Bionico - Mexican Fruit Salad #GardenCuizine

Bionico

Mexican Fruit Salad

Ensalada mexicana de la fruta

Energize yourself and your friends and family with the benefits of a refreshing fruit salad. Reap the benefits from dietary fiber, antioxidants and important nutrients like Vitamins A and C. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend adults consume about 2 cups of fruit per day. Mexican fruit salad is easy-to-make for company or to bring to a barbeque or party.  

I first prepared Bionico for my Cinco de Mayo theme meal celebration at South Jersey Healthcare cafe during my dietetic internship. A lot of people tried it, and judging by the small amount that was leftover - it was popular! Recently, I made Bionico again, for a garden party in Mt. Bethel, PA. By the time we left, the fruit salad was almost all gone. 

What makes Bionico so delicious is the sweet and creamy cinnamon yogurt sauce and crunch of granola served over top of the fresh fruit. The yogurt topping adds calcium and protein; and the granola adds nutritious, cholesterol lowering whole grains. 

Serving tips:

• Some recipes call for mixing the sauce in with the fruit, but you may want to serve the sauce and the granola on the side because some people might be lactose intolerant or simply prefer their fruit plain.   
• Most people won't know to try their fruit with the yogurt sauce and granola toppings, so you may want to make a sign and post it near the fruit salad with a serving suggestion. I usually just type it up on our computer and say, "Bionico Mexican Fruit Salad ~ top fruit with cinnamon yogurt sauce and organic whole grain granola."  
• For added fun and festive decor, decorate the serving bowl with homemade or store bought Mexican themed cutouts to give your serving presentation a Southwest look.  
•  I've tried making the sauce with fat-free sweetened condensed milk and prefer using regular sweetened condensed milk. Experiment for yourself and use whatever you like best. In my opinion, using yogurt rather than sour cream, which is often used in Bionico recipes, makes this recipe a healthier version overall.

Putting it all together

This is a GardenCuizine 'freestyle' recipe: use any measurements you wish to use and any fruit you have available; locally grown, seasonal fruit is always a good first choice. Garnish with sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), fresh mint or lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) from the garden. 

Fresh cut fruits

Prepare a large bowl or your choice of assorted cut fruits, such as:

Strawberries

Bananas

Oranges
Cherries
Watermelon

Blueberries

Pineapple

Papaya

Mango

Bionico Sauce

Combine the following ingredients and toss with fresh cut fruit or serve on the side

2 cups Vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup Sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon Honey

1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon 

Granola Topping

Make your own granola or purchase granola from the grocery store. Serve on the side or atop the sauced fruit. One of our favorite granolas is Cascadian Farm® organic dark chocolate almond granola made with whole grain oats, whole grain wheat and whole grain barley.

Buen provecho!

Related Links: Fruits and Veggies More Matters

Why is it Important to Eat Fruit?  

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010
Blog Article and photos Copyright © 2011 D.Wind. All rights reserved.