“Flavorful” and “salad” are not two words that you see together, but we have a wonderful change of pace for you. This Thai Fruit Salad packs a punch, loaded with marinaded grapefruit, leafy watercress, and magnificent mango. It’s tossed with an amazing Thai-flavor-infused dressing that’s filled with so much tantalizing flavor. Doesn’t that just make your mouth water thinking about it? Thai Fruit Salad is a gorgeous and delicious addition to your summer salad menu.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup very fine sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
- 2 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and cut into very thin strips
- 1 red chili, deseeded and cut into thin strips
- 2 large grapefruits, peeled and cut into small pieces
For the salad:
- 1 mango, diced
- 2 cups watercress
- 2 teaspoons peanut oil
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons black or white sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup peanuts, roasted
- salt, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –In a large bowl, add the rice wine vinegar and the fine sugar, whisking until it is combined and the fine sugar is mostly dissolved.
Step 2 –Add the orange blossom water, the star anise, the cinnamon stick, the ginger, and the chili to the dressing and stir to combine.
Step 3 –Add the grapefruit pieces to the dressing, gently stirring to combine, and allow them to marinate, about 30 minutes.
Step 4 –Use a slotted spoon to remove and discard the star anise and the cinnamon stick from the dressing.
Step 5 –Drain the grapefruit pieces from the dressing.
Step 6 –Reserve 2 tablespoons of the dressing, discarding the remainder.
Step 7 –In a large bowl, add the marinated grapefruit pieces, the mango, the watercress, the peanut oil, and the lime juice and toss to combine.
Step 8 –Transfer the salad to a large bowl.
Step 9 –Add the reserved dressing, the sliced shallot, the sesame seeds, the peanuts, and the salt to the top of the salad.
Step 10 –Plate and serve.
