Spiced fruit salad with honey and lime is a bright, fresh dessert or breakfast side that relies on ripe fruit rather than a heavy syrup. Lime keeps the flavours lively, honey softens the acidity and a small amount of cardamom adds a fragrant twist.
The recipe is flexible enough to follow the season.
For another approach, see our honey measurements, or explore the honey and saffron yoghurt for related guidance.
Ingredients
Serves 4:
- 1 mango, diced
- 2 oranges, peeled and segmented
- 2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
- 250 g strawberries, halved
- 150 g seedless grapes
- 1 small banana, sliced just before serving, optional
For the dressing:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- finely grated zest of 1/2 lime
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- pinch of cinnamon, optional
Method
- Prepare the fruit and place it in a large bowl, leaving banana until the end if using.
- Whisk the honey, lime juice, zest and cardamom together until smooth.
- Pour over the fruit and toss very gently.
- Add banana immediately before serving.
- Taste and add a squeeze more lime if the fruit is particularly sweet.
What fruit goes well with honey and lime?
Tropical fruit such as mango and pineapple is an obvious match, but berries, grapes, oranges, peaches, nectarines, melon and pears all work well.
Choose fruit for ripeness and texture rather than trying to include every colour at once.
How do you make honey lime dressing for fruit?
The easiest ratio is roughly one part honey to two parts lime juice, then adjust according to how sweet the fruit is.
If the honey is very thick, warm the spoon or whisk it first with the lime juice at room temperature.
What spices work in fruit salad?
Cardamom is aromatic and pairs particularly well with mango, orange and berries. Cinnamon works in smaller amounts, while fresh mint gives freshness without adding sweetness.
Use spices as background notes. Fruit salad can become perfumed or bitter if powdered spices are overused.
Can you make it ahead?
You can prepare most of the fruit a few hours ahead and refrigerate it. Add delicate fruit such as banana at the last moment.
For the freshest texture, keep the dressing separate until close to serving. Acid from lime and sugar from honey draw liquid from the fruit over time.
Serving ideas
Serve the salad on its own or spoon it over:
- plain yoghurt;
- porridge;
- pancakes;
- chia pudding;
- vanilla ice cream for dessert.
A handful of toasted pistachios or almonds adds crunch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use lemon instead of lime? Yes. The flavour will be softer and less tropical but still works well.
Can I skip the cardamom? Yes. Honey and lime alone make a very good fruit dressing.
How much honey should I use? Start with one tablespoon for a large bowl of fruit. Very ripe fruit may need less.
Can I use frozen fruit? Fresh fruit gives the best texture. Thawed frozen berries can be used, but they will release more juice.
Honey must not be given to infants under 12 months. Check ingredients for relevant allergens.