Citrus and Pomegranate Winter Fruit Salad Recipe

This winter fruit salad is a colorful mix of fresh fruit tossed in a light honey-poppy seed dressing — a bright, refreshing side for brunch or holiday meals.

When summer produce is gone and grocery shelves are filled with apples, citrus and the occasional kiwi, this winter fruit salad is a cheerful way to use seasonal fruit. Bright segments of mandarin oranges and pomegranate arils combine with juicy pineapple and tender kiwi, all dressed in a subtly sweet citrus-honey vinaigrette with poppy seeds for texture.

How to make winter fruit salad

For this recipe use mandarin or clementine segments, cubed pineapple, peeled and sliced kiwi, and pomegranate arils. These fruits are easy to find in colder months and create a lively color contrast. The dressing is a simple mixture of lemon (or lime) juice, honey and poppy seeds — light, tangy and slightly sweet.

You can buy ready-to-eat pomegranate arils or remove them yourself from a whole pomegranate. Small seedless mandarins sold in mesh bags work great, but any seedless tangerine variety will do. If you prefer, substitute similar seasonal fruits you enjoy.

I like to finish the salad with a handful of fresh mint leaves for a cool herbal note, though that’s optional. The salad holds well for a short time: prepare it up to two hours ahead and keep covered in the refrigerator until serving.

Its unexpected combination of flavors and vivid colors makes this salad a simple way to brighten a winter table.

More fruit recipes

• Tropical Fruit Salad
• Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
• Chocolate Fruit Dip
• Fruit Kabobs
• Mexican Fruit Salad

Winter Fruit Salad Video

This post was originally published January 17, 2017 and updated November 1, 2017.