Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

This Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing recipe makes it easy to eat the rainbow! This is a healthy and refreshing snack or dessert perfect for a hot summer day or any occasion. Fresh, sweet fruit is drizzled with a homemade bright and zesty dressing.

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What Type of Fruit to Use

Choose a variety of fruits: Use a mix of fruits that are in season and that complement each other in flavor and texture. Some good options include berries, melons, pineapple, kiwi, and citrus fruits. Here are some options:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Berries
• Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemons)
• Grapes
• Kiwis
• Mangoes
• Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Strawberries

When choosing the fruit, consider the following:

• Color: A variety of colors will make the fruit salad more visually appealing.
• Sweetness: Some fruits are sweeter than others, so you may want to adjust the amount of sugar or honey you use.
• Texture: Some fruits are softer than others, so you may want to choose fruits that will hold up well in the salad.
• Season: Some fruits are more in season during certain times of the year.

How to Prep the Fruit

Cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces: Cut the fruit into pieces that are roughly the same size so that they are easy to eat and blend well together. Remove any seeds, stems, or tough parts.

How to Make Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Add all of the fruit to a large bowl.
2. Combine olive oil, honey, fresh lime juice, and lime zest in a separate bowl and drizzle it over the fruit.
3. Serve immediately or chilled for 30 minutes.

Salad Dressing

My Honey Lime Dressing is my favorite addition to this salad! The dressing adds a natural sweetness, the lime juice provides a bright and zesty flavor that balances perfectly with the fruit. Here are more options:

• Citrus dressing: Dressings made with fresh citrus juice (such as orange, lemon, or lime), complement a wide variety of fruits and add a bright, refreshing flavor to the salad.
• Yogurt dressing: A creamy dressing made will work well with fruits like berries, melons, and apples.
• Mint dressing: Made with fresh mint leaves, super refreshing, and pairs well with tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and papaya.
• Poppy seed dressing: Sweet and tangy; works well with fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and mandarins.
• Balsamic dressing: Tangy flavor made with balsamic vinegar and pairs well with fruits like peaches, nectarines, and strawberries.

Frozen Fruit

I love to make fruit salads year-round. Some of my favorites aren't fresh or in season during certain parts of the year (mostly mango and peaches!). These can be purchased frozen and thawed for the salad.

How to Prevent Browning

The lime juice used in the dressing will prevent the fruit from browning. Lime juice is acidic, and it reacts with the enzymes that cause oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that causes fruit to turn brown. When you coat fruit with lime juice, you are essentially stopping the oxidation process in its tracks.

Lemon juice and vinegar will do the same thing.

Chilling

Chill the fruit salad: For the best taste and texture, chill the fruit salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

How Long It Will Last/How to Store

It will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator. But, it is best to eat it within 24 hours of making it. If you store the fruit salad in an airtight container, it will last longer. Avoid leaving the fruit salad at room temperature for more than two hours, as bacteria can grow rapidly at warm temperatures.

If you store the salad in an airtight container with paper towels, it will last longer.

Keep in mind some fruits, such as bananas and apples, tend to brown quickly when cut and exposed to air. Because the fruit is served with dressing, the longer you take to eat it, the more risk you have the fruit will get soggy.

I like to drain excess dressing for this reason. Once you coat the fruit in dressing and refrigerate for 30 minutes, it will soak up the honey lime flavor.

More Salad Recipes

Mango Fruit Salad
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Southwest Chicken Salad
Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Grilled Shrimp Salad
Cajun Shrimp Salad