The holiday season is here once again! It’s going to be another month filled with merrymaking, parties and food. If you are attending or hosting Christmas dinner parties, one thing you shouldn’t forget to bring or serve is a fruit platter.
In case you haven’t noticed, a bowl of assorted fresh fruits is always a part of the holiday table. While they can be eaten as is, this doesn’t mean you can’t be creative and use them in dishes to come up with new and delectable food additions to your holiday table spread.
So, this time around, instead of just serving or bringing assorted fresh produce in a bowl, why not whip up dishes with fruits as your primary ingredients? This way, you offer something new, exciting and healthy to guests.
Christmas Fruit Salad
Apart from being healthy, a fruit salad is easy to make. Hence, it’s the perfect fruit dish to prepare if you are pressed for time. Below is a recipe for a Christmas fruit salad. With ingredients such as strawberries and oranges, this salad is packed with nutrients which can also help your guests avoid flu this season.
Ingredients: 4 oranges (cut into segments, without membranes), 900 g of strawberries (hulled and cut into quarters), ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (thinly sliced), ½ cup sugar, 1 ½ cup water
Procedure: In a pot, mix sugar and water. Bring it to a boil and cook for two to three minutes or until the syrup is clear. Then, let the syrup cool for a short while before mixing the basil leaves. Set the syrup aside and let it cool. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix the strawberries and the oranges. Pour the basil syrup into the strawberries and oranges. Lightly stir the fruits with the syrup. Then, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes prior to serving.
Notes:
- This recipe makes 8 servings.
- While you can make this salad hours in advance, do not store it for several hours. Doing this may make the strawberries softer and may cause changes in flavour.
Holiday Fruit Bruschetta
Composed of different fruits, this bruschetta isn’t just nutritious; it also has a festive appearance, making it the perfect appetizer for your holiday dinner parties.
Ingredients: 4 kiwis (diced), 3 peaches (diced), ¾ cup strawberries (hulled and diced), ¾ cup blueberries, 16 slices of French bread, strawberry jam, 1 cup of goat cheese, olive oil, honey
Procedure: Preheat oven to 180℃. Line the baking sheet with foil and place the sliced bread. Brush the top of the bread with olive oil. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until the bread is golden brown or crispy (this takes approximately 10 minutes). Allow the bread to cool. Spread strawberry jam on top of each bread slices. Then, top each bread with goat cheese and fruits – kiwis, peaches, strawberries and blueberries. Finish off with a drizzle of honey on each bread slices.
Notes:
- This recipe makes 16 servings.
- You may use other fruits such as raspberries and mangoes.
Festive Fruit Sushi
This dish can be the appetizer or the dessert for your home or office dinner party. You can also ask your kids to help you make it!
Ingredients: 8 raspberries (cut into half), 16 small cubes of peaches, 16 thin slices of kiwi, 1 ½ cups uncooked Sushi rice, 2 cups water, 1 cup coconut milk, 3 tablespoons of sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt
Procedure: Create your sushi rice. Wash the rice until the water is clear. Soak the rice in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Transfer the rice (with water) in a saucepan. Add the sugar and the salt. Bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. When all the water is absorbed (and rice is soft), turn off the heat and let the rice stand for 15 minutes. Pour coconut milk into the cooked rice and stir. Let it stand for 15 minutes. Using 3 tablespoons of rice, create a ball or an oval and place on a baking sheet. Repeat the process until you make 16 ovals. Next, brush the top of the rice balls with honey to ensure that the fruits would stick. Then, top each rice balls with a piece of raspberry, mango and kiwi.
Notes:
- This recipe makes 16 servings.
- You may also use other fruits such as raspberries, peaches and oranges.
Need fresh fruits for your holiday fruit dishes? Call us at 01 4624811 and let us deliver the fruits you need at your doorstep.
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Photo by Foodmoods 