Sesame Free Basil-Pesto Fruit Harvest Salad
This vibrant fruit salad is a showstopper that proves a great dressing doesn't need to come from a bottle. Fresh basil is sliced into delicate ribbons and whisked together with extra-virgin olive oil, bright lemon juice, garlic, and a whisper of ground ginger — creating a fragrant, herbaceous coating that makes every piece of fruit sing. Grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apple, and pear bring a gorgeous mix of colors and textures, and the whole thing comes together with a gentle toss and a scatter of torn mint. For anyone navigating sesame sensitivities, this recipe is a breath of fresh air — every single ingredient is naturally free of sesame in any form, with no tahini, sesame oil, or hidden seed blends anywhere in sight. Store-bought fruit salads and pre-made dressings can be surprisingly tricky territory, so making this from scratch puts you fully in control. The dressing only needs ten minutes to infuse before it's ready, so this is a genuinely quick, fuss-free dish that still feels a little fancy. Serve it at a summer brunch, a holiday spread, or honestly just a Tuesday — it's that good.
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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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