Hurry! We’re in the last few weeks of summer and we need to enjoy every last minute of it. So who has time to waste being stuck in the kitchen cooking?
We still experience hot weather in August, and cottage season doesn’t wrap up until the last leaves have fallen, so to feed your hungry group with something fresh, try an in-season fruit salad drizzled with a zesty dressing. In Canada, the fruits most in-season in August are stonefruit, cherries and berries.
Pop quiz: Do you know what the number one summer fruit is? Blueberries! Often hailed as the superstars of the fruit kingdom, with their sweetness and anti-oxidant properties, they also look fantastic sprinkled over pretty much anything. If a fruit salad looks too humdrum and pale, mix in a bunch of glistening blueberries, or blackberries and cherries for contrast, and now your plain Jane pops!
To create the best fruit salad you’ve ever served, follow these tips:
• Shop in season. There are so many reasons to buy in-season produce, but the simplest one is that it tastes the best! Make this recipe in the summertime, when peaches, nectarines, melons, berries and cherries are at their sweetest and juiciest.
• Buy the stonefruit in advance. It’s nearly impossible to find a perfect peach or nectarine at the grocery store, so plan ahead! Buy these types of fruit ahead of time and let them ripen for a few days at room temperature. When they’re soft, pop them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
• Change it up. The combination of berries, cherries and peaches is a classic, but other fruits are also wonderful. Replace the peaches with nectarines or the more exotic mango, or add blackberries, watermelon, apricots, kiwi or plums. Choose whatever looks best at the farmers market or store, and try to select fruits with a variety of shapes, colours and textures.
• Taste and adjust. This might seem like a goofy tip for a simple fruit salad, but like any salad recipe, there has to be a balance of flavours. If you like your fruit salad sweeter, drizzle in more maple syrup. If you like it brighter, add extra lemon or lime. Have fun with it!
Summer Fruit Salad with Zingy Ginger Dressing
This easy fruit salad recipe is a perfect summer side dish or dessert. Toss the citrus-ginger dressing with B.C. peaches, a mix of berries and cherries, but any fresh fruit, including diced melon, would be just as tasty.
Ingredients: For the dressing
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup, more if desired
½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Pinch of sea salt
For the salad
10 strawberries, sliced
2 peaches or nectarines, sliced
½ cup cherries, pitted and sliced
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
¼ cup fresh basil, more for garnish
¼ cup fresh mint, more for garnish
Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lime juice, maple syrup, ginger, and salt.
2. In a large bowl, toss together the strawberries, peaches, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, basil and mint. Drizzle the dressing on top and toss to coat. Garnish with fresh basil and mint leaves. Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if you’re serving it as a simple but perfect dessert.
So easy and so delicious! Enjoy!