Author: Anne

I was assigned fruit salad to bring to a recent college graduation party. Luckily I had just picked up a whole seedless watermelon at New Seasons.

This fruit salad was a big hit! The little bit of heat and spice from the ginger blends with the citrus to cut the sweetness of the perfectly ripe watermelon. I added cantaloupe and nectarines. You could certainly experiment with other fruit.

I started with an entire watermelon so cut the recipe down if you are not looking to make a party sized (large) salad.

Maddie’s Ginger Mint Fruit Salad:

First, start by making your simple syrup:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• one thumb size knuckle of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thin
• juice from two limes

In a medium saucepan bring the first three ingredients to a boil. Lower the heat to medium high and cook until the liquid is reduced by half (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat, add lime juice and chill the liquid for a few hours.

Now on to the salad:

• One small seedless watermelon
• Half of a cantaloupe
• Half of a honeydew
• Four nectarines
• One small hand full of chopped fresh mint leaves

Chop your fruit into bite size pieces. Tear or coarsely chop the mint and add it to the fruit. When ready to serve strain the syrup, pour over the fruit and gently stir to combine. Add more chopped mint for garnish.

Try this at your next BBQ and let me know what you think.

Anne McCranie is a Portland, Oregon based Personal Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist. This recipe is intended to tickle your taste buds. Please see your medical professional for specific dietary advice.