Quick Sweet and Sour Ham

Name: Quick Sweet and Sour Ham
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients: 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/2 cup water; 3 tablespoons white vinegar; 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham; 1 small green pepper, cut into julienne strips; 1/4 cup thinly sliced halved onion; 1 tablespoon canola oil; Hot cooked rice

This quick-to-fix meal makes great use of leftover ham. It's also good with cooked chicken or beef.—Joyce Peugh, Woodstock, Maryland

Ingredients

1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 small green pepper, cut into julienne strips
1/4 cup thinly sliced halved onion
1 tablespoon canola oil
Hot cooked rice

Directions

Drain pineapple, reserving juice and pineapple chunks. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, cornstarch and ginger. Stir in the water, vinegar and reserved juice until smooth; set aside.
In a large nonstick skillet, saute the ham, green pepper and onion in hot oil over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until ham is lightly browned and vegetable are crisp-tender. Stir reserved pineapple chunks into skillet; heat through. Stir juice mixture. Gradually stir into skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over rice.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 288 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 946mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 2g fiber), 18g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1-1/2 fruit, 1 starch.

Originally published as Sweet and Sour Ham in Country Woman November/December 2003