A Tropical Fruit Salad with a citrusy sauce that gives a light lift to any meal. The salad with fresh and canned fruit is easy to prepare ahead of time by using the microwave to thicken the sauce. It makes a delicious dessert, too!
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This recipe is typical of my mama's delectable kitchen inventions. It's a long-standing family favorite from the knack Mama had for concocting recipes off the top of her head.
There are other made-up recipes, like her delicious creamy seafood casseroles. Very similar to this Crawfish Fettuccine. Her recipes were so original they never quite came out the same. This made getting her to recollect ingredients and istructions a challenge but after a bit of prodding, she always came through.
You may have a mama, grandma, other family member, or friend like this. Or you may be one of these kitchen inventors yourself.
Honoring Mother's Day With Tropical Fruit Salad
This particular day always softens my heart. It really started when I became a mom myself. I had no idea I could possess a love so strong until I had my first child. That experience has also taught me the worth of a mother and how much respect my Mama deserves.
Where would we be without our mamas? One thing for sure is that we wouldn't have recipes like this to pass along.
How To Make A Tropical Fruit Salad?
The invention of this salad began the same way I think most family recipes began. My Mawmaw's original fruit salad recipe was made by my mama many times. Each time, there were minor adjustments until it became her own tropical fruit salad tossed with a lemon, pineapple, and orange sauce.
In this recipe, using the microwave helps to add ease with preparation, or you can make it in a sauce pan on the stovetop.
The first step is mixing the juices for the sauce with cornstarch and sugar and cooking them (on high in the microwave) until thickened. Then set it aside to cool.
Combining canned and fresh fruit in a large bowl with nuts is next.
The final step is adding the cooled sauce to the fruit mixture and then trying to restrain yourself from eating it before it chills in the refrigerator.
See how easy it is?
I hope you enjoy this salad and even if you can't spend time with your mama this Mother's Day or any day of the year, take the opportunity to bless some other mother's heart. Just look around for the ones God puts in your path.
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📖 Recipe
Tropical Fruit Salad
This salad is made with tropical fruit and a citrus sauce that adds a light lift to any meal or stands alone as a dessert.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
SAUCE
- ½ cup orange juice, frozen concentrate
- ⅓ cup pineapple juice, from canned pineapple tidbits
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
SALAD
- 2-15 ounce cans of tropical fruit, drained
- 1-14.5 ounce can of peach slices, drained
- 1-15.25 ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained and juice saved for sauce
- 1-11 ounce can of mandarin oranges, drained
- 2 apples, cored and cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
Instructions
Sauce
- Add all ingredients into a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high, stirring every minute or two until the sauce is thickened. Or cook on the stovetop in a saucepan, stirring until thickened.
- Set aside to cool.
Salad
- Add the salad ingredients into a large bowl and toss with cooled sauce.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill.
- Serve and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Peel one of the apples, so the salad is not quite as crisp (the unpeeled apple adds color).
- I Cut the peach slices in half.
- Pour the cooked sauce into another bowl and put it in the freezer to cool faster.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
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Have a nice day!
Motherhood is more than a stage-it's a lifelong calling from God. With it He gives us hearts that love deeply, hands that serve tirelessly, and vision to see His blossoming image in the precious ones entrusted to our care.
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Sadie Pennington says
Oh Kay, I can't wait to try this. This salad also reminds me of my Mom.
Louisiana Woman says
Awe! Thanks, that's the best compliment!
Lisa Atkins says
Looks yumliciou! Can't wait to get a kitchen to cook in!
Louisiana Woman says
Can I come and cook in your new kitchen? I think we'd have a blast!