Description
This Tropical Fruit Salad is a refreshing and vibrant mix of mandarin oranges, strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and mango, tossed in a zesty citrus-honey-ginger dressing with a hint of poppy seeds. Perfect for a light, healthy dessert or side dish, this salad combines sweet and tangy flavors and is ideal for warm weather or any occasion where a burst of tropical freshness is desired.
Ingredients
Fruits
- 12 mandarin oranges (divided, for dressing and salad)
- 2 cups strawberries (sliced)
- 5 kiwi (sliced)
- 1 pineapple (peeled, cored, cut into bite-size chunks)
- 3 mangoes (peeled, pitted, cut into bite-size chunks)
Dressing
- 1 medium lemon (zested and juiced)
- 1 lime (zested and juiced)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger paste (or grated fresh ginger)
- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Prepare fruit salad dressing: Wash and dry the lemon, lime, and 2 mandarin oranges. Zest the citrus fruits using a zester or fine grater and add the zest to a 1-cup measuring cup or small bowl. Cut each fruit in half and squeeze the juice into the measuring cup, aiming for about 1/2 cup of juice total. Add honey, ginger paste, and poppy seeds to the juice mixture and whisk until fully combined. Set the dressing aside, or cover and refrigerate if you plan to use it more than one day later.
- Prepare remaining fruit: Slice the strawberries and kiwi, and section the remaining 10 mandarins. Peel and core the pineapple, then cut it into bite-sized chunks. Also, peel, pit, and cut the mangoes into bite-sized pieces. Place all the prepared fruit into a large bowl.
- Toss fruit with dressing: Pour the prepared citrus-honey-ginger dressing over the fruit in the bowl. Gently toss the fruit until it is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the tossed fruit salad for about 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and to serve it chilled for optimal freshness and taste.
Notes
- Use fresh ginger paste or freshly grated ginger for the best flavor.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to enhance the flavor absorption.
- This salad can be made a day ahead; just keep the dressing refrigerated separately and toss before serving.
- For a vegan option, substitute honey with agave syrup or maple syrup.
- Poppy seeds add a subtle crunch and nutty flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
