Much of the year, I need to add a little sugar to fruit salad to make it more palatable. But during the summer, sweeter fruit eliminates the need for sugar and opens up other options for adding zip (and just a little sweetness) to a simple summer fruit salad. Namely, booze!
Some of my favorite choices are Pimm's No. 1, Cointreau or Grand Marnier, but you could also use limoncello or whatever else you have on hand. That pretty pink liquid up there is the strawberry-infused vodka I made for Sunday Supper. It's really lovely and super easy to make.
Note: If you want to make this kid-friendly, make very light syrup by boiling 1/2 cup or 120ml water and only 1/4 cup or 50g sugar and infusing it with the fruit of your choice. Leave to cool then strain out the mushy solids and discard them.
This week my Sunday Supper group is sharing colorful red, white and blue recipes that would be perfect for Fourth of July so I chose my fruit accordingly. Feel free to substitute whatever is fresh and sweet in every season.
Boozy Red White and Blue Fruit Salad
Ingredients
Juice of 1/2 lemon – about 3-4 teaspoons
1 Red Delicious apple
6 oz or 170g blueberries, rinsed
8.8 oz or 250g strawberries, hulled and rinsed
8.8 oz or 250g melon, already peeled and seeded
1 dragonfruit, peeled
1/2 cup or 120ml fruit-flavored liquor of your choice (or a mix!)
Method
Since lemon juice will stop chopped apples from browning, start by juicing your half lemon into the salad bowl. Core your apple and chop it in to small pieces, adding them to the bowl and stirring to coat them with the lemon juice.
Chop the rest of the fruit (not the blueberries!) into small pieces and stir them all in with the apple. Add in the liquor of your choice. For this batch, I chose a mixture of the strawberry-infused vodka I made for a Sunday Supper post and Cointreau – so strawberries and orange.
Stir gently. Cover with cling film and chill till ready to serve. If you think about it, give the bowl another gentle stir or two while it’s chilling.
You can serve this along with a cheese platter at the end of your summer meal or just in bowls with a spoon. Either way, enjoy!
Looking for more red, white blue recipes?
Patriotic Picnic Picks
- American Flag Layered Dip by Soulfully Made
- Baked Blueberry Pancake with Cherry Syrup by Pies and Plots
- Gluten Free Blueberry Almond Coffee Cake by Cricket’s Confections
- Blueberry Cherry Chia Pudding Parfaits by Daily Dish Recipes
- Blueberry Watermelon Salad by The Crumby Cupcake
- Boozy Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad by Food Lust People Love
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Parfait with Summer Fruit by Confessions of an Over-worked Mom
- Patriotic Slaw by Our Good Life
- Red White and Blueberry Dinner Salad by Cooking With Carlee
- Red, White and Blue Deviled Eggs by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Tomato, Cucumber and Bleu Cheese Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Liberating Desserts
- American Flag Fruit Tart by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Blueberry Strawberry Swirl Sherbet by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Key Lime Cream Puffs by Gourmet Everyday
- Patriotic Low Carb Vanilla Mousse in the Instant Pot by My Life Cookbook
- Red White & Blue Bundt Cake by Restless Chipotle
- Red White and Blue Banana Ice Cream by The Bitter Side of Sweet
- Red, White & Blue No Bake Cheesecake by Bottom Left of the Mitten
- Red, White and Blue Broken Glass Jell-o by Turnips 2 Tangerines
- Rollitos de Vino Blanco by What Smells So Good?
- Rose Petal Jam Filled Blueberry Cupcakes by NinjaBaker.com
- Star Spangled Cookies by The Freshman Cook
- Strawberry and White Chocolate Panna Cotta by Tara’s Multicultural Table