Quick Tip: Add Fresh Fruit to Green Salads

Elizabeth's post the other week on having salad for dinner reminded us of another favorite addition to the simple salad: fresh fruit. We find that a handful of berries or a diced apple transforms an otherwise ordinary bowl of leafy greens into something we can't wait to dig into!

Most fresh fruits add a sweet-tart note to other flavors in a savory salad. They pair well with toasted nuts and make an interesting texture contrast to raw vegetables. Most of the time, we like these salads with just a simple vinaigrette.

We're really not picky about what fruit we use and usually just dice up whatever is in season. Right now, it's raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries.

In another month, hopefully we'll get some stone fruit and can think about adding peaches and plums to our salads. Then in late summer and fall, we'll switch to apples and pears. If you have them in your area, tropical fruits like mangoes, papaya, and pineapple make a nice change from the usual!

Do you have a favorite fruit for adding to salads?

(Image: Flickr member lindseywb licensed under Creative Commons)

Comments (7)

we had Raspberry, Mache and Viola salad for dinner http://lekkertje.blogspot.com/2009/06/mache-raspberry-and-viola-salad.html. Everythign but the pecan and goat cheese come from our own garden.
Dinner (along with grilled salmon and some focassia) from picking up fruits, flowers and salad to the table was ready on the table in 30 minutes!

posted by mangolisa on June 8th 2009 at 2:48pm
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I like adding grapes to salad. The flavor actually blends well depending on what other ingredients you use.

posted by groupie on June 8th 2009 at 3:10pm
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I really love a crispy pear over spinach alongside toasted pecans, avocado, red onion and feta. MMMMMMmmm.

posted by MegsH on June 8th 2009 at 3:27pm
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I agree with MegsH, pears are so perfect in salad. Berries too. I made a strawberry, clementine & radish salad a few nights ago & it was a big hit.

Check it out: http://www.clovesandcream.com/2009/06/simple-supper-citrusberry-radish-salad.html

posted by cloves and cream on June 8th 2009 at 4:14pm
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My favorite salad this season has been a simple one of Romaine, seedless cucumber, strawberries and goat cheese. I've been adding whatever leftover grilled meat I happen to have on hand to bring to work and added some Trader Joe's Fat Free Balsamic dressing on the side. It really compliments the strawberries. Yum! I might try adding some nuts too.

posted by AmyO' on June 8th 2009 at 5:30pm
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I really like adding pear-apples to a salad, particularly a spinach one, but its good with lettuce to, usually with a homeade, tangy, lemony dressing.

posted by Jennybeen on June 8th 2009 at 10:02pm
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Pears or tart apples with blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and cranberries over arugula. Classic, but heaven nonetheless!

http://www.abreadaday.com

posted by eprewitt on June 10th 2009 at 4:23pm
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