Winter Fruit Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant Winter Fruit Salad featuring oranges, apples, pomegranate seeds, and kiwi, all tossed in a sweet and tangy orange poppy seed dressing. This colorful dish is perfect for a light snack or a healthy dessert, garnished with fresh mint for an aromatic finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 2 large fresh oranges, segmented
- 2 medium crisp apples (e.g., Granny Smith), cubed
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 ripe kiwis, sliced
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons orange juice (reserved from segmenting)
Garnish
- Fresh mint leaves, torn
Instructions
- Prepare the fruits: Wash all fruits thoroughly. Peel and segment the oranges, slicing them into bite-sized pieces while collecting any juice in a bowl for the dressing. Cube the apples and slice the kiwis into thin pieces.
- Mix the fruit: In a large mixing bowl, combine the prepared oranges, cubed apples, pomegranate seeds, and sliced kiwi. Gently toss these fruits together to ensure even distribution.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, freshly squeezed lemon juice, poppy seeds, and the reserved orange juice until the mixture is well blended and smooth.
- Combine: Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the bowl of mixed fruit. Gently fold the salad to coat every piece of fruit without bruising.
- Finish: Add torn fresh mint leaves on top of the salad just before serving for a fresh aroma and flavor. Optionally, chill the salad briefly in the refrigerator if preferred cold.
Notes
- To segment oranges easily, use a sharp knife to cut away the peel and pith before cutting between the membranes.
- If pomegranate seeds are difficult to remove, tap the back of the fruit halves with a spoon over a bowl to release the seeds quickly.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Chilling the salad for 20-30 minutes enhances the flavors and provides a cool, refreshing taste.
- Use fresh mint leaves as a garnish to add brightness and a slight herbal note to the salad.
Keywords: Winter fruit salad, orange poppy seed dressing, healthy fruit salad, seasonal fruit salad, fresh fruit dessert, vegetarian salad