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Fruit Salad with Lemon–Poppy Dipping Sauce

A platter of fresh fruit served with this lemony dip is a beautiful way to kick off brunch. This fruit salad can also be made into fruit kebobs for a different appearance. Just cut slightly bigger chunks and skewer the fruit onto bamboo skewers. You can prepare the fruit and the dip early and have this all ready when guests arrive. When you make the dip, mince the onion very, very finely or purée it, if you like, and be sure to use a neutral oil, such as canola or corn oil. I find that the onion adds a surprising savory flavor, but it’s not at all overpowering.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

For the Dipping Sauce

3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon Colman’s dry mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons very finely minced onion (as close to liquid as possible)
1 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons poppy seeds

For the Fruit

2 crispy, tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 medium ripe cantaloupe or honeydew melon, peeled, seeded, and cut into 2-inch pieces

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Make the dipping sauce: Using a whisk, beat the sugar, dry mustard, salt, vinegar, onion, canola oil, and poppy seeds in a bowl until well combined.

    Step 2

    Spoon the dip into a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 2 hours, or until ready to serve.

    Step 3

    Prepare the fruit: Toss the apples, pears, and bananas with the fresh lemon juice in order to prevent browning. Arrange the pineapple, cantaloupe, apples, pears, and bananas on a large platter, leaving room in the center for the bowl of dipping sauce. Place the dipping sauce in the center of the platter and serve.

Bubby's Brunch Cookbook cover.
Bubby’s Brunch Cookbook by Ron Silver and Rosemary Black. Copyright © 2009 by Ron Silver and Rosemary Black. Published by Ballantine Books. All Rights Reserved.
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