This truly Tropical Fruit Salad is complemented with a dressing of yogurt, passion fruit and balsamic reduction. It makes a perfect healthy fruit dessert or even breakfast food.
In the last 5 years, I have spent about half of my time in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. For most of this time I lived in Thailand, but also in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia - and visited Laos, Cambodia and Singapore.
Having spent this much time in tropical climates, it always baffles me what is passed off as 'tropical flavor' back home.
Let me tell you, there are no berries in the Tropics. If it grows in your 4-season climate, there is a good chance it doesn't grow in tropical weather.
So today I am sharing a truly Tropical Fruit Salad with only fruit that can actually grow in the tropics. For this salad I specifically chose the combination of mango and pineapple with watermelon and dragon fruit (pitaya). Mint leaves add to the fresh and light flavor of this dessert.
I grew up with fruit salad that was often dressed with sweetened condensed milk. And while I love the creaminess it adds to the dessert, I'd rather let the fruit's natural sweetness shine through instead of dousing it with added sugar.
So for my tropical fruit salad, I decided to dress it with natural yogurt (for similar creaminess without sweetness) and the juicy seeds of a passion fruit.
Lastly, I drizzled the salad with Balsamic Reduction. There was a time when I thought balsamic vinegar and reduction was reserved for savory applications.
Then I saw my friend add it to her fruit filled spring rolls and had to try it myself. I have been in love with Balsamic Reduction and its many, many sweet and savory possibilities ever since.
Heck, I even add it to my ice cream sometimes! And it definitely is perfect for fruit salad.
More fresh salad recipes:
Recipe
Tropical Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups watermelon cubes
- 1 cup fresh pineapple cubes
- 1 large mango peeled and cut into cubes
- ½ dragon fruit flesh only cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon small mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 passion fruit
- balsamic reduction for drizzling on top
Instructions
- Cut all the fresh fruit (watermelon, pineapple, mango, dragon fruit) into cubes of approximately the same size and toss in a medium bowl.
- Sprinkle with the small mint leaves and top with the yogurt.
- Cut the passionfruit in half and scoop out the juicy seeds with a spoon. Add on top of the yogurt.
- Finally, drizzle balsamic reduction over the salad to taste. You can toss everything to combine before serving, or let it mix naturally as you scoop it from the big bowl to smaller dessert plates.
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Random Questions
A tropical fruit salad often includes fruits like mango, pineapple, watermelon, dragon fruit (pitaya), and mint leaves.
Lemon juice is used in fruit salad to add a touch of acidity, enhance flavors, and prevent fruits from browning.
Bitterness in a fruit salad can be reduced by choosing ripe, sweet fruits and balancing the flavors with a sweet dressing, like natural yogurt and passion fruit, as mentioned.
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