Melon Pineapple Fruit Salad with Berries

5 from 10 votes

Jun 17, 2020

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This refreshing Melon Pineapple Fruit Salad with Berries is the summer star you’re looking for! It’s perfect any time of day and has an unexpected pop of fresh flavor!

Close up photo of melon, strawberries, blackberries and pineapple in a fruit salad

A Refreshing Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe

Okay, listen up – there’s fruit salad, and then there’s THIS fruit salad. This fruit salad is something special.

I bet you’re thinking, “Lady, fruit salad is fruit salad”. But – no! This is next level fruit salad.

Here’s why… I slipped something special into the dressing that is so unexpected and adds the perfect pop of freshness to pair with the tropical flavors from the melon, pineapple, and berries.

Your taste buds are going to be jumping for joy!

Ingredients for this Fruit Salad

Mmmmmm Mmmmmm! You’re going to love all of the fruit in this mix. And that super special ingredient in the dressing, get ready for it! Here’s what you’ll need:

The Fruit:

cantaloupe, cut into bite-sized cubes
pineapple, cut into bite-sized cubes
fresh strawberries
raspberries
blueberries
blackberries

For the Dressing

honey
lemon juice
fresh basil

How to Cut a Pineapple

I used to avoid purchasing fresh pineapples because they seemed so – intimidating. But, it turns out, they are pretty easy to cut. Here’s how:

Place your pineapple on its side and cut off the top and the bottom.
Stand the pineapple up and, using a sharp knife, cut down, lengthwise, along the outer edge to remove the peel. Rotate the pineapple around until the peel is completely removed.
Next, cut the pineapple in half lengthwise and then cut each half into half.
Take the four long pieces and remove the center core by chopping down lengthwise.
Cut each in half again, lengthwise.
Take each of the eight, long pieces and begin to cut across forming small chunks.

How to Cut a Melon

Cutting a whole cantaloupe is just as simple! Follow these easy steps:

Before you begin cutting, be sure to wash the outside of your cantaloupe.
Place the washed and dried melon on a cutting board and cut it in half.
Next, scoop out the seeds and discard them.
Cut each of the halves into wedges that are about a half-inch wide.
Cut vertically from the fleshy part of the wedge down to the rind, but don’t cut through it. These cuts should be about a half-inch wide.
Run your knife between the rind and the fleshy part following the curve of the melon. The cubed pieces of melon should fall off of the rind.
Follow the same steps with each wedge until the entire melon is cubed.

How to Make this Fruit Salad

Chop: Cut up the fruit and drain any excess liquid.
Combine: Place the fruit in a large salad bowl and set it aside.
Make the Dressing: In a small mixing bowl combine the honey and lemon juice, then whisk to combine. Stir in the basil.
Coat: Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat.
Chill then serve: Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Serve.

Variation Ideas for this Fresh Fruit Salad

This is a great salad because you have so many options for mixing things up.

Swap the cantaloupe for honey dew or watermelon.
Use mango and/or kiwi in place of (or in addition to) the pineapple.
Use whatever berries are seasonal and fresh at the time in your area.
Swap the lemon juice for lime juice.
Switch up the fresh basil leaves for fresh mint leaves.

Serving Suggestions

I like to classify fruit salad as an “All the time” food. Like, if you want it for breakfast – go for it. Lunch? Sure! A side with dinner? That’s a yes! Dessert? The healthiest! And don’t forget about brunch! Fruit salad is a must have for any brunch.

So, my advice – you can serve this salad with anything. Here are my favorites:

I love a sweet fruit salad served alongside Piri Piri chicken or oven grilled steak.
I like to add nuts to my fruit salad and serve it over yogurt for a super filling breakfast or lunch.
This is the perfect light dessert option for a cookout or potluck. Eating some fruit salad makes me feel a little less guilty about having that slice of cheesecake, too.

Is Fruit Salad Healthy?

I say YES! Fruit salad has all of the health and nutrient benefits of each of the fruits in the salad.

It does have a lot of sugar, but here’s the thing – it’s all natural sugars. Even the honey. So, right off the bat, we know that’s better than anything processed.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say fruit salad is quite possibly one of the most healthy desserts you can have and it’s a fresh, sweet option to add to any meal.

How to Store Fresh Fruit Salad

You can store your fruit salad in the fridge in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. The fruit will lose liquid and become softer the longer you store it, but it will still taste great! I think the flavors meld together and it tastes even better sometimes on day 2, anyway!

More Fruit Salad Recipes

ENJOY!

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5 from 10 votes