Zesty Fruit Salad

Fruit salad doesn’t necessarily need a recipe or a post, except for the addition of a few zesty pointers and a pretty way to display and serve it.

Eating the Colors of the Rainbow

I realize you can make a fruit salad out of any fruit, but my favorite is made with tropical fruits and berries with the pop of green kiwi. Pineapple, papaya, champagne mangos, kiwi, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries look beautiful and taste delicious together. I love to build it in layers and watch the colors of the rainbow emerge and then stir it right before serving.

Fruit Salad Tips

Fruit salad may seem like a basic recipe involving only cutting up your favorite fruits and placing them in a bowl, but there are a few tips I have learned that take an ordinary fruit salad and make it extraordinary:

• Add the zest of an organic lime or Meyer lemon for a burst of citrus flavor
• Add finely sliced fresh mint or lemon balm, chiffonade style, for a refreshing flavor: chiffonade is just a simple way of rolling the mint leaves together and slicing thinly to make long, wispy ribbons.
• Squeeze the juice from the sides of the pineapple to add the pineapple juice to your salad.
• If you are not adding pineapple, the juice of one lime adds a zesty kick and helps prevent browning of fruit.
• Layer in a beautiful glass jar and keep in the refrigerator for an easy, healthy snack throughout the week. It makes the refrigerator look beautiful too.

Fruits that Are Great in a Fruit Salad

• pineapple
• papaya
• mango
• kiwi
• raspberries
• strawberries (although they become translucent over time)
• blackberries
• blueberries
• watermelon
• oranges
• grapes

Fruits that Don’t Keep Well in a Fruit Salad

• bananas
• apples (unless there is citrus to keep it from browning)

Truthfully, I am not a fan of melon in a fruit salad. Typically, I prefer it sliced as a side sprinkled with mint. Bananas have great handles for a fruit on the go, but they quickly brown and become gooey in a fruit salad, so they need to be avoided. Apples work well, but only if there is a citrus fruit that will prevent them from browning. I usually avoid apples because I use them in so many other things.

The Perfect Bring-to-Share Dish

Whenever we gather with friends for breakfast or dessert, I want to make sure that I bring something healthy to eat for everyone to share. Gatherings are known for junk food and sugary sweets, so as long as I know I am bringing something healthy, I know my kiddo’s are getting a good start or end to their day, and at least they have the opportunity to make healthy choices. Plus, it looks so pretty in the jar, giving that ordinary fruit salad an extraordinary makeover.

Shop This Post

Display Jar This link is for a 2-pack. I purchased mine at Walmart for around $10. I own several because I use them all around the house. They make a great container for storing homemade laundry detergent in your laundry room too.

Microplane Citrus Zester– I use this for zesting lemons, shaving chocolate, nutmeg, and grating parmesan cheese. I actually own two because they are always in use.

In everything you do -eat, play, and, love- may it always be Seasoned with Joy!