The Ultimate Strawberry and Citrus Salad (So Fresh & Vibrant!)

Imagine a dish that looks and tastes like pure, liquid sunshine, a vibrant explosion of color so bright it can chase away the grayest of days. That, my friends, is the simple, breathtaking magic of this Strawberry and Citrus Salad. It’s a beautiful mosaic of sweet strawberries, a rainbow of juicy citrus—from navel oranges to ruby grapefruit—all tossed in a simple honey-lime dressing and finished with a scattering of fresh, cool mint. This is, without a doubt, the most refreshing and elegant fruit salad you will ever make.

I promise you, this salad is a show-stopper that requires absolutely no cooking and is ready in just 20 minutes. It’s the perfect light and healthy addition to a brunch spread, a beautiful side dish for a spring luncheon, or a refreshing dessert after a heavy meal. It’s a true taste of sunshine, any time of year.

Get ready to create an edible work of art that is as delicious and nourishing as it is beautiful.

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Why This Will Be Your New Favorite Fruit Salad!

You are going to be completely captivated by the vibrant beauty and incredible flavor of this simple salad. It’s a guaranteed hit. Here’s why you have to make it:

• A Stunning, Colorful Presentation: The artful arrangement of different colored citrus and bright red strawberries makes this a true centerpiece dish. It’s a feast for the eyes!
• Incredibly Fresh and Healthy: This salad is an absolute powerhouse of Vitamin C and antioxidants. It’s a delicious way to enjoy a bounty of fresh, wholesome fruit.
• Ready in Just 20 Minutes: With no cooking required, this elegant salad comes together in a flash, making it the perfect last-minute addition to any meal.
• The Perfect Honey-Lime Dressing: The simple dressing of lime juice and honey doesn’t overpower the fruit; it enhances it, drawing out the juices and adding a perfect touch of sweetness and tang.
• Wonderfully Light and Refreshing: This is the perfect antidote to heavy, rich foods. It’s a bright, clean, and palate-cleansing dish that’s perfect for brunch, as a side, or for a light dessert.

Recipe Snapshot

Your Shopping List for This Sunshine Salad

This recipe uses a beautiful mix of fresh, vibrant fruits and a couple of pantry staples. Here’s what you’ll need:

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→ For the Fruit Salad

• 1 pound strawberries → Hulled and sliced. Look for bright red, fragrant berries.
• 2 grapefruits → Their tartness is a wonderful contrast to the sweeter fruits.
• 2 navel oranges → The classic, sweet, and seedless orange.
• 2 Cara Cara or blood oranges → For a beautiful rosy color and a slightly different sweet-tart flavor.
• 2 tangerines or clementines → For easy-to-peel, sweet little segments.

→ For the Dressing and Garnish

• 2 limes → We’ll use both the zest and the juice for a bright, tangy dressing.
• 2 tablespoons honey → The perfect sweet counterpoint to the lime and citrus.
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mint → The cool, fresh aroma and flavor is the perfect finishing touch.

Let’s Get Assembling! Your Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create a stunning platter of edible sunshine? This no-cook process is so simple and beautiful.

Part 1: Make the Dressing & Macerate the Berries

1. Make the Honey-Lime Dressing: Zest and juice the two limes into a medium bowl. Add the honey and whisk everything together until well combined.
2. Macerate the Strawberries: Add the sliced strawberries to the bowl with the honey-lime dressing. Toss them gently to coat. Let the berries sit and macerate (this just means they’ll soften and release their delicious juices into the dressing) while you prepare the rest of the citrus.

Part 2: Prepare the Citrus

3. Prep the Citrus for Slicing: This technique is the secret to a beautiful, pith-free salad. First, cut the tops and bottoms off of the grapefruits, navel oranges, and Cara Cara oranges.
4. Remove the Peel and Pith: Stand one of the fruits on its flat end on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut down from top to bottom, following the natural curve of the fruit, to remove the peel and all of the bitter white pith. Repeat all the way around the fruit.
5. Slice and Segment: Slice the peeled fruit horizontally into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. For the tangerines, simply peel them and separate them into their natural segments.

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Part 3: Assemble Your Masterpiece

6. Arrange the Citrus: Artfully arrange the sliced grapefruit and orange rounds on a large platter or in a shallow serving bowl, overlapping them to create a beautiful, colorful base.
7. Top with Strawberries: Spoon the macerated strawberries and all of their glorious honey-lime juices from the bowl evenly over the top of the arranged citrus.
8. Add Final Touches: Scatter the tangerine segments over the salad. Garnish generously with the sliced fresh mint. Serve immediately and enjoy the burst of freshness!

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Strawberry and Citrus Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing

As bright as a sunrise in both color and flavor, this simple and elegant fruit salad calls for just strawberries, a variety of fresh citrus, and a simple dressing of lime juice, honey, and fresh mint. The perfect healthy and refreshing dish!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Course: Dessert, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Calories: 413

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 limes, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 2 grapefruits
• 2 navel oranges
• 2 Cara Cara or blood oranges
• 2 tangerines or clementines
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mint

Equipment

• Medium bowl
• Whisk
• Sharp Knife
• Platter or shallow serving bowl

Method

 

Part 1: Make Dressing and Macerate Berries

1. Zest and juice the limes into a medium bowl. Whisk in the honey. Add the sliced strawberries and toss to coat. Let the berries macerate while you prepare the rest of the fruit.

Part 2: Prepare the Citrus

1. Cut the tops and bottoms off of the grapefruits and oranges. Set the fruit on one of its flat ends. Cutting from top to bottom, follow the curve of the fruit with a sharp knife to remove the peel and all of the white pith.
2. Slice the peeled citrus horizontally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Peel the tangerines and separate them into segments.

Part 3: Assemble and Serve

1. Arrange the sliced citrus on a large platter or in a shallow serving bowl.
2. Top with the macerated strawberries and the tangerine segments. Drizzle all of the accumulated juices from the strawberry bowl over the entire salad.
3. Top with the sliced fresh mint and serve immediately.

Notes

Pith Removal is Key: Taking the time to properly remove the peel and all the bitter white pith from the citrus is the secret to an elegant, delicious fruit salad.

Macerate the Berries: Letting the strawberries sit in the honey-lime dressing draws out their natural juices and creates a more cohesive, flavorful sauce for the entire salad.

Serve Fresh: This salad is at its visual and textural peak right after it’s assembled. If prepping ahead, keep the citrus and the strawberry mixture separate until just before serving.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for the Most Vibrant Fruit Salad

These simple secrets will ensure your salad is as delicious as it is beautiful.

1. Don’t Skip Macerating the Strawberries. Letting the strawberries sit in the honey-lime mixture for a few minutes is a key step. It softens them slightly and draws out their natural juices, creating a more flavorful and cohesive dressing for the entire salad.
2. Master the Pith-Removal Technique. The bitter white pith is the enemy of a perfect citrus salad. Taking the time to carefully slice it all away, as described in the instructions, is what elevates this dish from a simple fruit salad to an elegant one.
3. Use a Variety of Citrus. The recipe calls for a mix of grapefruits and different oranges for a reason! It creates a stunning visual with a range of colors from yellow to orange to deep red, and also provides a beautiful spectrum of sweet and tart flavors.
4. Slice the Mint (Chiffonade). For a beautiful, professional-looking garnish, stack several mint leaves on top of each other, roll them up tightly like a cigar, and then thinly slice them crosswise. This technique, called a chiffonade, creates beautiful, delicate ribbons of mint.
5. Assemble Just Before Serving. This salad is at its absolute peak of freshness and beauty right after it’s assembled. If you need to prep ahead, you can slice the citrus and make the strawberry-dressing mixture, but keep them separate in the fridge and assemble just before you plan to serve.

Keep It Fresh! Storing Your Salad

This salad is definitely best enjoyed the day it’s made, but here’s how to handle any leftovers.

• Refrigerator: Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The fruit will release more juices and soften overnight. While still delicious, it won’t be as visually pristine. It will be wonderful spooned over yogurt or oatmeal the next day! It’s best enjoyed within 24 hours.

FAQs: Your Citrus Salad Questions, Answered!

What if I can’t find Cara Cara or blood oranges?

No problem at all! You can simply use more navel oranges. The goal is a beautiful variety, but using all of one or two types of citrus will still be absolutely delicious.

Can I use frozen strawberries?

For this particular salad, fresh strawberries are highly recommended for the best texture and appearance. Frozen strawberries will become very soft and release a lot of liquid when they thaw, which would change the consistency of the salad.

Can I use a different sweetener instead of honey?

Yes, maple syrup or agave nectar would be a fantastic substitute for honey in the dressing. You can adjust the amount to your desired level of sweetness.

What are some other great additions to this salad?

This salad is a wonderful base for other ingredients! A handful of pomegranate arils would add a beautiful color and a juicy pop. Toasted sliced almonds would add a lovely crunch, and a crumble of feta or goat cheese would introduce a savory, salty element.

Final Thoughts: A Platter of Pure Sunshine

There is something so joyful about a dish that is bursting with natural color and flavor. This Strawberry and Citrus Salad is a true celebration of the simple beauty of fresh fruit. It’s a light, healthy, and incredibly elegant dish that is guaranteed to brighten any table and any mood. I hope it brings a little bit of sunshine into your home. Happy cooking!