Fruit Salad with Pawpaw Vinaigrette

A fruit salad really doesn’t need much of a recipe. Choose some of your favorite fruits, chop ‘em up, mix ‘em together, and it’s done! But taking a little extra time to add some fresh herbs and a sweet, mild vinaigrette is the extra touch that turns a simple and delicious fruit salad into an elegant and memorable dish, with each element tasting like the best version of itself. 

This vinaigrette is different than your standard salad vinaigrette because of the generous amount of honey and the high ratio of vinegar to oil. The acidity and natural fruitiness of the pawpaw vinegar brightens the fruit flavors while the honey plays off their natural sweetness. The oil in the vinaigrette is present only to help carry all the other flavors, so opt for a neutral tasting oil to let the other ingredients shine. 

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SALAD:

1-2 lbs fresh fruit, selected in season, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh herbs (mint, lemon balm, hyssop, basil, etc), torn by hand
Optional garnish: 2 Tbsp seeds (flax, chia, hemp, poppy, etc.)

INGREDIENTS FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:
¼ cup Pawpaw vinegar
¼ cup neutral oil (canola, grapeseed, etc)
2 Tbsp honey
Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS:
Add all the ingredients for the vinaigrette to a glass jar and shake well to combine. Just before serving, use a spoon to drizzle the vinaigrette over the fruit and toss to combine. To garnish, tear fresh herb leaves by hand and sprinkle over top, along with your favorite seeds, if desired.