Fruit salad. Yawn, amiright? No! Everyone loves it, and everyone has their version they make that is always a “popular” hit. But a trend I see with a lot of fruit salads is using second or third tier fruits and mixing it with higher and higher ratios of non-fruit ingredients until it’s basically dessert. Whipped cream and Snickers bars tossed with apples? Tasty, for sure, but don’t tell me that’s a fruit salad.
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Here’s a game, let’s list the things that ruin a fruit salad. Apples. Grapes. Honeydew melon can sometimes be ok but usually it’s meh, and cantaloupe is the worst. And probably most controversial on the list, watermelon. I love watermelon, don’t get me wrong. But tossed in with other fruit it just turns to, well, water. And there’s too much variation in sweetness.
No, for the best fruit salad you want only real food; top tier/first string players for the fruit; and a little something extra. This salad is all that. Three fruits – oranges, strawberries, kiwis (way more kiwi than you’re used to seeing in a fruit salad). Dressed up a little with lime juice, mint, honey and flake salt (yes, salt – just a touch). It’s so simple, but doesn’t taste that way at all.
So, now that I’ve stirred that pot, let’s hear it! How many of my “no” fruits do you use in your fruit salad? Any you think you’ll opt out of next time? Feel like giving this one a try? Let me know in the comments what you think!
My Top Requested Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 3 lbs strawberries washed, stemmed, cut into quarters
- 7 oranges cara cara or navel – peel cut off, center trimmed, flesh cubed
- 6 green kiwis peel cut off, diced
- 1/4 cup lime juice must be fresh squeezed
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp fresh mint chopped
- 1 tsp flake salt don't sleep on this one – trust me
Instructions
- Add the fruit to a bowl. If making ahead, keep the fruit in the fridge up to service. Just before serving time, add the lime, honey, mint and salt. Toss and enjoy.
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Have you ever cut up all the fruit a day ahead and then mixed it all together with the dressing? I want to do this but want to make sure it won’t all turn to mush. Thanks!
This sounds delicious! Any thoughts on how many this will serve? Thanks!
It looks delicious but is there any other fruit you recommend to substitute kiwi? I have a food allergy.
Thanks a lot!
This fruit salad is the BEST!! I did add blueberries though.😁
What a delicious fruit salad!
Blueberries!
I’m allergic to Kiwi…Wah! Otherwise I’d eat it.
So simple so delish! I’ve made it a few times already 😂 it’s addicting!
You’re spot on when it comes to the “No fruit” list. Put bananas on that list too. I agree with everything you said. The fruits Chris used are the best. I will hear no further discussion. Haha
I hope you were joking about Snickers bars! I’ve never seen that in a fruit salad before.
I hope you’re joking about Snickers. Never seen any candy in a fruit salad before.
Bananas are a huge no-no for me. Also, I don’t love pitted cherries in a fruit salad. They get mushy and a teeny bit brown where the pitter went in and pit went out. I don’t love apples either, but the “filler fruit” (cantaloupe, honeydew, and pineapples) as long as bananas are nowhere near the fruit salad. I bet mango would be amazing in this fruit salad algorithm you’ve settled on!!
Mel’s Kitchen Cafe has one very similar to this that I make often. It is so good! Would be perfect for any summer get together.
This looks amazing!!! Love it your permission to leave out certain fruits.
I think Bananas should be added to the NO list. They get weird in the salad!
My favorite fruit salad recipe ever is the one you did last summer and it has watermelon in it! I can’t believe you’ve changed your mind haha. I still love it, and so does everyone I serve it to. We’ll have to give this one a try too!
Just thank you ! My new go to !
I’m definitely going to make this all summer long now! I’ve always thought some fruits in a fruit salad get watery. I’m so excited you all shared 🧡
This definitely sounds amazing!
I’ve gotta say, I threw together a quick fruit salad yesterday, from what we had on hand, which was peaches, apples (two different kinds), and cantaloupe, and it was shockingly delicious! Because my son believes nothing can be called a salad that doesn’t include lettuce, we served it on top of salt and peppered butter lettuce with dinner, and it may have been the best thing I’ve eaten so far this summer!
I add halved red or black seedless grapes occasionally, and have no shame. Also, oranges here in Nebraska are very hit or miss—mostly miss. What would you recommend in their place when great oranges aren’t available?
Oh boy, they’re going to hate my melon mosaic salad at the Fourth of July party. Watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, & avocado, topped with a hot honey dressing. Too late to change now.
I actually thought you were gonna say do not put bananas in a fruit salad.🤪. I will definitely need to try this fruit salad recipe.
Sounds great Chris, I’ll try it.
This looks delicious. I’m allergic to kiwi (ugh – I know). Trying to think about what would be a good substitute with similar texture and sweetness level.
Agreed on honeydew and cantaloupe as no-gos. Mostly bc I don’t like them any way and they invade the flavor of everything else in the cup. Bananas are also a no-go for mixing in a salad bc of texture.
Would you say peaches are top tier? Ha! I just have some to use and this looks so good!
We live in central America so we don’t have access to most of those fruits. I like to make fruit salad with papaya, pineapple strawberries when we can get them and add fresh squeezed oranges if they are in season and if not you can add lemon and add some sugar. This last time the mangoes were in season so I added some mangoes. Delicious served half frozen.
THIS I will be trying! I’ve been guilty of the melon salad (all melons), and you’re right…iffy on the sweetness. I’ve made a similar dressing for my Christmas morning citrus salad with grapefruit, oranges, and pomegranate, so I know it’s be a wonderful addition to your combination. Thanks for sharing!