Here’s a colorful winter fruit medley featuring delectable lychees. You can swap in other fruits for those suggested in the recipe. This cool-weather fruit dish is delicious served with coconut or cashew yogurt, though it’s delicious and refreshing on its own.
What are lychees?
The following information is adapted from Melissa’s Great Book of Produce by Cathy Thomas, reprinted with permission of Melissa’s Produce:
Its spiny bumps make the shell look impenetrable, but all it takes is a hungry push of a thumbnail to reach the fragrant, white gray orb inside. Peel away just enough to expose one juicy end and then squeeze to pop it out.
About the size and shape of a large peeled grape, the lychee has an alluring fragrance that is rose-like, a taste that’s a blend of super sweet cherry and banana, and the juiciness of a grape. Hidden inside, there’s an inedible glossy brown seed.
Lychees have been one of China’s most prized fruits for more than 2,000 years. Because of its delectable flavor profile, it steals the show whether eaten raw on its own, included in fruit salad, or incorporated in cooked dishes.
See lots more in our Guide to Lychee, with Tips, Ideas & Recipes. Thanks to Melissa’s Produce for providing the fresh lychees used in this recipe.
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Winter Fruit Medley with Lychees

Here’s a colorful winter fruit salad featuring delectable lychees. You can swap in other fruits for the others suggested in the recipe.
Ingredients
- 12 to 14 fresh lychees
- 2 clementines, peeled and sectioned, or one 8-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 ripe mango, any winter variety, peeled and diced
- 2 medium apples, cored and diced
- Pomegranate seeds, as desired Coconut or cashew yogurt for serving, optional
Instructions
- To open the shell of the lychees, make a small cut near one end to break it, then peel to expose one end. Pinch the remaining shell to pop it out. If small or medium-sized, you can use a scissor-style cherry pitter to remove the pit; or cut the fruit in half and remove the pit with a small sharp knife. Make sure to discard the pit, which isn't edible and may have adverse effects if ingested.
- Combine the lychee with the remaining fruits in a serving bowl and stir together.
- Serve at once. If using, pass around yogurt to dollop on each individual serving.
Notes
Variations: Feel free to swap in a firm, ripe pear for the apple; fresh or canned pineapple for the mango; and dried cranberries for the pomegranate seeds.

See lots more plant-forward desserts & sweets.
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