Description

A bright and cozy winter fruit salad with honey lime dressing, featuring oranges, pears, apples, and pomegranate seeds. Perfect for holiday brunches or a quick, healthy dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

2 large oranges (navel or cara cara), peeled and sliced into rounds or supremes
2 medium pears (Bosc or Anjou), cored and thinly sliced
2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and thinly sliced
½ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, torn or chiffonaded
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon lime zest
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Pinch of flaky sea salt
1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses (optional)
¼ cup toasted pistachios or almonds, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

Make the honey lime dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, fresh lime juice, lime zest, cayenne pepper, and a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt until honey is dissolved and dressing is glossy. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness as needed. Set aside.
Prepare the citrus: Slice off the top and bottom of each orange. Cut away the peel and white pith in strips, then slice into ¼-inch rounds or supreme segments. Catch any juice to add to dressing if desired.
Slice the pears and apples: Core and thinly slice (about ⅛-inch thick). Toss with a tiny squeeze of lime juice to prevent browning.
Prep the pomegranate and mint: If using a whole pomegranate, score and break open in a bowl of water to separate seeds. Measure ½ cup. Stack mint leaves, roll tightly, and slice into thin ribbons (chiffonade).
Assemble the salad: On a large serving platter or shallow bowl, arrange orange rounds in a single layer. Layer apple and pear slices on top, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds evenly. Drizzle about half the dressing over the fruit.
Rest and serve: Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Just before serving, scatter mint ribbons over the top and drizzle remaining dressing. Add optional toasted nuts or pomegranate molasses if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the resting time—it allows the fruit to macerate and flavors to meld. Add mint just before serving to prevent wilting. For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup. For a low-sugar option, reduce honey to 1 tablespoon.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 c
Calories: 190
Sugar: 35
Sodium: 50
Fat: 0.5
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 7
Protein: 2

Keywords: winter fruit salad, honey lime dressing, pomegranate, orange, pear, apple, healthy, quick, easy, holiday