Mixed Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Guys, this honey lime dressing is a fabulous addition to your next fruit salad. Ready within 15 minutes, it’s the perfect summer salad. The simple addition of lime zest adds a punch of flavor and brightens whatever fruit you have available. You’re going to love it at your next potluck or family dinner.

 

Summer is a time for simple dinners with friends and family when you can feature whatever you pick up at the farmers market, grocery store or fruit stand. When it comes to salads, there is nothing as easy as a fresh fruit salad. You don’t even have to turn on the stove.

This is one of my favorite ways to serve a fruit salad. You might not think that adding something as simple as lime zest and honey could make much difference, but the citrusy flavor perks up the fruit and enhances the natural fruit flavors. Just a hint of honey helps if some of the fruit is not at its peak.

A lot of fruit salads use lemon juice or orange juice as the citrus base, but I think lime juice brightens up the fruit and makes it stand out.

I’m always making easy fruit salads in the summer with a combination of what’s in season and my favorite fruits. Add some tropical fruit like pineapple, bananas or kiwi to round out the flavors and you’ll have a perfect side dish without any effort. I love having a colorful salad to round out a meal or to take to summer picnics.

My parents were raised in California where fresh fruit was available all year long. Fruit salad was something that we had with every meal, even if it was the dead of winter when it would be a waldorf salad with apples.

You’ll never get tired of this easy fruit salad recipe because it ends up different every time. Regardless of the combination, it’s hard to beat fresh fruit.

It doesn’t matter what fruit you choose, the simple dressing with honey and lime zest will enhance the flavors. It’s so refreshing on hot summer days and won’t weigh you down. If you’re going to an outdoor event or picnic, it will hit the spot and you don’t have to worry about it spoiling in the heat.

If you want more complex flavors, then try a spicy dressing or a dressing with tequila. However, this one will be your simple go-to dressing that both kids and adults will enjoy.

How to Avoid Fruit Turning Brown

Apples slices and pears will turn brown when exposed to the air. You can prevent this by sprinkling them with lemon or lime juice. Since the dressing has lime juice, it will also help, but it doesn’t hurt to add a little extra.

Why You’ll Love a Honey Lime Fruit Salad

• You can use whatever fruit is in season
• Kids and adults will love the flavors
• Perfect for cook-outs or potlucks
• Freeze the left overs for smoothies
• So simple you don’t even need a recipe

The Basics for a Summer Fruit Salad

• Seasonal fruit – all types of berries, peaches/nectarines, plums, cherries, apples and pears. You can also add red grapes which can always be found at the grocery to fill out the salad.
• Tropical fruits – fresh pineapple, kiwi, or bananas. If using fresh pineapple, learn an easy way to core a pineapple.
• Lime zest – it’s crazy how just a little lime zest can add so much flavor
• Honey – some fruit if not quite ripe needs just a little sweetness and honey works well with fruit.

If you are using cherries and don’t a cherry pitter, check out this cook kitchen hack for pitting cherries without a cherry pitter.

Easy Steps for Making a Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Step 1: Pick the fruit

Choose the combination of fruit that you want to use and place it in a large bowl. If you’re adding bananas or kiwi, you’ll want to add them at the end so they don’t get mushy. I like to have a mixture of textures and flavors. My favorite combination is peaches, cherries, blueberries and kiwi.

Step 2: Make the fruit salad dressing

Use a fork and whisk honey, lime zest and lime juice together. 1 lime will be enough for 8 cups of fruit. It doesn’t need to be exact.

Pro Tip: To prevent the dressing from being bitter, use a lemon/lime zester for the lime zest and avoid getting any of the white part of the lime in the dressing.

Pour the dressing over the cut fruit.

You can serve this right away or refrigerate for an hour to let the flavors soak into the fruit.

Fruit Salad FAQs

Can you use frozen fruit in a fruit salad?

Frozen fruit does not do well in a fruit salad. It will just be too mushy. One exception is that you could add frozen blueberries which tend to keep their shape and texture when thawed, but fresh will still be better.

Can you make a fruit salad a day ahead?

If you make a fruit salad a day ahead, some of the fruit will get soft. You can make it a few hours ahead of time but I would not suggest letting it sit overnight. If making this ahead of time, make sure to add the softer fruit right before serving.

How long does a fresh fruit salad last?

A fruit salad with honey lime dressing is best served the day you make it. It will still taste wonderful the next day but some of the fruit will start to get soft. You can freeze the leftovers to use in smoothies.

What should you serve with a fruit salad

More fresh fruit salads to choose from

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