Thursday, January 2, 2014

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).

IHCC Donna Hay Badge resized



OT1/14

25 comments:

  1. A perfectly light and delicious dessert!

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  2. Happy 2014, Joyce!!!

    Didn't know that kaffir lime makes good fruit salad too!!! I'm imagining the fragrance of this salad now :D

    Zoe

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  3. Joyce, what a healthy start to the new year! 2014 is eat healthy year hah! hah!

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  4. Happy New Year, Joyce. Good idea to start healthy in the new year.

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  5. I love Donna Hay's recipes coz never disappoint me. This is a good idea to appreciate the fruits! Happy new year!

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  6. Joyce,
    Love this cool and refreshing heathy salad.
    I can smell the fragrance of the kafir leaves syrup from here :D
    Happy happy 2014 to you!!
    mui

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  7. U r so right... It's nice to have the festive season but sometimes, the me time is so desired.... And I like my me time with your fruit salad

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  8. A pretty plate of fresh fruit is always welcome here and the lime syrup is a very nice touch. A great choice for spa week.

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  9. Happy New Year! This is a great way to serve fruits in different way. Love it!

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  10. Hi Joyce , what a delicious and light salad , thanks for sharing :)

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  11. What a lovely way to enjoy a fruit salad and a good start for a healthy new year!

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  12. It sounds like your schedule will be filled with fun and festive plans. I wish you a Happy New Year.
    This is a delightful, light and healthy fruit salad as an appetizer or dessert, both it would be perfect for.
    Blessings dear. Catherine xo

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  13. Yes, January will be a very busy month for me too.... Dread to think of it though,just looking forward to some quiet and relaxing days once all the festivities are over. I'll love this salad, refreshing after all the 'heavy' food as you've said!

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  14. Love your fruit salad !
    Joyce, i have one question to ask for the upcoming Bake-Along, besides cookies, is nian gao included?

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  15. I love the aroma of Kaffir lime leaves :D I bet it makes a refreshing and delicious addition to your colorful and healthy salad !

    Here's wishing you and your family a Happy , Healthy and a Bountiful 2014 !!!

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  16. yes,cny is coming soon! so scared la with all the traffic and housework and shopping..spa might be a good idea after all the madness...and spa and this fruit salad...how rejuvenating!

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  17. Light, refreshing and colorful fruit looks like the perfect spa dish to me. ;-) I love the kaffir lime in the syrup and the sprinkle of fresh mint.

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  18. Oh wow, we are in the middle of winter here and your fruit salad looks so fresh and colorful and the fruit looks so ripe and delicious. I have never had the pleasure of seeing a kaffir lime leaf in person or tasting it, but I love that you described it as fragrant and hope to work with them at some point. I think this fruit salad looks absolutely wonderful and I could definitely eat it any time of day :)

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  19. You salad looks cool and refreshing. Love the colors. You are so right about kafir lime leaves. I can imagine the aroma.

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  20. Joyce this fruit salad is perfect for the spa. Actually it reminds of some of the spas I've been to in Bali for a massage, after which they always bring you a cup of ginger tea and a plate of tropical fruit just like this.

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  21. I am surely gonna try this fruit salad. Thanks for sharing this yummy fruit salad recipe.

    salad recipes

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