This Simple Fruit Salad recipe combines a colorful mix of fresh fruit with a bright sweet lime dressing and fresh mint. It’s an easy make-ahead side dish that’s perfect for holidays, showers, or any spring or summer gathering.
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A Note From My Kitchen
No matter what the occasion, I almost always include some type of fresh fruit on the menu. From Easter brunches to bridal and baby showers and summer cookouts, I’ll either put together a colorful Fruit Platter or make this Simple Fruit Salad. They’re both easy to prepare, pair well with just about any menu, and add a fresh, colorful touch to the table.
This recipe combines fresh berries, grapes, mango, and kiwi for a colorful fruit salad that’s easy to make ahead and perfect for everything from holiday meals to casual potlucks and backyard gatherings.
Rather than coating the fruit in a sticky, honey-based dressing, the simple two-ingredient sweet lime dressing in this recipe enhances the natural sweetness and flavor of the fruit. The bright citrusy dressing and fresh mint add a refreshing finish that complements the fruit without overpowering it.
Sometimes the simplest, low-effort recipes are the ones that make the biggest impression.
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Pin ItThe Best Fruits for Fruit Salad
Not all fruit works equally well in fruit salad. The best choices hold their texture, resist browning, and complement the flavors of the other ingredients.
My Favorite Fruits:
- Strawberries: Sweet, colorful, and easy to find year-round.
- Blueberries and Blackberries: Add beautiful color and don’t require any chopping.
- Grapes: Seedless green or red grapes provide crisp texture and juicy sweetness.
- Kiwi: I usually use green kiwi for its bright color and slightly tangy flavor. Gold kiwi is sweeter and less tart, so either variety is a great choice.
- Ataulfo (Champagne) Mangoes: My top choice for fruit salad. These small golden yellow mangoes are exceptionally sweet, buttery, and nearly fiber-free. Larger red mango varieties, like Tommy Atkins, can sometimes be stringy, while Ataulfo mangoes have a smooth texture that works beautifully in fruit salad.
- Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melon: These classic fruit salad additions add sweetness and color. I leave them out because I’ve got a few folks around here who are not fans, but they’re a great option if you enjoy them. Cut the pieces small or use a melon baller.
Fruits to Use with Caution:
- Bananas: Brown quickly and soften as they sit.
- Apples: Can brown unless treated with citrus juice.
- Pears: Best served the same day.
- Pineapple: It adds delicious tropical flavor and holds its texture well, but it can easily become the dominant flavor in a fruit salad. If using pineapple, consider reducing the amount to help keep the flavors balanced.
- Raspberries: Delicious but very delicate.
Fruits I Usually Skip:
- Watermelon: Releases a lot of liquid and can make fruit salad watery.
- Very ripe peaches or nectarines: Tend to become mushy after tossing and chilling.
How to Make a Simple Fruit Salad
- Add the prepared fruit to a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the lime juice and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the fruit and gently toss to combine. Garnish with fresh mint just before serving.
Valerie’s Tips
Wash and dry the fruit thoroughly. Excess moisture can dilute the dressing and make the fruit salad watery. I like to rinse the fruit well and then let it dry completelypbefore assembling the salad.
Cut larger fruits into bite-size pieces. Keeping the fruit pieces relatively uniform in size makes the salad easier to eat and ensures every serving gets a good mix of flavors and textures.
Use ripe but firm fruit. Overripe fruit can become soft and break down when tossed with the dressing. Look for fruit that’s sweet and flavorful but still holds its shape well.
Chill before serving. If time allows, refrigerate the fruit salad for 30 minutes to an hour before serving. The chilled fruit is especially refreshing and gives the flavors a chance to mingle.
Add the mint just before serving. Fresh mint adds wonderful flavor and color, but it’s best when added at the last minute to keep it looking vibrant and fresh.
Wait to add the dressing if making it ahead. You can prep and refrigerate the fruit several hours in advance. For the freshest texture, toss it with the lime dressing and garnish with mint shortly before serving.
Storage Tips
Store leftover fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it within 1 to 2 days for the best quality. As the fruit sits, it will release some of its juices and soften slightly, but it will still be delicious.
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Simple Fruit Salad with Sweet Lime Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 heaping cup blueberries
- 1 heaping cup blackberries
- 1 heaping cup seedless green grapes, cut in half
- 2 or 3 Ataulfo mangoes, (Champagne manoges), peeled and chopped
- 4 or 5 kiwi, peeled and thickly sliced
Sweet Lime Dressing
- 1 lime, juiced (2 or more tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Chopped fresh mint, as needed for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the prepared fruit. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and powdered sugar. Add to the fruit and toss lightly to combine
- If making ahead, toss with dressing and garnish with mint just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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This post was originally published on March 27, 2015. It has been updated with new text and images.
Corn Stripper and Straight Paring Knife.
Tough choice, but I think I’d choose the avocado tool and the zester.
I really like the wavy knife. It’s a toss up between the herb mincer and the apple slicer for my second item.
I would use the wavy knife, the lettuce knife, and the berry baskets. (So cute.)
Wavy knife and herb mincer
I’d choose the paring knife and the wavy knife.
I’d choose the wavy knife and the bird beak’s knife
I’d pick the corn stripper (dying for sweet corn season!) and the apple slicer.
A knife and a peeler.
Wow, so many cool options! I’d prob pick the avocado tool and the herb mincer. Maybe. 😉
This salad looks beautiful and has me drooling.I’m ready for some fresh fruit!
I would probably choose the Berry Baskets and the wavy knife!