Exotic Fruit Salad With Honey Lime Dressing

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I had been shopping at Sprouts Market here in California and came across a very large assortment of exotic fruits. Although I knew of all of them, I hadn’t tried many of them. I bought one of everything and started playing with them. First, I tasted them all (that was fun). Than, I knew there was going to be several cocktails (some of the colors were fabulous and were just screaming for me to turn them into a cocktail!) Check out my Star Fruit Cocktail and the Kiwano Cocktail recipes and you’ll get the idea. But I knew, I’d make an exotic fruit salad with honey lime dressing for sure.

I also made a Kiwano salsa and a few dips (Kiwano guacamole & Kiwano yogurt dip) but I knew I wanted to pull together a tropical fruit salad and this is the result. Many of the fruits are mild in flavor so I added berries to add a little sweet and a little tart. (Not to mention, the colors were spectacular!) The honey lime dressing really balances the whole thing out. This would be great as a side dish with grilled fish or chicken, or as a dessert, with brunch or as a dish you bring to a friend’s BBQ.

You could use any of your favorite fruits in this salad but adding some unique items that people don’t eat everyday makes it special. Let’s face it, slicing up a star fruit adds a lot of drama to the bowl. The hot pink from the dragon fruit catches your eye right away and all the berries add bits of color through out. Use fruits in season, and add any of your favorites. This is a salad that just calls for the freshest fruit you can find, and using those in season is key to a great salad.

The recipe below uses specific fruit, but as you’ll note in the photo below, I swap out fruits in this salad ALL THE TIME. Consider adding any of your favorites. See other questions I get about this salad.

What fruits can I substitute in a tropical exotic fruit salad?

In addition to the fruit I used in the recipe, I’ve also added, and/or substituted, the following fruits in multiple versions of the salad depending on the season I’m making it. BTW, I recently found and exotic red fruit, the red dragon fruit, which is a bright red/pink color inside which is different than the snow dragon fruit which is white on the inside. So beautiful…look for it! . watermelon . pineapple . cherries . peaches . red and snow white dragon fruit . blackberries . blueberries . grapes . pomegranate seeds

Are there any fruits I shouldn't use in this fruit salad?

I wouldn’t use slice bananas (they’d get mushy), or grapefruit (the flavor could take over the salad). Apples will inevitably turn brown (even when I add the lime juice) so for presentation, I don’t include those. I have seen people add durian since it is considered an exotic fruit but WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, this is definitely an acquired taste, so unless you personally love it and so do your guests, I would not include it! LOL

Can I substitute lemon for the lime in the dressing?

Of course, this is your salad! Lemon will work just fine.

Where can I find and buy tropical and exotic fruit?

I have had a lot of luck at Sprouts Farmer’s Market here in California. They seem to carry all kinds of exotic fruits, in small batches, throughout the year. You might also want to try Asian markets for exotic Asian fruit, Filipino markets and other ethnic grocery stores where you can find all kinds of fruit from around the world that you may not be familiar with. I recently scored Sungold kiwis and Hami melons at Sprouts and made a hami melon and kiwi smoothie bowl that was delish! I also know you can order an exotic fruit box from tropicalfruitbox.com which could be so much fun to play with, and or give as a gift.

What are the benefits of fruit salad?

First, they are nutrient-rich: Fruit salads are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Different fruits provide various nutrients, so a great mix of fruits in various colors, offers a wide range of health benefits.
Fruit is hydrating: Many fruits have high water content, helping to keep you hydrated. This is especially beneficial during hot weather or after physical activity.
Fruit has a ton of fiber: Fruits are excellent sources of dietary fiber, which aids digestion, promotes feelings of fullness, and can help maintain a healthy weight.
Fruit is relatively low in calories: Compared to many other desserts or snacks, fruit salads are generally low in calories while still being satisfying and flavorful. If you can love a fruit salad like this, it makes a great substitution for cake and cookies that are loaded with added sugar.
Fruit offers versatility and convenience: Fruit salads are easy to prepare, can be customized to personal preferences or seasonal availability, and make for a quick, healthy snack or addition to meals. I whip up this salad and then have it for days as a light breakfast, lunch, snack or dessert. It will hold well in the fridge for days and is just so good for you.

Kitchen Tools for Prepping your fruit

I think one of the reasons I see “boring” fruit salads, or gosh forbid, fruit salad out of a can (LOL), is that prepping the fruit can be a pain! Taking the pits out of a bowl of cherries, or cutting a pineapple can see a bit daunting if you don’t do it every day. But I’ve got tips and tools that you should have and use when prepping your fruit.

Let’s start with cherries. LOVE THEM! I can’t wait for cherry season and I eat them all season long in everything from a salad, to a dessert and as a topping on my whipped ricotta toast with cherries and hot honey in the morning. But getting pits out of a bowl of cherries can be a real task unless you have a simple tool like a cherry pitter. This makes easy work of the task. I don’t know why I hesitated when buying one. I use it every single season, just like I use my turkey baster at Thanksgiving. I also finally bought a multi-cherry pitter so I could do these big salads even faster. They are inexpensive and make easy work of pitting cherries.

Next up is the “scary” pineapple!!! LOL I don’t know about you, but trying to peel the pineapple, cut around the core, etc. just always seemed like so much work. Someone at weight watchers recommended a pineapple corer and I just couldn’t believe I had been struggling with pineapples for so long. This thing works like a charm and now I buy a pineapple almost every week. I use the slicer to create those chunks that I can then use them in salads and on my pineapple cottage cheese pastry. You can also just leave the pineapple rings as is an use them in other recipes or eat on their own.

My final “tool” for assisting with removing large pits in stone fruits, is my handy-dandy grapefruit spoon. I say it all the time, this is the single greatest unsung hero in my kitchen. I discovered I could use it to dig out pits, scrape out the seeds in a cucumber and so much more. You can grab two grapefruit spoons for under ten dollars and have a tool for life.

To actually make this salad couldn’t be easier. Simply prepare all the fruit you have chosen to include in your tropical exotic fruit salad. Wash, peel, cut, slice and pit any of the fruits you are using. Arrange them on a platter.

Mix your salad dressing and drizzle over the top of the fruit. Gently toss. Garnish with fresh mint leaves if you like and for an unexpected finish, sprinkle with some flaky salt (optional). I use Maldon which has a wonderful light, salty flavor and is the perfect way to offset the honey.

FYI: for my WW friends and/or those that don’t want to use any additional sugar, just omit the honey. The fresh squeezed lime juice on it’s own adds some great zip to the fruit and can stand on its own. You decide. Whatever fruit you use, and how you choose to finish the salad is what makes this your recipe. Please let me know if you try the salad and if you add or uncover any new fruits. I love to hear from you. Leave a rating and comment below and enjoy!

If you like this salad, be sure to try some of my other favorite fruit salads:

. Easy Citrus Salad with Pistachios

. Watermelon, Peach & Feta Salad

. All Green Fruit & Veggie Salad.

. Lime and Blackberry Fruit Salad

. Smashed Cucumber and Raspberry Salad

. Heirloom Tomatoes, Peaches & Burrata Salad

. Red Fruit Salad