Fruit Salad with Kaffir Lime Syrup

Happy New Year everyone!  How was your first day of 2014? Hope it was great! Mine was pretty quiet, and since the new school term starts on the very next day (today), we pretty much stay put in the house! Now that Christmas is over, we are looking forward for the coming Chinese New Year which falls on 31st January. Looks like this month of January will be another busy month for most of us, who are celebrating Chinese New Year. There are shopping to do, cookies to bake, dinner menus and travels to plan!  Much as I'm looking forward to all these festivities, I'm really looking forward to my quiet daily routine, once the festivities ends!  

For this week at I Heart Cooking Clubs (IHCC), the theme is "Suitable For The Spa". I have never been to any spa before and am not sure what sort of food are served there! This week is all about food or dishes that are light, lovely and healthy! I have chosen this Fruit Salad with Kaffir Lime Syrup as "Suitable For The Spa"!  And I can almost imagine myself, after a session of aromatherapy baths of some sort at a spa, and being treated to a plate of this lovely fruit salad! Cool and refreshing! LOL! 

I've made this fruit salad for dessert after a dinner of roasted chicken and potatoes. Makes a yummy and refreshing dessert after all that "heavy" food!

Fruit Salad with Kaffir Lime Syrup. 

The fruits that I've used are watermelon, pineapple and honeydew melon. You may use any fruits of your choice. Even though the recipe does not call for it, I have chilled the fruits in the refrigerator, until serving time. 

Kaffir Lime Leaves from my plant. For the maximum aroma and flavour, make some tears alongside the leaves before using them in any dishes. These leaves are extremely fragrant.

To make the Kaffir Lime Syrup, half a cup of sugar is mixed with half a cup of water and bring to a boil, and sugar completely dissolved. The Kaffir Lime leaves are added in, and let the syrup continue to simmer for about 5-8 minutes until syrupy. Cool before use. I've also kept the syrup chilled in the refrigerator.

When it is time to serve, mix the chilled fruits in a serving plate, pour over the chilled Kaffir Lime Syrup. I've added some shredded fresh mint leaves over.

Serve immediately. Cool, refreshing, yummy! And light, lovely, healthy! I could have this anytime of any day, not necessarily on a "spa day"! :)

Fruit Salad with Kaffir Lime Syrup
(adapted from donnahay.com)
8 strawberries, hulled and halved
1 mango, peeled and sliced
500gm watermelon, peeled and sliced
500gm rockmelon, peeled and slice
(I've used a combination of watermelon, pineapple and honeydew melon, chilled before serving)

Kaffir Lime Syrup (chilled in the refrigerator)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 Kaffir Lime leaves

To make the kaffir lime syrup, place the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the Kaffir Lime leaves and simmer for 5 minutes or until syrupy. Allow to cool. Divide the fruits between plates and spoon over the Kaffir Lime Syrup to serve. Serves 4.


To view what the others are making, Suitable For The Spa, drop by I Heart Cooking Clubs (IHCC).

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