31 tropical recipes

Tropical fruit salad with mango, papaya, Asian pear, and kiwi tossed in cinnamon sugar. No cooking, no dressing, just ripe fruit and warm spice.

Lighter muffins made with crushed pineapple, coconut flavoring, and vanilla. Golden, tender, and not too sweet. A Weight Watchers-friendly bake that freezes well for easy breakfasts.

Old-fashioned stovetop fudge made with molasses, semi-sweet chocolate, brazil nuts, and flaked coconut. Rich, chewy, and packed with tropical crunch. Yields 2 pounds of homemade candy.

Garlic-rubbed pork spareribs baked low and slow, then glazed with crushed pineapple, chili sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. Sticky, sweet, tangy ribs with serious fall-off-the-bone tenderness.

A bright, zesty bulgur salad dressed with lime juice, cumin, and oregano, tossed with red bell pepper, scallions, and fresh parsley. Vegetarian, diabetic-friendly, and refreshing.

Tropical ice punch blends mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, orange juice, and maraschino cherries into a frozen base. Add ginger ale and white wine to serve.

Tropical quesadillas filled with ripe banana, green chilies, and Monterey Jack cheese with a squeeze of lime. A sweet-savory snack or dessert ready in 15 minutes.

Tropical fruit salsa with diced mango, papaya, and avocado, brightened with lime, cilantro, jalapeño, and ginger. No-cook side for grilled fish, chicken, or chips.

Banana rum sherbet made with yogurt, dark brown sugar, lime juice, nutmeg, and chopped almonds. A tropical frozen dessert churned in a food processor, no ice cream maker needed.

Tropical fruit brunch parfait layered with non-fat cottage cheese, peach yogurt, raisins, canned tropical fruit, and crunchy granola. No cooking, 10 minutes to assemble, and a high-protein low-fat breakfast.

Put very ripe unpeeled bananas in a plastic bag in the freezer. Remove as needed to make this easy blender drink or dessert.

No-cook tropical stuffed pears filled with a sour cream, crushed pineapple, coconut, marshmallow, and pecan mixture. A retro fruit salad side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Tropical fish kebabs with monkfish marinated in lime, ginger, garlic, and green chili, skewered with mango, banana, and red bell pepper. A colorful Caribbean-inspired grilled seafood dinner.

Very light and tasty recipe, a very good breakfast.

Fresh pineapple, mango, papaya, and strawberries layered with honey-sweetened vanilla yogurt and served in hollowed pineapple shells. A gorgeous low-fat tropical fruit salad.

Bread machine loaf studded with mixed dried fruit and a hint of applesauce for moisture. Soft, lightly sweet yeast bread that works on regular, rapid, or delayed cycles.