Recipes » Desserts » Ambrosia

By Chef Del Sroufe

(1)

Ambrosia is a fruit salad originally from the South of the United States. Most recipes for this popular dish call for fresh and canned fruit, mayonnaise, marshmallows, and coconut.

Yield: 6 servings

Gluten Free Nut Free

Author’s notes: My version leaves out the marshmallows and uses a silken tofu-based dressing to top it off. For a festive splash of color during the holidays, I also like to add pomegranates to the dish.

Ingredients

¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup orange juice
4 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp arrowroot powder
¾ cup puréed extra firm silken tofu
2 tsp grated orange zest
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
1 medium Gala apple, sliced
1 tangerine, sliced
1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup green seedless grapes, halved
1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
½ cup shredded coconut
Seeds of 1 pomegranate
1 tsp poppy seeds (optional)

Instructions

1. Add the lemon juice, orange juice, maple syrup, and arrowroot powder to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes
2. Remove from the heat and refrigerate until chilled.
3. Add the chilled lemon juice mixture to a bowl with the puréed tofu and orange zest. Mix well.
4. Add the pineapple, apple, tangerine, strawberries, grapes, and coconut to the bowl with the lemon juice mixture and mix well.
5. Serve garnished with the pomegranate and poppy seeds.