Fruit chat, also known as fruit salad, can be served as either an appetizer or dessert depending on the ingredients you choose to include. You can also mix this dish with nuts and other ingredients to create a savory version that can be served in place of or alongside the usual chips and salsa at your next party or family gathering. In order to learn how to make fruit chat, it’s important to understand what kinds of ingredients you’ll need, how they go together and why they all provide different nutritional benefits. Here are some easy steps to follow along with pictures included!
What Is Fruit Chat?
Fruit chat is a concoction made from mixing fresh fruit juice with carbonated water. The sweet, bubbly drink is extremely low in calories, making it ideal for anyone watching their weight. It’s also pretty tasty! Eating fresh fruit alone can be pretty expensive, but mixing it with soda water creates a beverage that's refreshing on hot days while offering all of a piece of fruit's nutritional benefits as well. In fact, fruit chat has many health benefits beyond losing weight; you'll also gain nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants by drinking it regularly. Now that you know what it is, let's take a look at how to make fruit chat!
While there are countless ways to make fruit chat, we recommend using pomegranate juice as your base ingredient. Pomegranate juice naturally contains four times more antioxidants than red wine or green tea and plenty of potassium—an essential mineral involved in keeping your blood pressure within healthy ranges. This makes it an excellent addition to your diet, especially if you're trying to lower your blood pressure. Additionally, pomegranate juice also offers high levels of malic acid—the same substance found in apple cider vinegar—which naturally cleanses your digestive tract when consumed daily. Drinking a glass of fruit chat will help keep your body running smoothly while providing all of a piece of fruit's nutritional benefits!
To make a glass of fruit chat, simply pour 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh-squeezed orange juice into a tall glass. Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice. Then add 3 tablespoons (45 ml) sparkling water and stir gently until well combined. Serve immediately with ice cubes for maximum refreshment!
While making fruit chat is simple enough, many people find that they don't enjoy its taste right away; most say that it takes some getting used to before they start enjoying its flavor.
Ingredients & Preparation
In most fruits, there is a natural form of pectin that can be used as a thickener. The process of combining fruit with an acid (often citrus juice) is known as jelling. Freshly-made chat does not last long, but store-bought versions tend to have preservatives added for preservation. These are artificial flavors or other chemicals you do not want in your diet; there are also vegetarian substitutes if you prefer that. For example, Vegi-Whip is a popular brand found at Whole Foods Market locations across America. This product contains 100% pure vegetable ingredients and has no animal products. There are several brands on Amazon as well: Vegan Whipped Topping by Soyatoo! - 8 oz / 236 ml Canister / Carton - Fat Free Dairy Free Gluten Free Non GMO Paleo Friendly Kosher Certified Organic & All Natural & Soy Free Sugar Free No Cholesterol Kosher Dairy & Gluten Free No Trans Fats. Vegan Whipped Topping by Soyatoo! - 8 oz / 236 ml Canister / Carton - Fat Free Dairy Free Gluten Free Non GMO Paleo Friendly Kosher Certified Organic & All Natural & Soy Free Sugar Free No Cholesterol Kosher Dairy & Gluten Free No Trans Fats. If you cannot find these types of products near you, it’s easy enough to make your own. For instance, lemon juice works just as well as vinegar when it comes to making chat—and many people enjoy using fresh lemons instead of vinegar anyway. If you choose to use lemons, simply squeeze out all their juices into a bowl or measuring cup and add sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.You can play around with different kinds of sugar—white sugar will make a more firm version while brown sugar will produce something softer and chewier. Some people like adding cinnamon for extra flavor!
Add-ons & Variations
The recipe for fruit chat can be easily modified based on what you like or have in your kitchen. Check out these add-ons: dried fruits, nuts, coconut flakes, cereal bits, chocolate chips, cinnamon sugar—or use different ingredients entirely! Look at some recipes online for inspiration. There are also lots of ways to switch up your fruit chat technique: bake it into cookies or cupcakes; pour it into silicone molds; spread it on a baked donut instead of jelly; replace granola with cereal pieces (and only top it with fruit); bake a batch and keep it handy in an airtight container; eat it as is (perfect before a workout)...the list goes on! This might not sound all that appealing, but trust us—fruit chat tastes delicious! Just make sure to always use fresh fruit.
Dried fruits tend to be very sweet so if you do opt for them, cut back on any added sugars or maple syrup. Also, avoid using canned fruit unless it’s packed in water/juice (not syrup). When we tested recipes using canned pineapple, cherries and apricots we found that they didn’t hold their shape well after baking and had a tendency to get mushy. The exception here is applesauce which works well because of its natural binding properties. If you want to try adding something else to fruit chat, just make sure it doesn't compromise its texture or taste. For example, chopped nuts work really well when sprinkled over fruit chat prior to baking. However, large pieces of nuts may burn while cooking and should be avoided altogether. If you want crunchy nut clusters in your snack mix, try chopping them small first then sprinkling over the dry mixture prior to baking. You can even grind whole nuts into flour if you prefer a finer texture (this works great for banana bread).
Serving Options
Like most desserts, fruit chat is best served cold. You can keep it in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to two days. And while you may find that it doesn’t look as appetizing once chilled, don’t be dismayed: The taste remains just as satisfying when served cold! One fun serving option is to place a slice or two of fruit chat on top of a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt. This not only adds a delightful visual element but also ups your dessert game by introducing contrasting temperatures. For more cooling contrast, serve with sliced fresh fruits like kiwi or strawberries. Or add a dollop of whipped cream for added sweetness and decadence. If you want to get really fancy, try topping with a few chocolate shavings—or better yet, use chocolate sauce instead of syrup. Chocolate makes everything better!