A fresh summer fruit salad is the perfect, easy way to end a meal on a hot day. Prepare this salad to take along to a BBQ or potluck for a healthy sugar free dessert.
A fresh fruit bowl is a great way to end a summer meal instead of a traditional dessert. Fresh seasonal, ripe fruit is sweet enough on its own and therefore does not require any additional sugar!
Cut up a bunch of your favorite fruit, toss with a simple dressing made with freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice, chill and serve. This summer fruit salad recipe is healthy, light and refreshing!
Why share such an easy fruit salad recipe? This salad is quite nostalgic for my family. It is what my mother brought over each time she visited on a summer day for a BBQ; outdoor pizza making session; or my son's birthday party.
Nonna was famous for her huge fruit salads which were plentiful enough to feed a crowd as well as enjoy as leftovers for a few days afterward.
And so as summer approaches and outdoor gatherings begin this year without her, I have fond memories of this fruit salad which I will now prepare as I think about her.
Best fruit to add to a summer fruit salad
In my humble opinion there aren't many rules when it comes to making fruit salad!
- Add whichever ripe, in season fruit you have on hand. During the summer months this may also include peaches; cherries; mangoes; watermelon; raspberries or whichever fruit you have available where you live.
- Do try to choose fruit in a variety of colors for a pretty presentation.
- I prefer not including bananas which will quickly turn brown and mushy and, in my opinion, their texture does not quite go well with the other fruit I included in my salad. But this is strictly a matter of personal taste, so if you like bananas in your fruit salad be sure to toss them in at the last minute just before serving.
Ingredient List
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Oranges: both in the salad and juiced for the dressing. You may use ½ cup purchased orange juice instead.
- Kiwis
- Cantaloupe
- Lemon: juiced for the dressing
The following are step by step instructions with images to guide you through this recipe. Please scroll to the end of this post for the detailed printable recipe card.
Step by Step Instructions
- Wash all your fruit and dry well.
- Cut all fruit into a uniform size: halve or quarter strawberries depending how large they are; leave grapes whole or cut in half; slice kiwis into rounds; segment the orange; use a melon baller (if you have one) to cut the cantaloupe or chop into cubes.
- Place all the fruit in a large bowl.
- Juice 2 oranges and 1 lemon. Stir the juices together in a bowl and pour over the fruit. Toss gently and chill the fruit salad for at least an hour or two before serving.
Recipe Notes
-Use whichever in season, fresh fruit you have on hand such as: raspberries; peaches; cherries; mangoes; watermelon or others.
-If you happen to have store bought orange juice in your refrigerator, you may use that instead of juicing 2 oranges.
-If you wish to add bananas to your fruit salad, do so just before serving.
-A few fresh mint leaves may be added to your fruit salad for extra flavor.
-Use ripe fruit for the best results but not overly ripened fruit which will become soft.
-Cut all fruit roughly the same size.
-Do not add frozen fruit which will quickly become mushy.
-Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Did you try this fruit salad recipe?
Let me know how much you enjoyed it by rating it in the recipe card below!
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Check out more refreshing summer desserts!
- Gelo di Fragole
- Blueberry Granita
- Granita al Limone
- Balsamic Strawberries with Vanilla Ice Cream
- Gelo di Caffè
- Sicilian Almond Milk Pudding
- Italian Fruit Tart with Pastry Cream
- Almond Milk Chocolate Pudding
- Maple Roasted Peaches
Ingredients
- 1 small pineapple cut into bite sized pieces
- ½ cantaloupe
- 1¼ cups blueberries
- 3 cups strawberries
- 3 kiwis
- 2 cups grapes
- 1 orange
For the dressing
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 oranges juiced or ½ cup store bought orange juice
Instructions
- Wash all your fruit and dry well.
- Cut all fruit (except blueberries) into a uniform size: halve or quarter strawberries depending how large they are; leave grapes whole or cut in half; slice kiwis into rounds; segment the orange; cut the pineapple into bite sized pieces; use a melon baller (if you have one) to cut the cantaloupe or chop into cubes.
- Place all the fruit in a large bowl.
- Juice 2 oranges and 1 lemon. Stir the juices together in a bowl and pour over the fruit.
- Toss gently and chill the fruit salad for at least an hour or two before serving.
Notes
-If you happen to have store bought orange juice in your refrigerator, you may use that instead of juicing 2 oranges.
-If you wish to add bananas to your fruit salad, do so just before serving.
-A few fresh mint leaves may be added to your fruit salad for extra flavor. More tips -Use ripe fruit for the best results but not overly ripened fruit which will become soft.
-Cut all fruit roughly the same size.
-Do not add frozen fruit which will quickly become mushy. Storage -Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
caroline
Wow, this recipe looks absolutely delicious! I can't wait to try it out this weekend. Thanks for sharing🤗!I've been using FoodHub for a few months now, and I'm hooked! The variety of cuisines and recipes available is incredible, and I love that I can easily filter by dietary preferences. It's made meal planning so much simpler and more enjoyable.
Nadia
Hello Caroline, it's very simple but if your fruit is perfectly ripe and you add the fresh juices it is just sweet enough. And so refreshing for the summer. Hope you enjoy it!