Are you ready to elevate your fruit salad into a surprisingly delicious treat? This Maple Lemon Mint Fruit Salad Dressing is your secret weapon this fruit salad season! Perfect for any fruit combo, this vegan dressing elevates your salad with zesty lemon, refreshing mint, and a touch of natural sweetness. Whether you're dressing up a storebought or homemade fruit salad, this dressing is sure to pump up the flavor factor.
You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: With just a few simple ingredients and a few minutes, you can whip up this dressing to take your fruit salad from "eh" to "OMG!".
- Refreshing: With tart lemon and invigorating mint, this dressing is a great way to transform simple fruit into a dessert-worthy dish.
- Versatile: Perfect for any time of the year, this dressing complements practically any combination of fruits, from summer selections to winter blends.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Lemon juice: Adds zippy freshness. You can also use lime juice for a bit more bitter notes and orange juice for a more subtle and sweet flavor.
- Lemon zest: Lends another fresh and fruity layer. Lime zest or orange zest can also lend similar flavors.
- Fresh mint leaves: Brings a cooling effect that lifts the fruity and acidic flavors in this salad.
- Maple syrup: Adds a sweetness to both balance the acidic citrus and emphasize the sweetness of the fruit. You could also use another liquid sweetener, such as agave, simple syrup, or vegan honey.
Instructions
1. Combine: Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, mint, and maple syrup to a small jar or bowl.
2. Shake: If using a jar, secure the lid and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined. If using a bowl, stir until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
3. Dress: Drizzle the dressing over your fruit salad in a large bowl and toss gently to ensure all fruit pieces are evenly coated with the dressing. Optionally garnish the salad with a few small mint leaves and serve immediately to enjoy the freshest flavor.
Storage
Make-ahead: Prepare the dressing up to a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The mint will likely dull in color, but it will still taste great. Shake or stir before using.
Store: Keep any leftover dressed fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s best enjoyed within 1-2 days.
Variations
- Spicy Citrus Dressing: Add a dash of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. This is especially good on watermelon.
- Creamy Twist: Mix the dressing with a Tablespoon or two of coconut cream for a creamy fruit salad dressing.
- Rich Flavor: Add a splash of olive oil to give the dressing a bit of richness (and help your body better absorb the Vitamin A in your fruit salad).
Tips
- This dressing pairs beautifully with a variety of fruits like fresh cantelope, any berries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes, and more.
- Use seasonal fruits for the freshest taste and vibrant colors. Summer fruits like berries and peaches, or winter fruits like pomegranate and citrus, both work wonderfully with this dressing.
- Eco Tip: Try growing an herb garden in your windowsill or back porch for fresh herbs all season, sans packaging.
FAQ
Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the best flavor, but bottled can be used in a pinch. Adjust the amount to taste as bottled lemon juice can be less flavorful.
The lemon juice in the dressing helps prevent browning. Ensure you coat all fruit pieces evenly, especially those prone to oxidation like apples and bananas. The mint will inevitably brown a bit, but it still tastes great for a couple of days.
Fresh mint provides the best flavor and texture. I wouldn't recommend trying to use dried mint, I'd opt to go without in that case. Basil can also make an excellent substitution in some circumstances, like in a summer fruit salad with peaches or other stonefruit.
While this dressing is more light and fresh, you can create a creamy variation by adding a few Tablespoons of coconut cream.
Recipe
Fresh Maple Lemon Mint Fruit Salad Dressing (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 3-4 Tablespoons lemon juice (juice of about 1 medium lemon)
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest (zest of about one medium lemon)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh mint, chiffonade (thinly sliced) , few small leaves optionally reserved for garnish
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup (or other liquid sweetener, such as agave, simple syrup, or vegan honey)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small jar or bowl.
- Add the lid to the jar. Shake or stir until all ingredients are well-combined.
- Drizzle dressing over about 8 cups of fruit salad and toss until all fruit pieces are evenly coated. Optionally garnish the salad with reserved mint leaves and serve.
- Store leftover fruit salad in and airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
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