Description
A refreshing and colorful 4th of July Patriotic Fruit Salad featuring strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and optional coconut flakes, lightly sweetened with honey or maple syrup and brightened with fresh lemon juice. Perfect for a light, festive side dish or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 2 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 ripe bananas, sliced
Sweetener & Flavor
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup (to taste)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Topping (Optional)
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Wash the fruits: Thoroughly rinse strawberries, blueberries, and bananas under cold running water to remove any dirt or residues, ensuring your fruit salad is clean and fresh.
- Prepare the fruit: Hull the strawberries and cut each into quarters. Slice the ripe bananas into rounds, and keep the blueberries whole to maintain their shape and texture.
- Combine the fruits: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the strawberries, blueberries, and banana slices together to blend the flavors evenly without crushing the delicate fruits.
- Add sweetener and lemon juice: Drizzle honey or maple syrup over the mixed fruit according to your preferred sweetness level, then squeeze fresh lemon juice on top to add brightness and prevent browning. Toss gently again to coat all the fruit pieces evenly.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and to serve chilled for maximum freshness.
- Serve with optional topping: When ready to serve, transfer the fruit salad to a festive bowl and sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes on top for added texture and a tropical touch.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm bananas to avoid mushiness in the salad.
- The coconut flakes are optional but add a nice crunch and additional flavor contrast.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of honey or maple syrup.
- To keep the bananas from browning longer, toss them immediately with lemon juice.
- Best served chilled, the salad can be prepared up to 2 hours in advance.
