Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Fresh Fruit Salad

Teresa Ambra

2013 – Gluten Free Living

Fresh Fruit Salad is a recipe that is really for those who like me (30+ years ago) have no clue what to put in a fruit salad. I use a lot of melons but then add a few other things to provide texture, color, and sweetness. Obviously, you can mix and match with what you have on hand.

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When peaches are in season, I add fresh peaches. You could also add fresh pears, plums or apples, although you might have to swish the apples in lemon juice or pineapple juice first to prevent browning. Other options are kiwi, mango, pomegranate arils, and blackberries and raspberries (although they tend to get mashed and bleed over the rest of the fruit).

Fresh Fruit Salad is like most fruit salads–it doesn’t have to have exact measurements. You go with what you have on hand and a lot depends on if you’re making it for a family of four or for a potluck and scale up or back accordingly. If you used a whole watermelon, a whole honeydew, a whole cantaloupe, a whole pineapple, and still added other fruit and berries you’re going to have one whopper of a salad.

It will probably take a family of four several days to eat this even if they each eat two bowls a day! We buy these fruits most of the year and cut them down and eat as desired, but when everything is in season and the prices are cheap it’s great to purchase one (or more) of each. So if you do, here is a tasty way to use up some of that fruit. Even most kids will eat fruit salad.

When I first posted this salad in April 2013, I had not yet begun to take pictures with my Canon camera. Once I started taking pictures with that camera (rather than a simple iPhone), I began taking ALL my pictures outside (day or night, rain or shine, windy, freezing or melting temperatures–all my blog pictures are taken outside now.

I set up my displays under our pergola on the back patio. It gives plenty of sunshine without overdoing it except just before sunset. My house is too dark inside because of the Low-E windows and canned lighting to get really good pictures unless I set up a studio–which I have been reluctant to do because I really like natural lighting better. Even though the conditions aren’t always the greatest, I still like the outcomes better.

I’ve been going back through all the blog pictures I took before I started using my Canon–about 400 plus recipes–and remaking all of them so I can get some decent pictures. I recently remade this recipe for a large potluck at our church (May 2015).

Our church secretary asked me to make a big fruit salad, so I made several large bowls of this salad. This expanded version has several berries and oranges included that I didn’t include in the first go round. Still, Fresh Fruit Salad is delicious and definitely pleasing to the eye. Enjoy.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Fresh Fruit Salad is very simple to put together. The hardest part is cutting down the fruit.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Fresh Fruit Salad can be made with just about any fresh fruit you have on hand.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Here’s a close up so you can see the many different textures of this delicious salad.

Here’s what I did.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

I used these ingredients.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Cut down a watermelon. I usually discard the rinds in plastic bags before throwing in the trash. (You will not need to use all this unless you are making a salad for 50 people).

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Cut up a honeydew, remove the seeds and pulp, cut off the rind and cut in pieces.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Cut up a cantaloupe. Cut in half, scoop out seeds and pulp, cut in slices, remove rind and cut into chunks.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Cut the outside edges of a pineapple, as well as the top leafy structure and the bottom. Either core the middle or slice down and cut off the core pieces.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Peel oranges or tangelos and section them. Cut each section in half.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Wash and slice strawberries. If you have fruit like kiwi it will need to be peeled and sliced. Apples, pears and peaches need to be dipped in pineapple or lemon juice.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

To make the salad: Place about 3 cups of watermelon in a large serving bowl. Just eyeball the amount. Add about half of the honeydew melon, about half of the cantaloupe, half of the pineapple, 8-oz. of sliced strawberries, a couple of oranges or tangelos, sectioned and halved, and about a cup each of grapes, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Stir all the fruit together to combine.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

To serve: Spoon fruit into serving dishes. Make sure you get a little bit of each kind of fruit in every serving dish. 

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

Fresh Fruit Salad is so simple and easy to make yet it appears very beautiful and elegant. You don’t have to add sugar, sauces, dressings or anything else. It’s just very simple using only fresh fruit.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

This is such a refreshing salad to serve for dinner during the summer when you don’t want to heat your house by cooking a lot of side dishes.

Here’s the recipe.

FRESH FRUIT SALAD

(My own concoction)

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Fresh Fruit Salad

Teresa Ambra
Luscious fruit salad that's especially good on hot summer days when you're barbecuing or grilling outside. Healthy, low calorie, gluten free and vegan.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 120 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large salad bowl or trifle dish
  • 1 sharp knife to peel and slice fruit
  • measuring cups
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups watermelon chunked
  • 1/2 honeydew chunked
  • 1/2 cantaloupe chunked
  • 1/2 pineapple chunked
  • 8 oz. fresh strawberries sliced
  • 1 cup seedless grapes
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 1 cup raspberries
  • 2 oranges or tangelos, sectioned and halved

Instructions
 

  • Place in salad bowl and toss.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

NOTE: If using apples, pears, peaches, bananas or apricots you will need to dip the fruit in lemon or pineapple juice before adding.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 22mgPotassium: 453mgFiber: 5gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 1366IUVitamin C: 75mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg
Keyword blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, fruit salad, grapes, honeydew, pineapple, raspberries, salad, side dish, strawberries, watermelon
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Fresh Fruit Salad[/b]
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra – my own creation
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Luscious fruit salad that’s especially good on hot summer days when you’re barbecuing or grilling outside. Healthy, low calorie, gluten free and vegan.
Ingredients
  • 2-3 cups chunked watermelon
  • ½ honeydew, chunked
  • ½ cantaloupe, chunked
  • ½ pineapple, chunked
  • 8-oz. sliced strawberries
  • 1 cup seedless grapes
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 1 cup raspberries
  • 2 oranges or tangelos, sectioned and halved
Instructions
  1. Place in salad bowl and toss.
  2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
If using apples, pears, peaches, bananas or apricots you will need to dip the fruit in lemon or pineapple juice before adding.
Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

I will tell you this looks extremely elegant in a watermelon that has been scalloped and cut very carefully into a basket shape. My catering partner used to do that all the time when we catered luncheons in New England and it looked quite lovely.

Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious #fruitsalad that's great to make for summer potlucks & #holidays. #fruit #salad #glutenfree #vegan

This close up has my mouth watering! Fresh Fruit Salad is so easy to make. Save the other cut up fruit for another fruit salad or to eat solo.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Pineapple Mango Salad

Pineapple Mango Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this is the perfect #salad for summer #holidays like the #FourthofJuly. The tropical flavors are heavenly. #pineapple #kiwi #strawberries #glutenfree #vegan

Tossed Salad with Tropical Fruit

Tossed Salad with Tropical Fruit | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This spectacular #salad is filled with #cherries #mangos #pineapple #kiwis & #pomegranates. Fantastic side dish for summer #holiday fun. #glutenfree #vegan

Peachy Fruit Salad

Peachy Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
Fresh Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Fresh Fruit Salad

Teresa Ambra
Luscious fruit salad that’s especially good on hot summer days when you’re barbecuing or grilling outside. Healthy, low calorie, gluten free and vegan.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 120 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large salad bowl or trifle dish
  • 1 sharp knife to peel and slice fruit
  • measuring cups
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups watermelon chunked
  • 1/2 honeydew chunked
  • 1/2 cantaloupe chunked
  • 1/2 pineapple chunked
  • 8 oz. fresh strawberries sliced
  • 1 cup seedless grapes
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 1 cup raspberries
  • 2 oranges or tangelos, sectioned and halved

Instructions
 

  • Place in salad bowl and toss.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

NOTE: If using apples, pears, peaches, bananas or apricots you will need to dip the fruit in lemon or pineapple juice before adding.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 22mgPotassium: 453mgFiber: 5gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 1366IUVitamin C: 75mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg
Keyword blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, fruit salad, grapes, honeydew, pineapple, raspberries, salad, side dish, strawberries, watermelon
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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