Come y Bebe - Ecuadorian Fruit Salad

 

     This is the third recipe in this week's Ecuadorian series. This recipe is a great treat just about any time. It's refreshing in the summer, but full of tropical flavor in the winter when you want something to remind you of summer. It's great for a snack or dessert. It's really, just, great. 

     To make this you want to cut the fruit into small, uniform, pieces before adding to the orange juice. There are several ways to make this recipe. The base is always orange juice. Papaya and pineapple seem to also be the standard, from there a few other fruits seemed pretty universally used. So I used them. Watermelon? yes, please! Other additions I saw frequently were fresh coconut, apples, cantaloupe, orange segments, grapes, and really just about any other fruits and berries you like. When chopping watermelon, it usually releases a lot of liquid, make sure and save it to add with the orange juice. You can even use some extra and crush it up to add to the orange juice. 

Ecuadorian Fruit Salad Recipe

1/2 papaya, chopped

1 pineapple, diced

2 mangos, chopped

1 banana, chopped

4 c. watermelon, cut into small cubes, separated

6 - 8 c. orange juice

Honey or sugar, if needed

     Place 2 cups of the watermelon into a blender and blend until smooth. 

     In a large pitcher combine the papaya, pineapple, mango, and remaining watermelon in a pitcher. Add the pureed watermelon along with the orange juice. Allow to chill, chilling at least 30 minutes. Longer is better. Taste and add honey or sugar if the fruit and juice are not sweet. 

     Add the banana just before serving. Serve well chilled and enjoy!