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Honey and Bitters Fruit Salad

5.0

(3)

Fruit salad in white bowl on a pink fabric
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi

As far as culinary staples go, fruit salad is an elder—it has been around for generations and it isn’t going anywhere. A fruit salad will always be easy, but a good fruit salad involves more than just a chop and a toss. At their best, fruit salads deliver an unexpected combination of color and contrast, and more often than not, include the small but substantive additions from spices, herbs, and aromatics that frame the lushness of the produce. The following version is one that I enjoyed for several months after having my baby, a combination of berries, stone fruit, melons, underripe mangoes, kiwi, and pineapple. The fruit is seasoned with a heady combination of sweet honey and ferocious Angostura bitters, accentuated by Tajín, nutmeg, and salt. The result is a familiar salad with flavors that taste fresh and exciting, even though you likely have many of the ingredients on hand.

Allow the fruit salad to mingle with its dressing for at least 10 minutes before eating. You can also chill the fruit salad overnight; in that case, be sure to cut the fruit into larger pieces to preserve some of the texture.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    15 minutes

  • Yield

    4–6 servings

Ingredients

¼ cup honey
2 tsp. Angostura bitters
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
1 tsp. Tajín Clásico seasoning; plus more for serving (optional)
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
6–7 cups 1" pieces mixed fresh fruit (such as berries, stone fruit, melons, mangoes, kiwi, and/or pineapple; peeled if needed)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Stir ¼ cup honey, 2 tsp. Angostura bitters, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, 1 tsp. Tajín Clásico seasoning, and ½ tsp. ground nutmeg in a small bowl to combine.

    Step 2

    Place 6–7 cups 1" pieces mixed fresh fruit (such as berries, stone fruit, melons, mangoes, kiwi, and/or pineapple; peeled if needed) in a large bowl and add 2 Tbsp. honey mixture. Toss gently to coat. Let sit 10 minutes.

    Step 3

    To serve, taste salad and add more honey mixture if needed. Toss gently and sprinkle with more Tajín if desired.

    Do Ahead: Salad (without Tajín) can be made 12 hours ahead; cover and chill. Toss gently and sprinkle with Tajín just before serving.

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