Macedonia, Italian fruit salad with sugar and lemon

Macedonia, Italian fruit salad with sugar and lemon. You all know how much Italian cuisine is simple and relies on a few good quality, seasonal ingredients. The same is for Macedonia, the Italian fruit salad that is simply dressed with sugar and lemon juice and let macerate until ready to serve. A delightful end to a meal, instead of dessert.

Song of the day: 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) - Lizzo

Whenever we had more fruit than we could handle, or for fear that it would turn bad, my father would make Macedonia, the Italian fruit salad. In my family, the "waste not want not" is a way of life. Everything is used, not too much is wasted, and often it is repurposed.

Macedonia, Italian fruit salad with sugar and lemon

By all means, making Macedonia, the Italian fruit salad, allows you to use up and combine different fruits lingering in your fridge turning them into a delightful dessert, just with the addition of sugar and lemon. Simple, yet absolutely delicious.

Seasonal fruit

Truly, we like to buy seasonal fruit and vegetables. For this Macedonia, Italian fruit salad with sugar and lemon, we used fruits and berries from the farmer's market. In this latitude, at this time of the year, you can still see beautiful berries and summer fruits like nectarines, sharing the space with the first Fall apples and pears. What better than to mix them in our fruit salad?

How to make Macedonia, Italian fruit salad with sugar and lemon

• Firstly, gently wash the fruit and berries. Peel the apple and pear, cut into quarters, and cube. Add to a medium bowl.
• Cut the nectarine into slices, cut each slice into chunks and add to the bowl.
• Then, add the blueberries and blackberries.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of cane sugar over the fruit. And drizzle the juice of half a lemon. Optional, add the grated zest.
• Gently mix the fruit. Cover the bowl and let rest for at least 15 minutes. The longer it sits the more flavorful it gets.
• Then, taste for sweetness and adjust with more sugar and/or lemon juice.
• Store in the fridge and serve at room temperature.

Ingredient substitutions

In order to make a Macedonia, you can use any seasonal fruit you like. To this combination you can add plums, grapes, and bananas. If you make it in the Summer, substitute apple and pear with melon, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. If you make it in the Winter, add slices of mandarins, oranges, bananas, kiwis, and pomegranate.

Also, instead of lemon, you can use orange or lime juice. Or, for a burst of flavor, you can add a drop of maraschino, limoncello, or other alcohol to taste.

Make it ahead

For an even tastier fruit salad, we suggest you dress the fruit a few hours in advance and leave it in the fridge until ready to use. The juices that develop from the maceration will be a delicious addition to the fruit salad.

How to serve Macedonia, Italian fruit salad

You can serve the fruit salad in individual cups or bowls. Add a mint leaf, or garnish it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. In the summer, instead of placing it in a bowl, you can serve it inside a halved and emptied melon or watermelon.

This Macedonia, Italian fruit salad with sugar and lemon is a great addition to a dessert table, a brunch, or to bring to outdoor gatherings. A couple of weeks ago, we brought this Macedonia to our Fall picnic and it was very much enjoyed.

Happy Fall!

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