Best Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe
User Reviews
5
Best Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe
Description
Best Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe features a vibrant mix of cubed papaya, pineapple, mango, watermelon, and freshly diced banana. The fruits are tossed with a dressing made from orange juice, lime juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey or sugar to add a gentle sweetness and warming spice notes. The salad is then chilled to allow the flavors to meld and the fruits to absorb the citrus dressing.
The salad’s texture includes the softness of ripe tropical fruits balanced by the juiciness from the citrus juices. Adding bananas shortly before serving prevents browning and keeps the salad visually appealing. The cinnamon and nutmeg add a subtle warm aroma, complementing the fresh fruit sweetness nicely.
This fruit salad is served chilled, making it a refreshing option for warm weather or as a light side dish or dessert. It can be topped with whipped cream, Greek yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, or ice cream according to preference, or served plain for a dairy-free option.
The recipe notes suggest a variety of additional fruits such as grapes, kiwi, berries, peaches, and star fruit to customize the salad. It should be stored in an airtight container and consumed within 24 hours for best freshness, as some fruits may soften over time. Bananas should be added just before serving to maintain their color and texture.
Ingredients
- ¼ papaya peeled, de-seeded, and cubed, large
- ¼ pineapple peeled, cored, and cubed. NOTE: Use any fruit leftovers to make juices or freeze them into chunks to make smoothies later!, large
- 2 banana peeled and medium diced (NOTE: Only add the bananas before serving the salad to avoid oxidation, large
- 1 Mango peeled and cubed, large
- ¼ watermelon peeled and cubed, small, seedless
- ½ cup orange juice NOTE: In Brazil, our tropical fruit salad contains a lot of citrus juices, allowing the mixture of fruits to marinate into the flavored citrus juices. But if you prefer your salad not as saucy, you can reduce this amount to a ¼ cup, fresh
- lime or lemon, juice of 1
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 nutmeg dash
- 1 tablespoon honey or granulated sugar, or more if you have a sweet tooth or some fruits are not very sweet. See NOTES for fruit add-on suggestions or substitutions!
Instructions
- Cut all the fruits into chunks or sized pieces, except the bananas, and gently mix them in a medium bowl.
- In a separate mixing bowl or glass jar, whisk or shake orange and lemon juices, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey (or sugar) until homogeneous. Then, pour over the fresh fruit mixture and toss them together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- About 10 minutes before serving, peel and dice the bananas, mix with the other fruits, and refrigerate.
- Serve this tropical fruit salad in bowls or plastic/glass cups as it is, topped with a dollop of whipped cream (Cool Whip) or Greek yogurt, a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. TIP: For a dairy-free version, serve it without any dairy. Enjoy!
Notes
- The salad can contain other fresh fruits like grapes, kiwi, berries, peaches, or star fruit for variety and added texture.
- Adding shredded coconut or fresh mint leaves enhances flavor and texture.
- Refrigerate the salad in an airtight container for up to 24 hours to keep fresh; some fruits may soften but remain edible.
- Add bananas only right before serving to prevent them from turning brown.
- The salad can last up to two days refrigerated, though certain fruits like watermelon and papaya may get mushy.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2261 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 226.1kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 57.2g | 19% |
| Protein | 3.5g | 7% |
| Fat | 1.2g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sodium | 6.7mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 790.5mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 5.3g | 21% |
| Sugar | 41.8g | 84% |
| Vitamin A | 2482.4IU | 50% |
| Vitamin C | 105.8mg | 118% |
| Calcium | 50mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1.3mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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