One of my favorite natural desserts to offer at dinner gatherings is a fresh cut fruit salad. Fresh fruit salad is one of those all natural desserts that makes for a great sweet treat.  The natural sugar of fruits rarely require the addition of sugar and when cut up into bite size pieces guests can”t help but be tempted to have a bowl full of fruit.  Besides, when the work is done for them and all the fruit nicely cut and presented so beautifully, how can anyone resist?  Let me tell you folks, it always amazes me how popular the humble fruit salad is at any party, it’s always cleaned out!!

I usually like to mix a variety of fruits depending on what is in season, and I stick to fruits that don’t turn brown or soften when cut. For example I don’t use apples, pears, or stone fruit such as apricots, nectarines and peaches as they tend to get soft and mushy and brown once they are cut. Fruits that work great are berries, grapes. melons, persimmons, mango, papaya, fresh figs, and pineapple. These hold up well when cut into pieces and keep well in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Sometimes when I want to serve a sweeter fresh fruit dessert I serve my fruit salad with plain Greek yogurt and honey.

On this one occassion when I went to my cousin’s place for dinner I took a fresh fruit salad made with pineapple, green grapes and blackberries (pictured below). I then added a few golden raisins and for a bit of unexpected drama I sprinkled some finely cut soft candied ginger.  The raisins and candied ginger gave the salad an extra burst of dried-fruit sweetness.

Fresh fruits add beautiful vibrant natural color to any table and brings a freshness to a dinner menu whether all cut up in a fruit salad or just presented in a big platter.

Any way you have fruit salad it’s a delicious and all natural healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth.  For a fresh take on dessert that is sweet as it is healthy give this fruit salad a try!

Fresh Fruit Salad with Ginger and Golden Raisins

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe pineapple cut into small chunks
• 2-3 cups blackberries
• Ripe cut mango, melon, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries and any combination of fruits of your choice.
• 3 tbsp golden raisins
• 2 tbsp soft candied ginger finely cut into small pieces
• Mint or fresh basil for garnish

Directions:

• Mix all the fruit together with the ginger and raisins. Garnish with mint and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Serve fruit salad with a side of plain yogurt or have it as is.

Happy Sunday!
I hope you are having a relaxing weekend.
Have a great week ahead!