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Bursting with the juicy, succulent flavors of the season, this gorgeous Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing tastes like summer in a bowl! It’s fresh, light, flavorful and oh-so-good!
Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing – A Summertime Delight
I always get excited when the first displays of cherries show up in the grocery store. Why? Because that signals the start of stone fruit season!
Though you can theoretically buy them all year round, the peak season for stone fruits is brief. So, when the days get sunny and long, I try to indulge in the sweet, juicy, decadent goodness of stone fruit as often as possible.
And what better way to celebrate these summer stars than by creating a refreshing Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing? This delightful salad is not only a feast for the eyes but also bursting with summery flavor that will leave you wanting more.
What are Stone Fruits?
Stone fruits are named for their hard, stone-like pits. They include peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries.
These fruits are at their peak during the summer months, making them the ideal choice for a fresh and vibrant salad. Their natural sweetness and varied textures add a delightful complexity to any dish.
How to Make A Fruit Salad that Doesn’t Get Mushy
The beauty of this salad lies in its simplicity. There aren’t many ingredients, so it’s essential to make sure that each one is the best it can possibly be.
Choose fruits that are perfectly ripe but not mushy. Look for fruits with smooth, brightly colored skin with no sign of shriveling. When choosing larger stone fruits such as nectarines or peaches, I gently push a finger against the skin. A ripe fruit will yield just slightly, leaving a small indentation.
To prepare the salad, start by washing all your fruits thoroughly and patting them dry.
You’ll peel the peaches and nectarines, then cut them into a large dice. If you prefer, you can also leave the skin on for added texture and color.
Next, you’ll halve the apricots, remove the pits, and cut each half into four quarters. Then, you’ll halve the cherries and remove the pits.
Finally, place all the prepared fruits in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with torn fresh mint leaves. Fresh mint adds a wonderful, aromatic taste that perfectly complements the sweetness of the fruit.
Your stone fruit salad is almost ready. All you need to do now is make the dressing.
Making the Honey Lime Dressing
The dressing for this salad is a simple yet heavenly combination of honey and lime. The acidity of the lime balances the sweetness of the honey and the fruits, creating a refreshing and light dressing that enhances the natural flavors.
Squeeze the fresh lime juice into a small bowl. While you could use bottled juice, fresh will taste better. Then you’ll add the olive oil, honey, and a pinch of Kosher salt to the juice, whisking very thoroughly so the honey is fully dissolved.
Be sure to taste the dressing before you pour it over the fruit. Adjust the flavor by adding just a little more of whatever you think you need – honey, salt, lime, etc.
When the flavor is just right, pour the honey lime dressing over the prepared fruits. There will probably be more dressing than you need. Start by using half of the dressing and then taste to see if you’d like to add more. (Reserve any extra dressing for another use).
Gently toss everything together, ensuring that each piece of fruit is lightly coated with the dressing. If you’d like, sprinkle a few extra bits of mint leaf over the top.
Stone Fruit Salad Serving Suggestions
This Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is very versatile.
I like it all on its own as a snack, but serving it alongside some cottage cheese or Greek yogurt makes a great summer lunch on hot days. It’s also a great dinner-time side dish for grilled chicken and is great to bring along to potlucks and picnics.
For a light dessert, serve a generous portion of stone fruit salad over a scoop of vanilla ice.
A Summer Staple: A Fruit Salad that Stays Fresh
This Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is a celebration of summer in every bite and a simple, delicious way to enjoy the season’s bounty. Whether you’re hosting a summer picnic, a backyard barbecue, or just looking for a refreshing treat, this salad is sure to impress.
Give it a try this week, and enjoy the sweet taste of summer with this delightful recipe and savor the sunshine in every bite!
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Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing: A Fruit Salad that Stays Fresh
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe peach
- 2 ripe nectarines
- 6 ripe apricots
- 1 lb ripe red cherries, pitted
- 15–20 mint leaves, torn into small pieces (reserve one for garnish)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Fresh juice of two limes
- 2 T honey
- Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Wash all the fruits and pat dry.
- Peel the peaches and nectarines, then cut into bite-sized chunks. Halve the apricots, remove the pits, and slice each half into four pieces. Halve the pitted cherries.
- Place all the prepared fruits into a medium-sized bowl. Tear the mint leaves into small pieces and sprinkle over the fruit. Set the salad aside and make the dressing.
- Squeeze the lime juice into a small bowl. Add the olive oil, honey, and pinch of salt. Whisk dressing very thoroughly, until the honey has completely dissolved. Taste and adjust seasonings and ingredients as needed.
- Pour about half of the dressing over the fruit salad and gently stir to coat all the fruit. Taste and see if you’d like to add more dressing. Reserve any unused dressing for another purpose. Sprinkle a few extra pieces of mint over the top.
- Serve immediately or store covered in the refrigerator until mealtime. For best flavor, enjoy within a day or two of preparation.
