Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
This Easy Fruit Salad Recipe combines a colorful assortment of fresh fruits with a homemade citrus-vanilla glaze. The dressing is a sweet and tangy blend made from orange and lemon juice, brown sugar, and zest, simmered to a slight thickness and enhanced with vanilla extract. Tossed together and chilled for several hours, this refreshing fruit salad is perfect as a healthy dessert or side dish for any occasion.
- Author: rami
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Dressing
- ⅔ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ½ teaspoon grated orange zest
- ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit
- 2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
- 2 cups strawberries (hulled and quartered)
- 3 kiwi fruit (peeled and sliced)
- 6 ounces blackberries
- 2 oranges (peeled and sectioned)
- 1 cup seedless red grapes (halved)
- 2 cups blueberries
- Prepare the citrus glaze: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the fresh orange juice, fresh lemon juice, brown sugar, grated orange zest, and grated lemon zest. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and blend the flavors.
- Simmer and thicken: Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the glaze, stirring occasionally, until it slightly thickens, about 5 minutes. This intensifies the flavors and creates a syrupy consistency.
- Add vanilla and cool: Remove the saucepan from heat, then stir in the vanilla extract to add warmth and depth to the glaze. Set the mixture aside and allow it to cool completely before proceeding.
- Combine the fruit: In a large mixing bowl, add the cubed pineapple, hulled and quartered strawberries, peeled and sliced kiwis, blackberries, peeled and sectioned oranges, halved red grapes, and blueberries. Gently toss the fruits together to mix evenly.
- Toss with glaze: Pour the cooled citrus-vanilla glaze over the mixed fruit in the bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat all the fruit pieces with the flavorful glaze for a balanced taste.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours to allow the fruit to absorb the glaze flavors and chill thoroughly. Serve cold for a refreshing treat.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe fruit for the best flavor and texture.
- Make sure the glaze has cooled before pouring over the fruit to prevent softening the fruit excessively.
- Feel free to substitute or add other fruits such as mango, raspberries, or peaches according to season and preference.
- This salad can be prepared a day in advance and kept refrigerated.
- For a lower sugar version, reduce the brown sugar or substitute with a natural sweetener.
Keywords: fruit salad, fresh fruit, citrus glaze, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, healthy dessert, summer salad