This light and refreshing winter fruit salad is packed with the seasonal flavors of mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apples, and pomegranate arils, tossed with the most delicious honey lemon poppy seed dressing!
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...
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?!
Here are my favorite seasonal fruits to use in my winter fruit salad:
🍊 mandarin oranges - fresh mandarin oranges are a winter staple in our house, so using them in this fresh fruit salad makes perfect sense! Look for clementines, which are the seedless variety that are always sweet and juicy. Also, you can use canned in a pinch, but the mandarin slices will fall apart much more easily.
🥝 kiwis - one of my favorite fruits to pair with mandarins, and they're available year round! Do make sure they're ripe before slicing them. You can tell by pressing gently on the side. If they give ever so slightly, they're ready to slice.
🍏 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!
Honey Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
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...
Printable Recipe ↓
Winter Fruit Salad with Tangy Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
for the winter fruit salad:
- 12 small mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
- 4 medium kiwis, peeled and diced
- 1 medium Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
for the honey lemon poppy seed dressing:
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced (about ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, honey, poppy seeds, and 2 teaspoons of lemon zest. Set aside.
- Add the mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apple, and pomegranate arils to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the honey lemon poppy seed dressing over the top of the fruit, and toss gently to coat.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
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Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your fruit salad turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Janet says
I’ve made this for two potlucks this year but substitute blueberries for apples because they brown. This is perfect for a healthy breakfast and is so easy! Love it !
Tara Kuczykowski says
So funny — I made it again last week and threw in some blueberries that needed used up, too! I love the tart apples in it when you're going to eat it fresh, but you're right, even with the lemon juice they will eventually start to brown some.
Sabrina says
Sounds so light and refreshing! Great way to balance out all the heavy food this season.
Becky Hardin says
I would love a big bowl of your fruit salad to snack on! Love it!
Jenna says
Love the ideas in here for your Winter fruit salad. I usually only make fruit salad in the Summer.
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I love fruit salad, but never think to make one with winter fruit. This looks fabulous! That dressing sounds delicious too.
Jessica says
This was delicious! Thank you!
Emily says
These are all my favorite fruits. I will definitely pin this for later.
Jere Cassidy says
Even though strawberries are my favorite fruit, I can't wait for the mandarins and pomegranates. I love the poppy seed dressing on the salad.
Natasha Kravchuk says
So beautiful and fresh! I love the addition of pomegranate seeds - makes this salad fabulous for Christmas!
Natasha Kravchuk says
So beautiful and fresh! I love the addition of pom seeds - makes this salad fabulous for Christmas!
Aimee says
This is the perfect fruit salad. The poppyseed dressing is now my favorite!
Britni says
I love this recipe! Thank you
Kristyn says
I love lemon poppyseed dressing! This is so refreshing & bursting with so much flavor!