Grandma Enie's Quick and Easy Pineapple Salad Recipe

My mother-in-law was a sweet woman and an excellent cook. This is her recipe.

Grandma Enie's Pineapple Salad

Grandma Enie was my husband's mother. Her name was Eloise Elizabeth Preston, and "Enie" was her nickname. She was a sweet woman, a wonderful mother-in-law, and an excellent cook. I learned a lot from her and considered her a friend.

I thought I knew most of her recipes, having eaten at her home many times prior to her death in 2005. My husband, however, surprised me about a month ago by asking me to fix him something that I had never heard him mention in the entire 43 years I've known him. Out of the blue one day, he said he wanted a pineapple salad. He told me his taste buds were calling for this dish that his mother used to make. He then explained how his mom used to make it, and I replied that I had never heard of such a thing before.

This salad was so delicious and so simple to make. There are only four ingredients and it takes less than a minute to prepare when you have all of the ingredients on hand. All you need is iceberg lettuce, pineapple slices, shredded cheese, and mayo.

Pineapple Salad Recipe

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 cup iceberg lettuce
• 1 slice pineapple
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese of your choice
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Instructions

1. Arrange the iceberg lettuce on a plate.
2. Place the pineapple slice on top of the lettuce, in the center.
3. Sprinkle the cheese so that it covers the lettuce and the pineapple.
4. Spread the mayo from the center of the salad outward.

That's it! In under 60 seconds, you have one serving each of fruit and vegetable that is under 200 calories. My husband loves this salad. It is delicious and filling—and sometimes he will eat it in place of a meal, rather than as a side dish.

The next time you need something quick to fix, keep this easy recipe in mind. I am so happy to share this with readers, and I'm even more pleased that when I was searching online I did not find anything like it. This is why I named this "Grandma Enie's Pineapple Salad."

Iceberg Lettuce: Nutritional Information

Iceberg lettuce only has about one calorie per slice, but it is full of water, which will keep you hydrated. According to Healthline, there are trace amounts of the following nutrients in this vegetable: Vitamins A, C, and K; calcium, potassium, and folate. Iceberg lettuce can help you feel full without having to consume a lot of calories and fat.

For the pineapple salad, I purchase a bag of shredded lettuce from the grocery store to save time. My husband says his mother used leaves from a head of lettuce.

Cheese: Notes and Nutritional Information

Back in Grandma Enie's day, most cooks had to use a metal cheese grater in order to shred cheese. My husband says his mother always used sharp Colby cheese. I alternate between mozzarella, Colby, and pepper jack. Just like the lettuce, I purchase the cheese in a bag, already shredded from the grocery store.

If you prefer to shred your own lettuce and cheese, that's fine. I'm giving you the shortcut version for those who are short on time. The nutritional value will differ depending on the brand, but you can count on all cheeses to have protein, calcium, and vitamin D.

Mayo Can Be Substituted

In today's health-conscious world, there are those who say regular mayo contains too much cholesterol and fat. This is might be true, but back in Grandma Enie's day, folks worked with what they had. If you prefer, you can use a substitute. My husband enjoys mayonnaise, and for this recipe, only a single tablespoon is needed. There are about 90-100 calories in most brands of real mayo.

Pineapple: Health Benefits

I use Dole pineapple slices which come in a can for about $2. There are about 50 calories to each slice and lots of juice in the can if you enjoy drinking it. According to Healthline, pineapples have many important health benefits.

First of all, they are loaded with nutrition. One cup of pineapple chunks contains:

• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 21.6 grams
• Fiber: 2.3 grams
• Vitamin C: 131% of the RDI
• Manganese: 76%
• Vitamin B6: 9%
• Copper: 9%
• Thiamin: 9%
• Folate: 7%
• Potassium: 5%
• Magnesium: 5%
• Niacin: 4%
• Pantothenic acid: 4%
• Riboflavin: 3%
• Iron: 3%

(Note: One slice of pineapple will naturally contain only trace amounts of these nutrients.)

Pineapple has these additional benefits, as well:

• Powerful antioxidants
• Easily digestible enzymes
• Helps boost the immune system and suppress inflammation
• Helps speed recovery after strenuous exercise or surgery
• May help with arthritis

To wrap it all up, this fruit is a delicious, inexpensive, and healthy addition to your diet.

© 2019 Cheryl E Preston

Comments

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on August 29, 2019:

This does sound good. I've never thought of combining pineapple and cheese before, but I like the idea very much.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on August 29, 2019:

Wow! sounds good and so simple. Thanks for sharing.

Margaret Minnicks from Richmond, VA on August 29, 2019:

Cheryl, I have made a pineapple salad, but I haven't eaten one in a long time. You have reminded me how good the salad is and I will make one again soon.

I am sure your husband enjoyed it and was reminded of his mother as he ate every bite.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on August 29, 2019:

This recipe sounds like a low calorie delightful dish. Thank you.