Richard Ousby, head chef at Stokehouse, has a delicious recipe for those desiring something hot and sweet.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

1 ripe pineapple (I like to use Bethonga)
250g brown sugar
1 star anise
6 Szechwan pepper corns
1 cinnamon stick
3 cloves
300ml water

Method:

  • Preheat oven to 160°C
  • Place the spices, brown sugar and water in a small pan
  • Bring to the boil and set aside to infuse
  • Cut the husk from the pineapple
  • Place in a shallow dish standing upright and pour over stained syrup
  • Place in 160°C oven
  • Every 10 to 15 minutes open the oven and using a large spoon ladle over the syrup
  • After about 35 minutes turn the pineapple over and continue until everything is nice and sticky
  • Be careful not to burn the pineapple. The longer it cooks, the easier it is to burn, but the better it becomes!
  • Let it cool a little then thinly slice
  • Coat the sliced pineapple with the reduced syrup, then spoon some vanilla ice cream on top
  • Curl up on the couch and enjoy!

Richard Ousby is head chef at Stokehouse, Sidon Street, South Bank.