Bahama Mama Fruit Salad

Most fruit salads are nothing more than a mix of fruits, with nothing to hold the “salad” together. The result is dry and bland. A dressing adds moisture and flavor and makes a superior fruit salad. Here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

• A simple syrup--nothing more than sugar and water cooked together—coaxes flavor from the fruit.
• Vary the amount of syrup added based on the sweetness of the fruit.
• Add citrus zest, chopped crystallized ginger, vanilla, nuts, coconut, and even fresh herbs for flavor.
• Toss the salad with the simple syrup and serve immediately; otherwise the sugar will draw out too much of the fruits’ juices.