MSG Free Apple-Ginger Fruit Salad Cups
Fresh fruit, warm spice, and a little citrus zing come together in a dish that looks almost too pretty to eat. Hollowed apple halves act as edible bowls, filled with a colorful mix of diced apple, pear, blueberries, and strawberries all tossed in a bright lime-honey dressing with freshly grated ginger and Ceylon cinnamon. That short rest time after dressing is key — it lets the flavors meld and coaxes out just enough natural juice to make every bite juicy and fragrant. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, so there's no need to squint at labels or worry about hidden additives sneaking into your bowl. The ginger and cinnamon do serious flavor work without any shortcuts, giving the salad a warmth that feels almost sophisticated for something this simple. A scatter of fresh mint on top is optional but genuinely worth it for the pop of color and cool finish. This one is equally at home on a brunch spread or as a light dessert that nobody will complain about.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the apple cups
- 4 medium apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), for the cups
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime), for brushing cups
For the fruit salad
- 2 medium apples (such as granny smith or pink lady), diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 medium ripe pear, diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp lime zest
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Halve 4 apples crosswise (through the equator, not stem to base) to create 8 cup-shaped halves. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the core and enough flesh to form a shallow bowl, leaving a wall about 1/2 inch thick. Brush the cut surfaces and interior of each cup with 1 tbsp lime juice to prevent browning, then set aside on a serving platter.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 tbsp lime juice, honey, grated ginger, ground Ceylon cinnamon, and lime zest until the honey is fully dissolved and the dressing is smooth.
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