good, light, and refreshing fruit salad with watermelon, fresh berries, and a honey poppyseed dressing for a solid side dish for hot summer days!

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Fresh Poppyseed Watermelon Berry Salad

If you're looking for the ultimate easy, sweet, good fruit salad – this is it! You can use pre-sliced watermelon, swap out the berries, mix in other fruits – it is totally customizable. Plus since we're using natural sugars, it won't break your healthy eating goals for your kids.

This honey lime poppyseed dressing is good over all sorts of fruit salads – including our dragon fruit salad – so try it with other dishes, too!

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

How to Make Watermelon Berry Salad

Watermelon (4 cups) – Juicy and refreshing, watermelon adds a sweet and hydrating base to the salad.
Strawberries (1 cup) – Fresh, ripe strawberries bring a burst of sweetness and a vibrant red color.
Red cherries (1 cup) – Sweet and slightly tart, cherries add a rich, deep flavor that complements the other fruits.
Blueberries (1 cup) – Blueberries contribute a pop of color and a mild sweetness that balances the salad.
Limes (3 juice and zest) – The lime zest and juice add a tangy brightness that elevates the fruit flavors.
Honey (1 tbsp) – A drizzle of honey provides a natural sweetness that ties all the flavors together.
Poppy seeds (½ tsp) – Poppy seeds add a subtle crunch and a touch of nuttiness to the salad.

After you've gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

Whisk the lime juice, honey, and poppy seeds together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Add all the fruit and lime zest to a large bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the top.
Toss the salad until it is fully coated and serve immediately or let chill for 20 minutes.
Enjoy!

Kitchen notes

Chill salad before serving. This isn't mandatory – but this fruit salad is better chilled, after it has had time to come together in the fridge and let the dressing soak in a bit.

Swap out fruit for what you have on hand. Don't have the berries we're calling for? No worries – swap them out! Blackberries, raspberries, grapes, apple bites all work well.

Add more herbs. Want to kick up the flavor a bit? Sprinkle some tajin over your fruit salad for a spicy kick, or stir in minced basil for a bit of an earthy, herbal flavor.

A few answers

How long does watermelon berry salad last?

Fruit salad starts to break down quickly and become a bit mushy after a day, even though it is still technically safe to eat. For best flavor, eat within a day of preparing.

How do we store watermelon fruit salad?

This salad can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or bowl with plastic wrap for up to two days.

Is there a substitute for honey?

If you're watching sugar content, you can use a honey substitute like agave syrup, or cellulose syrup.

Serve it with

This fresh fruit salad is good with all sorts of main dishes, including our pork tenderloin recipes baked chicken breastsor a grilled dish like our Korean Grilled Flanken Ribs!

We also love serving fruit salad with Eggs Benedictor Cinnamon bread for a light and good breakfast, especially alongside Sangria Mimosas or a Champagne Fizz or Blood Orange Gin and Tonic for a boozy brunch!

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Ingredients

4 cups watermelon, cubed
1 cup strawberries, quartered
1 cup red cherries, pitted and halved
1 cup blueberries
½ lime zest
3 limes, juiced
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp poppy seeds

Method

Whisk the lime juice, honey, and poppy seeds together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Add all the fruit and lime zest to a large bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the top.
Toss the salad until it is fully coated and serve immediately or let chill for 20 minutes. Enjoy!