Simple Fruit Salad: Bright Citrus Dressing with Fresh Mint
By Lucas Morgan
Servings
4
Fresh fruit salad can be enhanced with a dressing made with citrus and honey to add flavor without overwhelming sweetness․ This recipe‚ which includes a variety of fruits‚ such as mango and ripe strawberries‚ can be a popular side dish at parties․ Tips for making fresh fruit salad include choosing main salad fruits that are less likely to become mushy and adding other fresh fruits just before serving to keep them firm․
Choosing the right fruits is an important step in making this salad․ Fresh‚ undamaged fruits will prevent the salad from becoming too mushy․ Do not use pre-cut fruits for this recipe․ Orange juice and the peels of oranges and lemons provide tartness in the dressing․ Honey adds sweetness to the other flavors in the salad․ Arrange the fruits in layers to help keep them from becoming mushy․
When preparing the dish‚ test the ripeness of the fruit․ Firm fruits will stay firm‚ but combining them with the salad dressing can help them become tender and add more flavor to the salad without completely breaking them down․ Avoid overmixing the salad‚ which can ruin the texture of softer fruits like berries and make the salad unappealingly soggy․
To serve‚ garnish salad with fresh mint and keep raspberries separate until serving to keep the salad looking attractive․ Store leftovers in an airtight container and eat within 24 hours of making to enjoy the best texture of the fruit ingredients; they may lose their desired texture with extended storage․
Why you'll love this recipe
- A citrus dressing brings out the flavor of other fruits․ Honey adds sweetness without overpowering the tartness of other fruits․
- Adding firm fruit first prevents other fruit from falling out when served․
- Incorporating soft berries into a salad carefully can prevent damage to the berries and other ingredients and help preserve the appearance and flavor of the salad․
- Adding raw mint as a garnish can add color and flavor to the dish․
- Making the fruit salad ahead of time allows the flavors to blend and improves the taste of the salad without making it soggy․
- A mix of fruits offers varied textures and flavors with each bite․ A balanced eating experience․
Ingredients
- •1 whole orange (juiced and zested)
- •1 ½ whole lemons (juiced)
- •1 tablespoon honey (or agave nectar)
- •2 cups grapes
- •1 whole pineapple (cut into 1-inch chunks)
- •3 large mangoes
- •6 oz blueberries
- •2 lb strawberries (hulled and quartered)
- •6 cups watermelon (cubed into 1-inch pieces)
- •12 oz blackberries
- •5 whole kiwi
- •6 oz raspberries
- •2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves (chiffonade)
Instructions
- 1
Juice the orange and lemons into a medium bowl, then zest the orange directly into the same bowl. Add the honey or agave nectar and stir until fully combined.
- 2
While the dressing sits, prepare all fruits consistently cut into 1-inch pieces.
- 3
In a large serving bowl, add the grapes, pineapple, mango, watermelon, and blueberries first.
- 4
Pour half of the citrus dressing over these fruits and stir gently to coat everything evenly.
- 5
Gently fold in the strawberries, kiwis, and blackberries, then pour the remaining citrus dressing over everything and fold gently.
- 6
Top the fruit salad with the raspberries and scatter the fresh mint chiffonade.
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