Bright Winter Fruit Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing (Print Version)

Enjoy a vibrant Winter Fruit Salad with zesty Orange Poppy Seed Dressing. A refreshing, easy recipe perfect for gray days, packed with personal kitchen stories.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4-6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Seasonal American
Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

# Ingredients:

→ Winter Fruit Salad Base

01 - Cara Cara Oranges (3-4 large)
02 - Ruby Red Grapefruit (1 large)
03 - Pomegranates (1-2, seeded)
04 - Kiwis (3-4 ripe)
05 - Honeycrisp Apples (1-2 medium)

→ Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

06 - Fresh Orange Juice (1/4 cup)
07 - Honey or Maple Syrup (2 tbsp)
08 - Poppy Seeds (1 tbsp)
09 - Vanilla Extract (1/2 tsp)
10 - Pinch of Salt

→ Garnish & Finishing Touches

11 - Fresh Mint (1/4 cup, chopped)

# Instructions:

01 - Okay, first things first for this Winter Fruit Salad: we need to get those oranges and grapefruit ready. This is where you grab your sharpest knife and carefully segment the citrus. What I do is slice off the top and bottom, then stand the fruit on one end and slice away the peel and pith in strips. Then, holding the fruit over a bowl (to catch all that glorious juice!), carefully slice between the membranes to release the segments. This step always makes my kitchen smell amazing, like pure sunshine. Don't worry if a few bits break; it's all going into the same bowl!
02 - Next up, tackle that pomegranate. I usually cut it in half, hold it cut-side down over a bowl, and whack the back with a wooden spoon. The seeds just fall out! It’s surprisingly therapeutic. For the kiwis, peel and slice them into nice rounds or half-moons. And the apples? Core and chop them into bite-sized pieces. I like to toss the apples with a tiny bit of the reserved citrus juice right away to keep them from browning. I've definitely forgotten this before, and ended up with sad, brown apple chunks. Oops!
03 - Now for the star of the show: the Orange Poppy Seed Dressing! In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh orange juice, honey (or maple syrup), poppy seeds, vanilla extract, and that tiny pinch of salt. Give it a good whisk until everything is combined and the honey has dissolved. It should smell bright and sweet, with a hint of vanilla. Taste it! Adjust the sweetness or tartness if you need to. This dressing is what really brings the whole Winter Fruit Salad together, so make it just right.
04 - In a large, beautiful bowl, gently combine all your prepped fruit: the citrus segments, pomegranate seeds, kiwi slices, and apple pieces. See all those colors? It's like a rainbow! This is where you start to feel that winter gloom lifting, honestly. Be gentle when you mix; we want those fruit pieces to stay intact and pretty. I've been a bit too aggressive before and turned it into more of a fruit mush. Learn from my mistakes, hon!
05 - Pour that glorious Orange Poppy Seed Dressing over the fruit mixture. Now, with a light hand, gently toss everything together. You want every piece of fruit to get a little coating of that zesty, sweet dressing. The poppy seeds will cling to the fruit, adding a lovely visual and textural element. This step smells incredible, like a vibrant fruit explosion. Don't overmix, we're aiming for a delicate coating, not a soggy mess.
06 - Finally, sprinkle your chopped fresh mint over the top. This isn't just for looks; the mint adds a fantastic fresh aroma and a little burst of flavor. You can also add a few extra pomegranate seeds for an even prettier presentation. I love seeing the contrasting colors of the fruit with the green mint. Serve your bright Winter Fruit Salad immediately, perhaps in pretty individual bowls, and watch everyone's faces light up. It’s truly a little ray of sunshine on a plate!

# Notes:

01 - Always use fresh-squeezed citrus juice for the dressing; it genuinely elevates the flavor.
02 - For best results, store fruit and dressing separately if prepping ahead, and combine just before serving.
03 - If you're out of Cara Cara oranges, clementines or mandarins are a sweet, easy substitute that works well.
04 - This salad is fantastic served chilled, maybe even with a dollop of Greek yogurt for a creamy touch.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large mixing bowl
02 - small whisk
03 - sharp knife
04 - cutting board

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 180-220
Total Fat: 4-6g
Total Carbohydrate: 40-50g
Protein: 2-3g

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