This Honey Lime Fruit Salad is the best fruit salad recipe for the summer season! It is bursting with sweet, citrusy flavors and is an easy, fresh fruit side dish to take to any gathering that will disappear as quickly as it is put on the table.
THE BEST FRUIT SALAD
Since they have been in season, I have been loading my fridge up with as many fresh fruits as I can lately. Especially anything locally-grown – even my veggies! It is so important to support your local farmers. And I know that I always have my husband on board when it comes to anything containing fresh fruit.
Mango in particular! I’ve never known someone to love mango as much as he does. He can eat it at any time and with just about anything. So I knew I had to make a fresh fruit salad that would floor him and this Honey Lime Fruit Salad certainly did. The result? The best fruit salad recipe you’ll ever make!
This isn’t any regular bowl of mixed fruit. No. It’s freshly chopped fruit tossed in a super delicious honey, lime and poppy seed dressing! The whole thing comes together very easily, with no cooking required. The only effort is in cutting up the fruit. It’s that simple!
NATURALLY SWEET
The sweetness of a fresh fruit salad can vary depending on the level of ripeness each fruit is at when it comes time to put the whole bowl together. There’s always that balance of getting it at the right time and serving it before it’s overly ripe or mushy.
But does the level of sweetness mean you need to add granulated sugar to sweeten it up? Absolutely not. This recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of honey. That’s it! Add more or less depending on your level of preferred sweetness, as well as how ripe the fruits are.
I recommend taste-testing the fruit before putting the dressing together, as well as starting with less honey and adding more as needed. And who can argue with taste-testing fruit as you’re prepping?? I can’t be the only one who samples as they prep.
Let’s be honest, most of us more than likely buy a little more fruit than needed and it’s not just in case some fruit is bad in the bunch. It’s because we nibble! 😉
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS FRUIT SALAD
This salad is meant to be served as a fresh fruit salad. I do not recommend using frozen or dried fruits in this recipe.
- Mangoes
- Kiwis
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Honey
- Pineapple juice
- Lime juice
- Poppy seeds (optional)
If you can’t find pineapple juice, you can swap it out for another citrus fruit juice, such as orange or apple juice. Lemon juice can also be swapped for the lime juice.
TIPS ON MAKING THIS FRUIT SALAD
Don’t worry, these tips don’t mean that this Honey Lime Fruit Salad is complicated to make. I am providing them to ensure that you have the best fruit salad at your next gathering. A salad that will disappear as quickly as it is put on the table!
- Proper fruit bath – I recommend washing your fruit in a simple vinegar bath prior to cutting. This will help to ensure the shelf life of your produce, as well as kill any bacteria that collects on them from the time of picking, transferring, handling, and once it’s finally in your fridge. The bacteria that resides on produce is what speeds up the process of spoilage.
– Combine 1 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water per 1 1/2 – 2 lbs of fruit. Allow to soak for 6-8 minutes. Rinse well and place onto drying towels or paper towels. Store in the fridge (or counter) until needed. I add paper towels under my produce to absorb any water that releases as the produce ages. This also helps to increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. - Choose ripe fruits – the more ripe the fruits are when it’s time to prepare, the sweeter the fruit salad will be. Please keep in mind, the sweeter the fruit, the less honey you will need for the dressing. So add honey to taste. And if preferred, omit the honey and toss with the pineapple juice, lime juice and poppy seeds.
- Prep fruit salad a few hours before serving – the longer the fruit sits cut and in the dressing, the quicker the fruit softens. I recommend cutting the fruit and keeping it chilled a few hours before serving and tossing in the honey lime poppy seed dressing just before serving.
- Use the fruits you prefer! If there is a fruit in this salad that you don’t prefer, swap it out for what you like most. Apricots, peaches, raspberries, or banana slices! I do recommend adding the banana prior to serving, as banana tends to brown quickly.
MORE DELICIOUS SIDE DISHES TO TRY
- Creamy Cucumber Avocado Salad
- Loaded Avocado Caprese Salad with Shrimp
- Easy Sautéed Teriyaki Bok Choy
- Crispy Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Dill Pickle Potato Wedges
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Best fruit salad recipe you’ve tried? Be sure to leave a rating below and let me know in a comment!
Honey Lime Fruit Salad
Ingredients:
Fruit:
- 2 mangoes, (peeled and diced)
- 4 kiwis, (peeled and sliced)
- 1 fresh pineapple, (peeled and diced)
- 2 lbs fresh strawberries, (stems removed, halved or quartered)
- 10 oz fresh blueberries
Honey Lime Poppy Seed Dressing:
- 3 tbsp honey, (more or less to taste *See notes below)
- 2 tbsp pineapple juice, (or another citrus juice)
- 2 tbsp lime juice, (or lemon juice)
- 1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds, (optional, extra for garnishment)
Instructions:
- Combine all washed and sliced fruits into a large mixing or serving bowl. Place into fridge to keep cool until ready to serve.
- To a small measuring glass or bowl, combine ingredients for the dressing. Mix well. Pour dressing over fruit and toss to combine 30-45 minutes prior to serving.
- Continue to toss before each serving to ensure the dressing, as well as juices/water released, are evenly mixed. The dressing and waters released from the fruits will start to settle at the bottom of the bowl.
