Citrus Fruit Salad

Everyone needs a recipe in their arsenal that’s versatile enough to be whipped up at any time of day. Be it for a light lunch, a 5 p.m. snack or a late-night sweet treat, this citrus fruit salad delivers whenever it’s called upon.

The delicious concoction marries vibrant and zesty citrus fruits with fluffy whipped cream and velvety vanilla yogurt. Acidic pineapple chunks compete with sweet clementines and bitter grapefruit for a well-rounded taste. Chopped toasted pecans add a welcoming crunch that will elevate this dish to the top of your favorite fruit salad recipes.

This fresh fruit salad looks as bright and vibrant as it tastes, so it’s a great option as a healthy snack for kids. Or, add it to your roster of breakfast bowl recipes for a colorful start to your day.

Ingredients for Citrus Fruit Salad

• Heavy whipping cream: Whipping cream imparts a rich flavor that forms the foundation of our citrus fruit salad dressing. Keep the cream in the refrigerator until just before use, as the cold temperature will yield the best results when whipping. Use leftovers in other whipping cream recipes, like baked goods or desserts.
• Vanilla yogurt: Folding vanilla yogurt into the dressing adds sweetness with a hint of acidity. The yogurt complements and contrasts the citrus.
• Fruit: Our recipe calls for a mix of juicy pineapple, clementines and grapefruit, which adds sweet, acidic and bitter notes to the dish. Feel free to add whatever citrus you like or that is available—there are no wrong answers.
• Pecans: Toasted pecans add an earthy, nutty flavor and a welcoming textural contrast. You could swap in walnuts or hazelnuts, or use candied pecans to add sweetness.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dressing

In a large bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.

Editor’s Tip: Before you begin, chill your bowl and whisk in the fridge or freezer for about 10 minutes. Cold utensils will help the cream get light and fluffy more quickly.

Fold in the yogurt.

Step 2: Stir in the fruits and pecans

Just before serving, add the pineapple, clementines and grapefruit.

Stir gently to combine. Sprinkle with the toasted pecans.

Editor’s Tip: Stir gently so the whipped cream doesn’t lose its volume and become flat.

Recipe Variations

• Make a parfait: Layer the fruit and yogurt mixture in a serving glass with oats or granola, just like your favorite yogurt parfait recipes.
• Use different yogurt: You don’t need to be tied down to vanilla yogurt for this recipe. There are so many yogurt recipes that showcase this ingredient’s versatility. Use a different flavor like strawberry, or opt for a thicker option like Greek yogurt.
• Change the nuts: The choice of nuts can impact the overall flavor of this citrus fruit salad recipe. While pecans are slightly sweet and nutty, almonds taste a little more neutral and walnuts can provide a slight bitterness to complement the sweetness of the fruit and yogurt.

How to Store Citrus Fruit Salad

Refrigerate leftover citrus fruit salad in an airtight container. It should last up to four days, but we suggest consuming it as quickly as possible. The fruits can release juices that will water down the dressing, making everything taste a little soggy.

Can you make citrus fruit salad ahead of time?

We don’t suggest making this fresh fruit medley recipe too far in advance. The whipped cream and yogurt mixture can deflate while resting, losing some of its fluffiness. If you want to prepare this dish ahead of time, keep the fruits separate from the whipped mixture, only combining them right before serving.

Citrus Fruit Salad Tips

How do you prepare citrus for salad?

To prepare citrus for fruit salad recipes, start by cutting off both ends of the fruit to create a flat surface. Cut away all the peel and remove the pith (the white part between the peel and the flesh). To section the fruit, insert your knife into one side of the membrane that separates the segments and slice toward the center. Repeat this process on the other side of the segment and effectively free it from the membrane.

What types of citrus can I use in fresh fruit medley recipes?

You can make fresh fruit medleys with any kind of citrus, like navel oranges, mandarins, tangerines and blood oranges. As long as you’re choosing ripe oranges, any citrus variety can be used in this salad. White grapefruit has a more pronounced bitterness than red grapefruit, cara cara oranges add hints of cranberry and blackberry, mandarins are known for their sweetness, and blood oranges have berry-like notes.

Can you use frozen or canned citrus fruits for fruit salad?

You can use frozen or canned fruits for a fruit salad recipe if fresh produce is not available. Thaw the frozen fruits overnight and properly drain the canned variety before stirring them into the yogurt and whipped cream mixture.