Hawaiian Style Holiday Gifts-Fruit Salsa and Passion Fruit Dressing

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

10 Dec 2007 05:50 PM

While my daughter and I have been icing cookies and dipping pretzel rods in chocolate my best friend in Hawaii has been busy whipping up her own holiday treats. Though hers are decidedly more savory than sweet.

My pal Lisa's handiwork serves as the inspiration for this blog. Her holiday recipes for fruit salsa and passion fruit dressing prove that fancy sweets aren't the only homemade holiday treats that can be doled out to friends and co-workers. In fact, these recipes offer a welcome change to the traditional sweets given this time of year.

Just package each in individual jars or bottles, place a pretty bow or raffia on them and sit back and wait for the compliments to roll in.

FRUIT SALSA

Ingredients:

1 papaya (you can also substitute with 1 mango, 1/4 pineapple, 2 peaches or 2 plums), diced

5 basil leaves, chopped

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

2 stalks green onion, chopped

1 Serrano chili, chopped

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 heaping tablespoon sugar

Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Makes about one cup or roughly four servings.

You can serve it with tortilla chips or on top of grilled fish, chicken, or pork.

**This salsa also makes a great addition to a gift basket filled with chips, a nice bowl, and fresh fruit.**

PASSION FRUIT DRESSING

Ingredients:

1 can (6 ounces) frozen passion fruit juice, thawed (You can find passion fruit juice in the frozen juice section at most grocery stores)

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

Directions:

Put all ingredients into blender. Cover and blend well.

Makes about 1-1/2 cups.

Serve with fresh fruit chunks or fruit slices or drizzle over a fruit salad. It's also great over a traditional green salad.

Related Articles:

Salsa Recipes

Salsa and Black Bean Soup

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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