Fresh, tangy and loaded with tons of fruit, this patriotic-themed fruit salad will be the ultimate side dish at your 4th of July picnic this year! No one can resist it’s bright colors and fresh, summery flavors.
Boring fruit is a BIG no-no in this household. For the very best of reasons—-fruit should be fun. Case closed.
I like my fruit salads absolutely LOADED with fresh fruit and lots of flavor. I’m one of those SUPA’-picky people who just can’t stand fruit-from-a-can salads. No, no, no. That’s just not right. — Everything in my salad has gotta be fresh, or it’s just not worth the calories.
This salad just screams FRESH. It’s chock-fulla’ lots of fresh fruit, covered with a tangy lime glaze, and topped with lots of poppyseeds and a touch of fresh basil.
Summer in a bowl, I call it.
Fresh fruit salad is a an absolute MUST on the 4th of July and I would definitely be in deep trouble if I didn’t make this salad every year for this event. It’s always amusing watching people piling half their plate with this fruit salad and not having room for anything else.
Boo-ya! Health food all the way. 😀
The fruit I used for this salad was just a simple combination of diced watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries. So simple, but seriously yum!
If you’re sticking to the patriotic theme, I’d suggest just leaving it at those 3 ingredients, but if you wanna shake things up a bit, feel free to throw in your favs! I so want to try this salad with some fresh ripe mango and/or juicy peaches. Um, yum.
The addition of fresh chopped basil to this salad brightens up the flavors of the fruit and adds a nice little POP of herby flavor that really can’t be beat.
I wouldn’t suggest leaving the basil outta this salad—the flavors won’t be the same without it. In a pinch, you could always sub mint too! YEE-UM.
Plus, it looks totally gorg against the bright, luscious fruit along with the blue poppyseeds. We’re eatin’ pretty here guys. 🙂
Cause that’s just how I roll…
The glaze for this salad is just a simple lime/poppyseed glaze that cooks right on the stove in literally about 3 minutes. It is then poured over your bee-yoo-tiful fruit.
Nom, nom, nom. That’s me chomping away on fruity perfection. Fruit has never been so dang tasty.
This salad is perfectly sweet and tangy, but it’s overly sweet either. —The lime glaze really does balance out the flavors of this salad and brings out the fruits natural sweetness.
Fresh, light, tasty and loaded with all your fav fruits, you’re definitely gonna want seconds of this “berry-good” fruit salad.
You know it. 😉 Gosh, I’m so corny….
This salad makes an IDEAL side dish for any 4th of July gathering! It’s so easy you can whip it up in literally seconds AND it easily doubles or triples for a crowd. Your guests will adore how patriotic it is.
They’ll probably adore even more how amazing it tastes. 😉
Patriotic Chopped Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups diced watermelon
- 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons xylitol or sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon poppyseeds
- 1/4 cup fresh basil coarsely chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries, Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk water, lime juice, xylitol (or sugar) and cornstarch until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Pour lime dressing over fresh fruit and gently stir to coat. Stir in poppyseeds and fresh basil. Refrigerate salad until ready to serve.
Notes
Recipe slightly adapted from Spicy Southern Kitchen
Try my other fresh 4th of July sides next!
BLT Pasta Salad with Herb Ranch Dressing
Summer Rice Salad with Grilled Veggies + Feta
Kelly @ The Pretty Bee: Cooking + Creating says
What a beautiful salad! I love the way berries are naturally patriotic! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly! And right?! The berries cover all the patriotic bases. 😉
Louisa [Living Lou] says
Love fresh basil in a salad. So funny, I was thinking that mint would go really nicely in this salad too and it sounds like you were thinking the same thing! Have you tried it with mint and basil?
Sarah says
Either one goes fabulously in this fruit salad, Louisa! I personally like mine with basil better, but I don’t think I’ve ever mixed the two before! Can you even imagine the fantastic flavors?? 😉
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I just love a good fruit salad, especially on hot summer days. So fun that you added in basil! Bet that gives it great flavor. Serve this with some plain greek yogurt and you’ve got the red, white and blue covered!
Sarah says
I LOVE your idea of adding greek yogurt to this salad, Nat! TOTALLY breakfast-worthy! 😉
Ashley says
Watermelon, strawberries and blueberries are my favorite! And I love that you have poppy seeds in this!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
This fruit salad looks perfect and totally has me craving for a big bowl now
Sarah says
Thanks, Olivia! 🙂
Rachael | Spache the Spatula says
I love the poppyseed “sprinkles”! Also, watermelon + herbs is like my new favorite combo—yum!
Sarah says
Poppyseed sprinkles. Ha! Love that. 🙂 And omg, watermelon and herbs is so tasty! 🙂
Annie @Maebells says
Yummmm! I love that you didn’t add a ton of sugar. It always puzzles me when I see fruit salads with a cup or two of sugar added. Fruit is already so sweet! I love the addition of poppy seeds, too!
Sarah says
I see those kind of recipes for fruit salad ALL the time. I’m just like, really?! Sooo unnecessary when like you said, fruit is already plenty sweet on it’s own! 😉
[email protected] says
This salad looks so gorgeous and all these fresh fruits are making me hungry!!
Sarah says
Thank you Ami! 🙂
Danielle says
I love fruit salad, especially in the summer. I love how you added poppy seeds to it too! This would be so cute for a 4th of July party.
Sarah says
Thanks, Danielle! It’s perfect for any 4th of July festivities!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Love how healthy and colorful this is! Would love to try this with chia seeds as well for added protein 🙂
Sarah says
I love your idea of adding chia seeds to this salad, Medha! Must try that next time!
Joanne says
Totally agreed! Fruit is meant to taste like a party in your mouth..so why shouldn’t fruit SALADS. Love the sound of this!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Such a beautiful looking salad. I want to eat it through the screen.
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Dannii!
Rachel (teacher-chef) says
OH YEAH – came back to explore a bit and noticed this great looking salad as another way to use that basil, yum – I think I have my lunch planned!
Sarah says
I’m happy that you like what you see on my blog, Rachel! You are too too sweet! LMK if you try this salad!
Kelly says
This is such a gorgeous salad! Looks so refreshing and love the poppyseeds and basil in here too!
Sarah says
Thank you, Kelly!
Isadora @ she likes food says
Oh yum! I love this fruit salad! You def gotta have fruit salad to equal out all the chips and dip that I eat during BBQ season! I’m obsessed with watermelon lately and blueberries have always been my favorites so I need this fruit salad right now!!
Sarah says
It wouldn’t be summer without a fruit salad! You definitely need to try this salad this summer, Izzy—Sounds perf for you! 🙂
[email protected] says
Your pictures look gorgeous! Love that you added poppy seeds and basil!
Sarah says
Thank YOU for the inspiration for this fruit salad, Christin! 😉
sbobet says
A beautiful combination of ingredients! I should eat more lentils,
this salad would be a great way to add them to my diet.