The Fruit Stand

I just got back from a trip to the Dominican Republic and loved discovering all the delicious tropical fruits native to the country! Papaya was my favorite, not only because of its sweet juicy flavor but also because of its wonderful rosy coral color. The standard fruits at my house have always been apples, oranges, melons and berries but now that I’ve tried these new tropical fruits, my fruit salads will never be the same!

Here are some exotic fruits to pick up on your next trip to the grocery store… papaya, star fruit, guava, mango, passion fruit and pomegranate.

Tropical fruits like these also make a great salsa.
Here’s a great recipe my girlfriend shared with me, try it with grilled fish over wild rice…so good!

Tropical Fruit Salsa
2 cups diced (¼ inch) mixed tropical fruits, such as
mango, papaya, pineapple or melon
½ cup sliced scallions
½ cup diced red bell pepper
½ cup diced yellow bell pepper
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
¼ cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup ginger-ale
¼ cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 teaspoon olive oil

Make the Tropical Fruit Salsa: combine all the ingredients and toss to mix well. Serve immediately at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.