Marthas Fruit Salad Recipes

ALEXIS'S CHOPPED VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add corn and sugar. Blanch until tender about 6 minutes. Remove from water and plunge immediately into ice bath. When the corn is thoroughly cool, remove from ice bath. Using a large knife, remove kernels from cobs. Transfer to a large bowl. Add beans to boiling water. Blanch until tender about 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, remove from water and plunge immediately into ice bath. When beans are thoroughly cooled, transfer to a colander to drain.
• Add wax and green beans, tomatoes, red and yellow pepper, onion, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeno to corn. Stir to combine. Add olive oil, vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Serve immediately.

WARM STONE FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In a large skillet, combine the vanilla, star anise, sugar, thyme, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until syrupy, about 6 minutes.
• Add fruit, reduce heat to medium, and cook 8 to 10 minutes, or until the fruit is tender but not mushy, and the liquid is syrupy again. Shake the pan occasionally to prevent sticking, but don't stir, as this will break up the fruit. Remove and discard spices.
• Spoon into bowls; top with ricotta.

ROASTED-FRUIT SALAD WITH LEMON VERBENA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat sugar, lemon verbena, and corn syrup in large straight-sided ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until sugar melts, about 3 minutes. Place Pluots, plums, and apricots, cut sides down, on top of sugar mixture, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar mixture is liquid and bubbling.
• Transfer skillet to oven, and roast until fruits are soft but not mushy, 4 to 4 1/2 minutes. Remove from oven, and swirl in butter and cream. Drizzle fruit with sauce, and garnish with lemon verbena sprigs.

WALDORF SALAD

Steps:

• Place apples, celery, and grapes in a medium bowl, and toss with juice of half the lemon. In another bowl, whisk together yogurt, mustard, honey, and juice of remaining half lemon. Pour half of the dressing over the apple mixture, tossing to combine. Serve over greens, drizzling remaining dressing over salad. Garnish the salad with chopped walnuts and snipped chives.

WINTER FRUIT SALAD WITH BASIL SYRUP

Steps:

• Bring basil, sugar, peppercorns, salt, and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat, and let cool. Pour syrup through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids.
• Working over a bowl, cut segments of grapefruits free of membranes. Combine pineapple, kiwifruit, and grapefruit in a large bowl; pour syrup and accumulated juices over fruit, and gently toss. Let stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, before serving. Fruit can be combined 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Thirty minutes before serving, remove from refrigerator, and toss with syrup.