Fresh Rainbow Fruit Salad & Agave-Lime Syrup

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Summer BBQs and picnics just aren't complete without my fresh Rainbow Fruit Salad with Agave-Lime Syrup! Juicy, plump berries and citrus fruits are tossed with a light and refreshing dressing to really elevate the flavors.

A white bowl filled with fruit salad with an agave-lime syrup on the side.

Fruit salad is such a great summer side dish! It's a classic food that's easily customized, and perfect to bring to cookouts and celebrations. This recipe is one of my favorite ways to celebrate Juneteenth - keep reading to learn more about the holiday and other meal ideas.

A spoon stirring up a bowl of fruit salad.

The Coined Breakdown

Total Cost per serving: $2.48
Total Cost (about 6): $14.87
Those Other Guys: $8.99 per serving

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Ingredients
How to Make a Fresh Fruit Salad
Recipe Pro Tips
Recipe FAQs
Celebrating Juneteenth 2023
Other Light, Summer Dishes You'll Love!
Rainbow Fruit Salad with Agave-Lime Syrup

Ingredients

A wooden board containing bowls of fresh fruit and agave syrup.

Fresh Fruit - I love this fruit salad because you can truly "eat your colors". To create a rainbow of variety, we're using tons of different fruit: strawberries, mandarins, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, and red grapes.
Agave - Grab some light agave syrup for this easy fruit salad dressing. You can sub with honey in a pinch.
Lime Juice/Zest - Lime juice and zest is essential so you can cut down on the sweetness of the agave! It also brings out a bright flavor in the fruit. Don't skip this ingredient.

How to Make a Fresh Fruit Salad

Fruit salad really can't be easier to make - most of the work is peeling and chopping your fruit.

All you need to do is grab your favorite fruits, and be sure to chop into bite-sized pieces so you get a variety of tastes in every spoonful.

Serve immediately, or let everything sit in the fridge for about an hour before enjoying.

The ingredients for rainbow fruit salad spread out on a board with a sauce bowl of agave-lime syrup on the side.

Recipe Pro Tips

Wash your fruit thoroughly. For all of the fruit that doesn't have a peel, soak them in a water/vinegar mixture for about 5 minutes. Then, rinse and pat dry with a tea towel.
Cut into even pieces. Cut all of your fruit to even, bite-sized portions. I also like to slice my grapes into quarters.
Drizzle the dressing on last. The agave-lime dressing makes some of the softer fruit really mushy if they soak in it for a long time... so save the dressing until just before serving.
Finally, use your favorite fruits. I don't like bananas or navel oranges, so I don't use them. If you prefer cantaloupe or raspberries, add them in! The salad will taste its absolute best when it's full of stuff you and your family like to eat.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this fruit salad ahead of time?

You can definitely cut up your fruit up to about a day ahead of serving time! I suggest keeping them separate until right before, as some of the juicer fruits (like pineapples) will begin leaking onto the rest of the berries and could change the texture.

Also, do not add the dressing until serving time.

How well does the agave-lime dressing store?

I've stored this for a week on the counter, or about two weeks in the fridge. Both agave and lime have tons of natural preservatives, so it does not go bad easily.

Can you substitute the fruit in this recipe?

Of course! Feel free to add your favorite fruits and take out anything you don't like. Peaches, watermelon, or cantaloupe are excellent ideas.

Sensitive fruits like bananas, apples, or pears tend to brown after being exposed to oxygen for hours. If you add these, put them in right before serving.

Celebrating Juneteenth 2023

One of my favorite Juneteenth events to attend is the Miss Juneteenth pageant! Miss Juneteenth is an annual beauty pageant held in many African American communities to commemorate the holiday. The pageant showcases African American women's beauty, intelligence, and societal contributions.

I always enjoy a little something sweet after attending the pageant: like this Rainbow Fruit Salad, Peach Ginger Sorbet, or Salted Caramel Pecan Bars. Luckily, Eat the Culture has curated a beautiful menu to celebrate the holiday! Check out some of the other sweets & treats from this year's potluck: