Fruit Salad with Nuts

This German-style fruit salad layers honeydew melon balls, sliced oranges, halved grapes, and crunchy walnuts over a bed of crisp lettuce, then marinates in a yogurt dressing that’s unlike anything you’ve probably tossed on fruit before.

The dressing is the surprise here. Yogurt, lemon juice, orange juice, evaporated milk, and a spoonful of ketchup get whisked together into something creamy, tangy, and just a touch sweet. The ketchup sounds odd, but it adds a subtle tomato sweetness and rosy color that ties everything together. It’s a distinctly German approach to fruit salad dressing.

Let the dressed salad sit for a full 30 minutes before tossing. That marinating time softens the fruit edges and lets the dressing seep into every layer.

Kitchen Tips

• Use a melon baller for the honeydew. It looks elegant and creates uniform pieces that hold dressing evenly.
• Remove all white pith from the oranges. It turns bitter as the salad marinates.
• Keep the walnuts whole or in large pieces so they stay crunchy against the soft fruit.
• Serve in a clear glass bowl to show off those colorful layers.

Variations

• Swap honeydew for cantaloupe or a mix of both melons for more color contrast.
• Use pecans or toasted almonds instead of walnuts.
• Add sliced strawberries or kiwi for a more tropical twist.