This light and refreshing winter fruit salad is packed with the seasonal flavors of mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apples, and pomegranate arils, all tied together with the most delicious (yet totally simple and easy!) honey lemon poppy seed dressing!

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Winter Fruit Salad

I don’t know about you all, but it’s always a good week or two (or three!) before I really feel like cooking after Thanksgiving. There’s just something about that 48-hour cooking marathon that zaps every ounce of my desire. Thank goodness for leftovers, right?

But until my cooking drive returns, I still have to figure out how to feed my family once the leftovers have all been consumed — which surely does not take long around here… And take out every night is simply NOT in my budget!

So what’s the best solution for getting a nutritious meal on the table quickly and easily? While hopefully incorporating a little fresh fruit (like in this easy winter fruit salad), because we definitely struggle with eating the rainbow during the colder months…

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Meal Kits For The Win!

Well, let me introduce you to one of the ways I get by when I’m just not feelin’ making dinner — Stouffer’s Complete Family Meal Kits. I know, I know, you’re thinking: ANOTHER meal kit? But these are decidedly different, and let me tell you how.

When Stouffer’s says “complete meal kit”, they really mean it. Each kit contains a nutritious protein and two sides with a delicious sauce. The ingredients are pre-measured and pre-chopped, and they’re individually packaged for quick preparation. How quick? This is the best part — each meal can be ready to serve in just 25 minutes!

The portions are very generous, and I like the commonsense approach Stouffer’s takes to them. Simple and straightforward — one portion equals 1/4 of the package. And they recommend pairing it with a side salad and a glass of low fat milk as part of a balanced diet.

Since cooking the meal kits doesn’t require a lot of hands on time, I got a little fancy with my salad and threw together this fabulous winter fruit salad. It’s the perfect complement to one of these simple meal kits! More on that shortly…

You can pick Stouffer’s Complete Family Meal Kits up in the freezer section at Kroger. Right now they carry three varieties: Beef and Broccoli, Braised Pork, and Roasted Tuscan Style Chicken. They are all absolutely amazing! The sides are a bit simplistic, but that’s in line with the way I usually prepare dinner. Except I don’t have to spend extra time slicing, dicing, and chopping! #winning

And here’s another thing Stouffer’s put a ton of thought into — the instructions. They know that a lot of consumers prefer visual instructions, so they provided both text and process images! Simple text instructions are printed on the inside flap of the box, so you can cut it off and refer to it while you’re cooking. But they also included step-by-step photos on the side of the box for those of you that prefer a visual guide.

I prepared the Braised Pork meal kit from start to finish so you can see what the finished dish looks like. It really could not be easier! The sauce goes in a pot of boiling water to heat through. Meanwhile, the braised pork and potatoes go in separate covered skillets on the stovetop. Finally, the broccoli side goes in the microwave to steam for about 8 minutes.

That’s it! A totally amazing and tasty meal in under 25 minutes. And since you have some extra time, I highly recommend pairing it with this simple winter fruit salad.

Winter Fruit Salad Ingredients

A fresh fruit salad is always the perfect complement to dinner, but it’s also ideal for special occasions, holidays, and potlucks. And this easy fruit salad is a TOTAL showstopper. It’s filled with seasonal winter fruits, which are then drizzled with the most delicious honey lemon poppy seed dressing. I mean how gorgeous is it?!

green apple — thinly sliced green apple provides a touch of tartness and a little crunchier texture to contrast with the softer texture of the mandarins and kiwi. No worries about them starting to turn brown! The lemon in the dressing will help prevent them from turning.

pomegranate arils — I’m not a fan of straight pomegranate juice, but give me a bowl of pomegranate arils any day! First there’s that OMG pop of color they provide, but second, they also add a bright burst of flavor with every bite. Don’t skip them!

Finally, the zingy honey lemon poppy seed dressing is simply equal parts honey and lemon, with a touch of lemon zest and a good measure of poppy seeds. So simple, yet SO DELICIOUS! I seriously want to drizzle it on everything…

Fresh Winter Fruit Salad

When it’s cold and snowy outside, this fresh winter fruit salad is such a welcome sight! Its delightful light and bright flavor will keep kids and adults alike coming back for more. Let’s just say that if you take this to a potluck or party, I would not count on taking home any leftovers…

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Winter Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This light and refreshing winter fruit salad is packed with the seasonal flavors of mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apples, and pomegranate arils, all tied together with the most delicious (yet totally simple & easy!) honey lemon poppy seed dressing!

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Ingredients

for the winter fruit salad:

• 12 small mandarin oranges, peeled & segmented
• 4 medium kiwis, peeled & diced
• 1 medium green apple, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pomegranate arils

for the honey lemon poppy seed dressing:

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, honey, poppy seeds, and lemon zest. Set aside.
2. Add the mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apple, and pomegranate arils to a large mixing bowl.
3. Pour the honey lemon poppy seed dressing over the top of the fruit, and toss gently to coat.
4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

This winter fruit salad is best served fresh, but it can be refrigerated for up to five days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 76Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 14gProtein: 1g

Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of figuring out what to have for dinner, head to the freezer aisle of Kroger to pick up one of Stouffer’s Complete Family Meal Kits! And grab the ingredients for this yummy winter fruit salad recipe while you’re at it. ;)

I’d love to see how your winter fruit salad turns out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!