Hawaiian Pineapple Ham Skewers with Sweet-Spicy Pineapple Rice

I enjoy partnering with Tracy’s Gourmet to create approachable recipes that highlight her dressings. This month’s spotlight is on Aloha Kick! Dressing and Marinade, which brings bright pineapple and subtle coconut notes with a gentle peppery finish.

Tracy’s Gourmet Aloha Kick! Dressing and Marinade

Aloha Kick! is one of Tracy’s boldest dressings. Pineapple is the dominant note, supported by a smooth coconut-oil base and a faint peppery kick at the end. The ingredient list is short and mostly organic: organic pineapple juice, organic coconut oil, bottled lemon juice, vinegar, marmalade, spices, and citric acid. The marmalade adds a touch of bitterness that balances the bright pineapple, and the coconut oil adds a pleasant viscosity without relying on gums or starches. It’s a simple, elegant solution that translates well as both a dressing and a marinade.

If you’d like to try Aloha Kick!, check Tracy’s Gourmet for purchase options or local retailers in your area.

Hawaiian Pineapple Ham Skewers with Sweet and Hot Pineapple Rice

Aloha Kick!’s pineapple and coconut profile naturally conjures Hawaiian flavors, so I went straight to a playful luau-style skewer—think ham (or Spam), pineapple, and colorful peppers. The dressing makes a great marinade: the sweet-tart pineapple and coconut oil penetrate the protein while the salt in the meat balances the flavors.

Hawaii has a long history with Spam, and the canned meat shows up in many local dishes. For this recipe, I marinated cubed Spam with Aloha Kick!, a touch of chili powder, and fresh black pepper for 24 hours to let the flavors meld. After threading the skewers, I brushed them with more marinade, seasoned the vegetables lightly, and grilled until the vegetables softened and the meat picked up attractive grill marks. The skewers pair perfectly with a quick sweet-and-spicy pineapple rice.

If Spam isn’t your thing, use cubed ham instead—though the marinade will interact differently with fresh ham. If you’re curious about Spam or already a fan, this recipe is a fun way to enjoy it.

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Hawaiian Pineapple Ham Skewers with Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Rice

Perfect luau food—grill the skewers and serve with fragrant pineapple rice for a bright, fun meal.

Prep Time 25 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Course Meat

Servings 10 -12 skewers

Ingredients

To Marinate

• 1/2 cup Tracy’s Gourmet Aloha Kick! Dressing and Marinade
• 1–2 teaspoons chili powder, to taste
• several grindings fresh black pepper
• 1 can Spam, cut into 3/4″ cubes

For the Skewers

• 12–15 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
• fresh pineapple, cut into 1½” chunks
• red onion sections
• red, yellow, and orange bell pepper, cut into 1″ pieces
• 1/4 cup Tracy’s Gourmet Aloha Kick! Dressing and Marinade
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• several grindings fresh black pepper
• kosher salt, to taste

For the Pineapple Rice

• 2 Tablespoons Tracy’s Gourmet Aloha Kick! Dressing and Marinade
• 1/2 cup onion, small dice
• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, small dice
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup long-grain rice (Jasmine or Basmati recommended)
• 1/4 cup fresh pineapple juice (blend fresh pineapple)
• 1 1/2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
• 1–2 Tablespoons sriracha or your favorite hot sauce, to taste
• 1/2 cup loosely measured chopped cilantro

For Garnish

• chopped cilantro
• green onion, sliced on the bias

Instructions

To Marinate

• In a small bowl, combine the Aloha Kick!, chili powder, and black pepper.
• Place the cubed Spam in a single layer in a shallow container with a tight lid or a heavy-duty zip-top bag.
• Pour the marinade over the Spam, seal tightly, shake to coat, and refrigerate for 24 hours, shaking occasionally.
• When ready to grill, remove the Spam from the fridge and prepare the fruit and vegetables.
• Thread the ingredients onto skewers in your preferred order (example: red onion–Spam–pineapple–pepper–red onion–Spam–pineapple–pepper).
• Mix 1/4 cup Aloha Kick!, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, and black pepper; brush lightly over the skewers.
• Lightly salt the fruit and vegetables.
• Heat a grill pan over medium until hot. Lightly oil if desired, though the marinade’s coconut oil often suffices.
• Grill the skewers, turning to get grill marks and to soften the vegetables, about 5–6 minutes total.

For the Pineapple Rice

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add 2 Tablespoons Aloha Kick! and warm briefly.
• Add the diced onion and pineapple with salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium, and cook about 5 minutes until the onions soften and the pineapple begins to caramelize.
• Add 1 cup rice and cook, stirring, for another couple of minutes.
• Pour in the pineapple juice, water or broth, and sriracha; taste and adjust seasoning.
• Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce heat to a bare simmer.
• Cook for 17 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and stir in the cilantro.
• Cover and let sit off the heat for 5 minutes, then portion and garnish with cilantro and green onions.

Notes

Time estimates do not include the 24-hour marinating time.

To serve, leave the meat and vegetables on the skewers and plate the rice on the side, or remove everything from the skewers and arrange it over a bed of rice.

Enjoy these Hawaiian Pineapple Ham Skewers and have a lovely day.

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