Looking for something beautiful and healthy to offer on your Christmas table?
Here’s a simple and really delicious fruit salad to put together. At the last minute for Christmas Eve last year, I whipped this salad together to have something lighter than the heavier holiday dishes that we always enjoy . . . and often have regrets later for overeating!
Everyone, seriously, everyone in the family was surprised, thrilled, and grateful to see something healthier, fresh, and non-cooked/baked on the table. The fruit salad was devoured instantly. My daughter even commented, “Let’s make a fruit salad every year from now on.” Now that’s a great endorsement for this salad’s repeat performance!
Winter is citrus season! Besides my love of blood oranges, I can’t get enough of those tiny, oh-so-super-sweet Clementines. These little darlings are best if you can find Spanish Clementines. They are so much sweeter than those produced in California . . . absolutely no comparison! NOTE: I bought them from Whole Foods and they were in a little distinctive wooden crate. My mother bought a little bag of them from Wal-Mart a few years ago and they were completely tasteless! But they are here in the States for a very short time, so grab them in the market if you can find them.
Clementine’s are the tiniest of oranges, a cross between an orange and a mandarin, and they are usually seedless. They are not mandarins, nor are they tangerines . . . yet they have a most notable sweet taste, lending them to be extraordinary to eat straight out of your hand! In fact, it’s difficult to just eat one, even two or three without stopping! Clementines arrived in the U.S. only recently in the 1980’s, but as demand and popularity has increased, they have become more expensive as well. Don’t let them get old or you’ll throw some good money down the drain! Look for shiny, firm skins with no feeling of airiness between the skin and flesh. The size of a small Spanish Clementine should fit inside the palm of your hand, unlike a regular orange which fits inside your whole palm and fingers.
With more fresh and light food in mind and with sweet Clementines now briefly available, I put this fruit salad together with bright red and orange citrus as the highlights. I also added bananas and apples for balance, and finally, blueberries for color (all those healthy antioxidants you know, really enhance all of the Vitamin C).
One last note: Adjust all of the fruit to your preference levels. If you like more bananas, add them. If you like more Clementines, than add those, etc. Make it YOUR salad to enjoy!
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Red Christmas Fruit Salad with Fresh Sweet Clementines
Ingredients
- 4 clementines (from Spain if possible), peeled, with pith and membranes removed
- 1 blood orange, peeled, with pith and membranes removed
- 1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled, with pith and membranes removed
- 1/4' fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, cut into chunks
- 1 red apple (I used Braeburn), peel left on, sliced and cut into chunks
- 8 fresh strawberries, stems removed, cut into halves
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Add all of the fruits together and toss with 1/2 cup sugar or 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup of white sugar.
- This will form a light coating of sweetness.
- Adjust sugar level to your desired level of sweetness.
- (I do use sugar replacement instead of sugar, so you might want to make two separate bowls of fruit for those guests/family who want the real sugar deal and one for those who are counting calories and carbs!)
- If you are preparing this salad ahead of time, do not cut up the bananas and/or apples until just before serving to prevent them from discoloring.
- Add bananas and apples at the very last minute.
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That looks so good! I am going to try this.
This looks fantabulous is that a word? Ok..then tutto grande’!
First year I ate clementines they were fantastic, second year not so good. From now on I’ll look only for the spanish ones. I’m really excited about starting to try your recipes. The photos look delicious!
It is no where near spring like here! I’ll save this recipe!
Beautiful display Roz. You are so right, warm weather does get the fruit juices flowing! I made a similar salad last week, so refreshing. Of course hubby was still looking for the baked goods.
I’m quite pleased with the inmrtfaoion in this one. TY!
I first discovered the little Clementines standing in the check out line at the market. The person in front of me had a box of Clementines and I asked him, “are those good?” He removed one from the box, handed it to me, and said, “you’re going to remember this day forever because they are fantastic.” So, from the kindness of a stranger, I discovered these little Spanish jewels.
Sam
wow! This looks really delicious!
We are on the same page with all the delicious seasonal citrus oit there. I have a fruit salad planned for this weekend here at the hacienda:D
sadly not warmer here yet, in fact the tramontana is back again, despite that the fruit salad still tempts me.
All those beautiful colors make you realize Spring is just around the corner. This is a nice dish to see on the table to brighten us up from the winter blues.
What a healthy and delightful salad! So refreshing and flavorful. Perfect!
Cheers,
Rosa
By the way, forgot to say I love your blog and am adding you to my blog roll. So glad you stopped by my blog too and gave me the chance to find yours.
Ah yes, I just made a cup of espresso on my keurig b30 as instructed, and am ready for a chat.
I love citrus, especially strawberries and blueberries. Can’t wait for spring to arrive so I can work on my garden and get all the berries going!
Jessi and Claudia, You know, every now and then, we really (all of us) need to just keep it simple and tasty and FRESH! Thanks for your kind comments!
wow amazing salad and I know I can’t believe its actually still winter either thanks for sharing about your hubby 🙂
Rebecca
Hi Roz! Thanks for being a follower of Novel Meals. I just started this one up but my main blog is http://www.tinaculbertson.blogspot.com
if you’d like to check out recipes! I just became your 820th follower and to be honest, I thought I was following as I am subscribed to you via Google Reader.
Cheers!
Looks tasty…I can’t wait to try it!
Fresh, crisp, refreshing..sounds delightful!
This looks like such a beautiful salad! Now to find some clementines…
Genius Idea Roz! I think I will do the same this year! Thanks for sharing your Christmas fruit salad!
You’re so welcome! This has been such a nice addition to our Christmas buffet and a way to add more healthy options at the same time.
Roz
this looks wonderful and love winter citrus Merry Christmas
Thank you Rebecca! We really love having more healthy recipes for the holidays now.
Roz