Cliche as it may sound, Christmas is more than the presents and the greetings that we exchange during this time of year. It’s about the joys of family and company shared over warm, lovingly-prepared food. And while this year’s Christmas may be different from how we traditionally celebrate it, we can always look to well-loved dishes such as Fruit Salad to sweeten up extraordinary times. 

Discover more about why pinoy fruit salad is a must-have holiday dish, along with the many ways you can serve and enjoy it.

Fruit Salad: A Sweet Staple in Holiday Gatherings

There’s fruit salad, then there’s pinoy fruit salad. The former is a crisp medley of summer greens and fruits, while our version is a creamy mix of fruity flavors and textures. With staple ingredients of fruit cocktail, cream and condensed milk, the pinoy fruit salad is a dish that captures what Christmas means for Filipinos — rich, colorful and it’s a season of sweet gatherings.  

To add, one of the best things about fruit salad is how there are many ways to prepare it. Check out these recipes for inspiration.

Fruit Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups young coconut, shredded
• 1 can (850g) Mega Prime Fruit Cocktail, drained
• 1 can (250g) Pineapple bits, drained
• 1 can (425g) Mega Prime Kernel Corn, drained
• 1 bottle (340g) Kaong, drained
• 1 can (425g) Mega Prime Nata de Coco, drained
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, diced
• 1 can (300mL) condensed milk
• 2 packs (250mL) all purpose cream 

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare a large bowl, and combine Mega Prime Fruit Cocktail with young coconut, pineapple, Mega Prime Kernel Corn, Mega Prime Nata de Coco, cheese, kaong, condensed milk and all-purpose cream. Make sure to stir gently and thoroughly. 
2. Chill fruit salad for a few hours before serving.

Fruit Salad Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS

• ½ can (300mL) condensed milk 
• 2 packs (250mL) all purpose cream, chilled overnight
• 1 can (850g) Mega Prime Fruit Cocktail, drained
• 1 cup coconut, shredded
• 1 cup kaong
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, diced or grated

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, gently whip condensed milk and all-purpose cream. 
2. Mix in Mega Prime Fruit Cocktail, coconut strips, kaong and cheese by folding.
3. Freeze mixture overnight or at least 6 hours before serving. 

Fruity Leche Flan

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• 1 can (300mL) condensed milk 
• 1 can (370mL) evaporated milk
• ½ can (850g) Mega Prime Fruit Cocktail, drained

DIRECTIONS

1. In a pot, melt sugar into caramel. Make sure to keep heat low, so as not to burn sugar. 
2. Pour caramel into tin molds. Add bits of Mega Prime Fruit Cocktail while caramel is hot and soft. 
3. For the custard mixture, mix egg yolks, condensed milk and evaporated milk in a separate bowl. Strain mixture for solids or clumps before pouring into tin molds with caramel and fruit pieces. 
4. Cover molds with foil and steam in a steamer or a rice cooker for 25 minutes. To check if the leche flan is cooked, each mold a gentle shake or wiggle. The center should be soft and jiggly but not too watery. Store leche flan in the refrigerator overnight before serving. 

No-Bake Tropical Fruit Cocktail Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS

For the crust: 

• 1 ½ cup of crushed graham crackers
• ¾ cup Icing sugar (or normal white sugar)
• ½ cup melted butter

For the cream cheese mixture: 

• 1 can (822g) Mega Prime Tropical Fruit Cocktail, drained
• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 pack (250mL) all purpose cream 
• 3 Tbsp. unflavored gelatin

DIRECTIONS

1. Start with the crust: combine graham crackers, melted butter and sugar. Transfer and press crust mixture onto a pan. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
2. For the cream cheese mixture: combine cream cheese, all-purpose cream, and sugar. Melt gelatin powder in a bowl with warm water (prep according to package instructions). Fold gelatin into the cream cheese mixture.
3. Once the crust is ready, take it out from the refrigerator. Layer cream cheese mixture on top of the crust and put it back for an additional freezing time of 1 hour. 
4. After 1 hour or once mixture is firm and set, top cake with Mega Prime Tropical Fruit Cocktail. For extra chill and sarap, freeze for another 10 minutes before serving.

Mega Prime products are available online via Megamart, Shopee, Lazada, and in Robinsons, Puregold and other leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide! Catch more #EverydayEasySarap fruit salad ideas and recipes.