Winter Fruit Salad loaded with fresh seasonal fruits and drizzled with a light honey-poppy seed dressing. Bright, crisp and festive – just right for your holiday table.

If you live in the Midwest where I do or anywhere else the sun isn’t shining brightly on many days, you just may need this salad in your life. Like . . . don’t even wait for the holidays need. Bright, festive, incredibly delicious – the perfect side to almost anything.

The fruits you see are in all the grocery stores right now and when they come together with a simple honey-poppy seed dresing, it’s practically a tropical vacation in a bowl.

What I love about this recipe:

Slice the fruit, whisk the dressing, blend and voila! Gorgeous, show-stopping salad.

Easy to customize with any of you favorite fresh seasonal fruit.

Elegant – perfect for any fall or winter gathering.

The ideal addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.

Ingredients in a Winter Fruit Salad:

The exact number of clementine (mandarin) oranges or kiwi you use will depend upon their size and your preference. Use the recipe ss a guideline – add, subtract or swap until it’s exactly what you and your family like best!

The fruit salad:

clementine or mandarin oranges
pomegranate seeds (arils)
kiwi
fresh pineapple
fresh mint leaves

The dressing:

honey
lime juice and zest
lemon juice and zest
poppy seeds
salt

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS:

Buy a whole pomegranate and de-seed it yourself or buy a container of ready-to-eat. They’re just as fresh and delicious – either works well.
If your honey is is too cold and won’t blend, pop the dressing into the microwave for 5-10 seconds to loosen it up.
You can make this salad ahead of time but the juice from the pomegranate may tint the pineapple distorting the color. Wait to add pomegranate seeds until just before serving.
Freeze leftover pineapple or kiwi and add to this healthy Green Smoothie.

How to make a Winter Fruit Salad:

Make the dressing: slice the lemon and lime into four quarters (you’ll only be using ONE QUARTER of each – juice and zest).

To a jar or small bowl, add honey, lemon and lime juice and zest, poppy seeds and a small pinch of salt (this balances the flavors and makes them pop). Shake or whisk until the dressing is combined then set aside.

Assemble and prep the fruit then add it all to a large bowl.

Spoon as much of the dressing over the top as you like then gently toss to coat the fruit. Top with the mint leaves and serve.

How long does a Winter Fruit Salad last:

This salad will stay fresh refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days. After that time the fruit will start to wilt and discolor.