Ambrosia

There are only three ingredients in this simple vegan ambrosia salad. You will not miss the dairy, fat, or calories in this classic version of ambrosia.

I’ve been feeling kind of guilty about not telling you what happened with the Thai eggplants and citrus fruit that I wrote about after Thanksgiving. I’m afraid I made up a new, very successful recipe for the eggplants but didn’t write it down or photograph the dish. You see, it was late and we were starving by the time the meal was ready, and I really didn’t expect it to turn out as well as it did. If I remember correctly, I pan-fried tofu, sautéed the quartered eggplants, and mixed them with a peanut sauce. We really loved the texture and taste of the eggplants–much crisper than the regular kind. If I can find Thai eggplants, I promise I’ll make it again and share the recipe.

As for the citrus, I’m a minimalist when it comes to fruit, so mostly I’ve just been eating it. I do plan to make a pie, so watch for that in the next couple of weeks. But until then, here’s a simple recipe that is a holiday tradition for many people in the South, but probably even more so in my family because we always have oranges ripening at this time of year.

What is Ambrosia?

“Ambrosia” in Greek mythology means “food of the Gods. Where I come from, it refers to a fruit salad containing oranges pineapple, and coconut, a combination that definitely tastes like the food of the gods! Other ambrosia recipes may contain cream, sour cream, or marshmallows (or all three!), but the version my father makes has always been simple and dairy-free. So vegan ambrosia does not seem unusual to me, but if you’re expecting the heavy, dairy version, you’ll be surprised at how light and tasty this recipe is.

My father, aka “The Perfectionist,” always removes all the membranes from the oranges (also known as “segmenting”) when he makes this; in other words, he cuts out each section from the membrane that divides it from the others. I’m much lazier than that, so I just chop the oranges, membranes and all, and it still tastes great.

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Ambrosia

You'll be amazed at how delicious three simple ingredients can be! Use the freshest oranges possible.

Course Dessert, Salad

Cuisine Gluten-free, Oil-Free, Vegan

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 111 kcal

Author Susan Voisin

Ingredients

• 2 oranges , peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 cups fresh or canned pineapple , chopped
• 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes*

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients well. Refrigerate and let the flavors mingle for at least a day. Serves about 4. Truly nectar of the gods!

Recipe Notes

Use unsweetened coconut to make this “Eat to Live-friendly.”

Nutrition Facts

Ambrosia

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 111 Calories from Fat 19

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 2.1g 3%

Sodium 238mg 10%

Total Carbohydrates 24g 8%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 20g

Protein 1.2g 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I haven’t forgotten my promise to post the sweet potato casserole recipe, so expect it soon.