Description
Savor summer’s essence with this Tropical Delight Salad, where sweet and tangy flavors dance across your palate. Crisp fruits, zesty dressing, and fresh herbs create a refreshing island-inspired experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Fruits:
- 1 can (20 ounces / 567 grams) pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 can (11 ounces / 312 grams) mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained and halved
Creamy Components:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup whipped topping, e.g., Cool Whip
Textural Additions:
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Gather all tropical ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel, focusing on creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
- Carefully tumble pineapple chunks and mandarin oranges into the bowl, allowing their bright, sunny essence to dominate the initial composition.
- Introduce mini marshmallows, creating soft, pillowy pockets that will provide unexpected sweetness throughout the mixture.
- Generously sprinkle shredded coconut, ensuring an even distribution that will contribute a delicate, tropical undertone to the salad.
- Incorporate sour cream and whipped topping, gently folding these creamy elements to bind the fruity components together with a luxurious, silky consistency.
- Delicately introduce vibrant maraschino cherries, their jewel-like appearance adding visual and flavor complexity to the tropical medley.
- If desired, scatter chopped pecans across the surface, providing a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the smooth, creamy base.
- Thoroughly blend all ingredients, ensuring each component is lovingly integrated without crushing the delicate fruit pieces.
- Seal the mixture in a covered container and transfer to the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to harmonize and intensify for a minimum of one hour before serving.
- Just before presentation, give the salad a final gentle stir to redistribute the ingredients and maximize the sensory experience.
Notes
- Chilling enhances the salad’s flavor profile, allowing ingredients to blend and develop a more harmonious taste.
- Opt for fresh, high-quality ingredients to elevate the tropical dessert’s overall texture and taste experience.
- Maraschino cherries and pecans add delightful bursts of color, crunch, and sweetness to the creamy mixture.
- Make ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, perfect for meal prep or potluck gatherings.
- Customize by swapping nuts or adding extra fruits like sliced bananas or diced mango for personal flair.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Global
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg