son arrives with 15 fresh pineapples?  If you are a crazy canner like me, you make caramelized pineapple using my favourite tequila, Siempre Plata- 100% Canadian owned, winner of numerous awards and distilled in the town of Tequila Mexico.

Caramelized pineapple with tequila and saffron.

 This recipe is from "Saving the Season", one of my "go to" preserving books.

To make approximately two liters.


Ingredients
12       allspice berries
12       black peppercorns
6         cloves
2 cups tequila (reposado is called for, but I used Siempre plata)
1/4 cup honey
24 threads  saffron
2 - 5lbs  pineapples
1 cup  organic sugar (I used coconut sugar)

Directions

Crack the spices and combine them in a small saucepan with the tequila, water honey and saffron.  Bring to a boil, remove from heat and set aside.

Core and slice the pineapples, into quarters, then 1/2-inch slices.

Put the sugar on a plate and press each pineapple slice into it to coat one side.  Lay the slices on a foil-lined baking sheet, sugar side up in a single layer. Place the pineapple slices in a 500 degree oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until they are partially caramelized.  Carefully transfer the hot pineapple to a bowl.

Pack the pineapple into prepared, sterilized wide mouth jars- I used 1 litre and 500 ml jars.  Add any liquid left in the bowl to the syrup.

Bring the syrup to a boil and ladle it over the pineapple slices to cover, leaving 1/2-inch headspace.  Seal and process in a boiling water bath for 15 (500 ml jars) to 20 minutes (1 litre jars).Turn off the heat and let sit in the canner for about five minute before removing the jars.  Allow the jars to cure for at least one week before opening.

Wanna Play?

Mango on the bottom and avocado on the top.  Love the Siempre tequila!

I had a lot of tequila saffron syrup left over.    I now have a couple of jars of grilled mango and a jar of grilled avocado curing in my pantry.  Will provide an update in the next few weeks.

If you want to go non-alcoholic, substitute water for the tequila.