Mexican Christmas Salad

This is perfect for a buffet dinner because guests can make their own salads, choosing the ingredients they like best.

INGREDIENTS | SERVES 6

2–6 key limes

1 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons whole milk

1 small head iceberg lettuce

1 medium pineapple or 1 (20-ounce) can sliced pineapple

3 medium oranges

3 small bananas

2 large sweet apples

2 cups canned sliced beets

1⁄2 cup salted, skinless peanuts

  1. Grate 1 tablespoon of peel from the key limes. Squeeze 1⁄4 cup juice from the limes. In a small bowl, mix the lime juice, lime peel, mayonnaise, sugar, and milk.
  2. Slice the lettuce into 1⁄2"-wide strips. If using a fresh pineapple, remove the stem, rind, and core; cut the fruit into 1⁄2"-thick pieces. If using canned pineapple, drain and discard the juice. Peel the oranges and slice thinly. Peel the bananas and slice into 1⁄4" rounds. Core the apples and cut into 1⁄2"-thick wedges. Drain the beets.
  3. Place the bowl of dressing in the middle of a large platter. Arrange the lettuce around the platter. On the lettuce, arrange separate piles of pineapple, oranges, bananas, apples, and beets. Sprinkle peanuts over the fruit.

Lettuce

Different lettuces have very different flavors. Iceberg lettuce tends to be the most mild. Leaf lettuces can be slightly more bitter. Experiment with different types of lettuce or the prepackaged lettuce mixes to find your favorites.