Mixed Fresh Fruit With Lime And Ginger Food

FRESH GINGER FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix ginger with juices. Toss lightly with fruit and chill for 2 hours.
• Wine Suggestion: Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, 1997

GINGERED FRESH FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In 1-cup microwavable measuring cup, mix dressing ingredients. Microwave uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds or until hot. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• In very large bowl, mix salad ingredients. Pour dressing over fruit; toss gently to coat.

FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY GINGER LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• All fruit should be washed and dried before being ready for the salad.
• Cut skin from pineapple, so no brown spots are left. Cut peeled fruit into quarters lengthwise, cut off core, then dice each quarter into approximate one-inch chunks. Place in large bowl.
• Peel and remove seeds from the cantaloupe, then cut into one-inch cubes. Place in bowl with pineapple.
• Halve or quarter strawberries, depending on size, and add to bowl.
• Slice each nectarine into about 10-12 slices, then gently pull each slice away from pit and add them to the bowl.
• Cut the ends off of kiwi fruits, then insert a small spoon just under peel of each, and slide it around the fruit, just under the peel, until the peel is separated from the fruit. Cut each peeled kiwi in half lengthwise, then each half into four or five slices. Add to the rest of fruit.
• Add blueberries and blackberries to the rest of fruit. Prepare dressing (below).
• In a small bowl (I actually prefer a mason jar to shake the ingredients together in), mix together honey, lime juice and zest, ginger (I use a microplane to grate it fine), and poppy seeds. Whisk well, then pour over fruit and toss gently to coat.
• (You can prepare this salad up to a day ahead of time, but keep the different kinds of fruit separated from each other just until serving, or the colors will bleed. It tastes best at room temperature. The dressing actually tastes better made a day in advance anyway).
• TIPS ON FINDING RIPE FRUIT: For pineapple, the skin should be slightly yellow, firm to the touch but not hard--will give a little. And, when a leaf near the top of the fruit is tugged gently, it should easily remove from the fruit. For cantaloupe, it should be firm but give slightly, a bit yellowish on the rind--those "veins" are a good sign--it means they were left long enough on the ground to ripen properly. And, if you poke a fingernail in the top "dime" spot, you should be able to smell the fruit. If you can't smell anything, it's not ripe. Strawberries should be shiny and fragrant. Nectarines should have a slight give and be fragrant. Blueberries and blackberries should be firm and deeply colored. Kiwi fruit should be firm, but not rock hard--must have a very slight "give".

CHILLED MIXED FRUIT

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool completely., Cut a thin slice from the top and bottom of each grapefruit; stand grapefruit upright on a cutting board. Cut off peel and outer membrane, starting from the top. Holding fruit over a bowl to catch juices, remove grapefruit sections by cutting along the membrane. Repeat with oranges., Place lemon juice, sugar syrup, citrus sections and reserved juices in a large bowl; toss to combine. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight. Stir in remaining fruit; refrigerate, covered, 1 hour longer.

FRUIT SALAD WITH GINGER SYRUP

Steps:

• Make syrup:
• Bring water, sugar, and ginger to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, then stir until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat and let steep 15 minutes. Pour ginger syrup through a sieve into a bowl, discarding ginger. Chill, covered, at least 2 hours.
• Make fruit salad:
• Toss fruit and mint with 1/4 cup syrup, or to taste.

MIXED FRUIT WITH LEMON-BASIL DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the lemon juice, sugar, salt, mustard, onion powder and pepper in a blender; cover and pulse until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Stir in basil. , In a large bowl, combine the fruit. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

FRESH FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Mix pineapple, oranges, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, and grapes together in a bowl; refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
• Combine oil, lime juice, honey, vinegar, and ginger in a bottle with a lid; cover and shake until dressing is mixed. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes. Shake dressing again; drizzle over fruit and toss to coat.