Black pepper adds zing to fruit salad

Looking for ways to jazz up your basic fruit salad this summer? Consider giving it a hit from the savory side of the food world.
It's not something we often think of, but ingredients we generally consider savory or spicy can provide a delicious contrast when added to a sweet and juicy fruit salad. Where to start? Something as simple as thinly sliced fresh basil adds a peppery bite to a salad of strawberries, watermelon and grapes.
For even more bite, consider adding very thinly sliced jalapeno peppers. The best way to do this is to slice a fresh pepper in half, scrape out the seeds and ribs, then use a mandoline to slice the chili paper-thin. Mix into the salad for a great sweet-and-heat blend.
And no matter what savory element you add, make sure to also add a pinch of salt. It won't make the salad tasty salty, but it will highlight the natural sweetness of the fruit.
BLACK PEPPER HONEY FRUIT SALAD
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Servings: 10
1 quart strawberries, halved
1 pint blueberries
1 mango (about 1 pound), peeled, pitted and diced
20-ounce jar grapefruit segments, drained
2 nectarines, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 plums, cut into 1-inch pieces
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
In a large bowl, gently mix together the strawberries, blueberries, mango, grapefruit segments, nectarines and plums.
In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, lime juice and honey. Drizzle the dressing over the fruit and stir gently to coat.