Fish Free Basil-Pesto Fruit Harvest Salad
This vibrant fruit salad is a total showstopper — layers of juicy grapes, plump blueberries, strawberries, apple, and pear all tossed in a bright, herbaceous basil-pesto dressing that you genuinely won't see coming. The dressing is the real star here: fresh basil chiffonade, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and a whisper of ground ginger come together into something that feels far more sophisticated than a standard fruit salad has any right to be. Letting the dressing sit for ten minutes before tossing is a small step that makes a big difference, giving the basil time to fully infuse the oil with its fragrant, peppery depth. Every single ingredient in this recipe is naturally plant-based and ocean-free, so there's zero need to scrutinize labels or swap anything out — it just works as written. The combination of sweet, tart, and herby flavors makes it equally at home as a brunch centerpiece, a light dessert, or a refreshing side alongside a summer spread. A handful of torn mint leaves over the top adds one final pop of freshness if you want to take it over the edge.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the basil-pesto dressing
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ⅛ tsp ground ginger
For the salad
- 2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 medium pear, cored and thinly sliced
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, fine sea salt, and ground ginger until fully combined and slightly emulsified.
- 2
Stack the basil leaves, roll them tightly lengthwise, and slice into thin ribbons (chiffonade). Add the basil to the dressing and stir to combine. Let the dressing sit for 10 minutes so the basil flavor infuses into the oil.
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