First Published 6th August 2014. Updated 23rd May 2017.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Pachri Nenas is a Malay salsa/pickle type dish that is perfect on the summer table. It almost always makes an appearance at Malay weddings in Singapore and Malaysia, as an accompaniment to the Bryanis and curries served.
The word nenas, as I mentioned in the last post, is pineapple, in Malay.
Pachri Nenas Recipe
There are many variations to pachri nenas or pajeri nenas as it’s also known; spicy, dry or more curry like. While I identify it as a Malay recipe, it is also made and claimed by the Nyonyas and the Eurasians in Singapore and Malaysia.
To read more about these cultural groups and the ethnic and cultural mix in Singapore and Malaysia, head on over to the Singapore and Malaysian Recipes page on this site.
You will also find Pachri Nenas in Indonesia and in Goa, where the version is much richer, with coconut and is called Pineapple Pachadi.
LinsFood’s Pachri Nenas
Our recipe is very quick and light, much the same way my granny and mum used to make their fresh vegetable pickles.
We cook it for no longer than 10 minutes and the sweetness of the pineapple goes very well with the touch of spice you find in the recipe. The idea is to just heat through the pineapple and cook it slightly.
If you can’t get fresh pineapple, a good quality, additive free canned pineapple will do perfectly well, with the juice replacing the sugar and water in the recipe.
How to Serve this Pineapple Salsa?
Anyway you would any other salsa! As mentioned above, the traditional way is with rice and curries but I just love this as yet another condiment on the barbecue table.
It also makes a great burger ingredient, especially if you like your “Hawaiian” slants on burgers and pizzas. A great alternative salsa, don’t you think?
Make Ahead
Pachri Nenas will keep in the fridge for 2 days, covered well.
Handy Hints
I like a little sauce with this which you should get with the amount of water used here but adjust the liquid to your taste, more or less.
Another way to make this, is to lose the oil completely and place all other the ingredients into a small saucepan, bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. That will be the fat free version!
More Singaporean and Malaysian Recipes
If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!
And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood
Lin xx
Pachri Nenas, a quick and easy Pineapple Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 large, ripe, sweet pineapple
- 1 tsp vegetable or peanut oil
Dry Spices
- 1 small piece of cinnamon
- 3 cloves
- 2 star anise “petals”
Aromatics
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 clove garlic sliced widthwise
- 1 red chilli sliced (more or less to taste)
Everything else
- pinch ground turmeric
- 2 Tbsp white/clear vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 125 ml water
Instructions
- Peel the pineapple, then cut it into bitesized pieces.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan or wok on medium low heat and sauté the cinnamon, clove and star anise for about a minute.
- Add the onion, garlic and chilli and sauté for another minute.
- Add everything else in, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Lin xx
I love pineapple and this is a new twist. You’ve got a combination of flavors in this recipe.
Thank you!
I so love pineapples especially when they are sweet. I will eat pineapples everyday and twice on Sundays if possible…LOL
Oh goodness, this sounds delicious! I love pineapple, so I will definitely give this a try!
This is absolutely a good recipe and this would be perfect for summer season.
Looks so yummy and refreshing for summer I will copy the recipe
Looks like a great summer dish. We enjoy things like this during the hot summer days here.
This looks really lovely. I like trying out different salsas especially since my husband and I love movie nights at home and have chips during those nights. I think this is a must try!
This looks like a refreshing summer treat.
I’m always searching for a new twist on salsa. It’s my go-to for parties, and I’d love to add another recipe. Thanks for this!
How wonderful to know some recipe that are completely new to me. I love pineapple and this looks so easy and delicious!
Pineapple is my favorite. I love me some pineapples. I will try this salsa recipe, it seems easy too.
This looks really good. I love the flavor of pineapple so I bet this would be perfect for me.
This looks so delicious. I bet this is perfect after a warm summer day.
This looks so yummy for me. I love pineapple and probably will try this out over the weekend.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Yum! I never would have thought to make pineapple salsa but now I’m going to have to give it a try!
It seems to be wonderful recipe. I love pineapple but this recipe is new to me. I never heard about it. i would love to try it for sure.
I love pineapple and trying new dishes. This looks like a great summer dish too. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
I need to try this as it sounds so yummy. This would be great on the grill.
Yes, it certainly will be!
That salsa sounds AWESOME! I know my husband is going to love it, too! I cant wait to make it.
Thank you, we love it with bbq’d stuff!
Yes! Everything about this recipe, yes! I can see it being added to so many protein dishes – perfect for summer, too!
Thank you!