Travel to the Caribbean any day of the year with this delicious, fruit-filled garden salad.
Sweet fruit, slightly spicy red onions and bright lemon juice are the secret to this wildly easy and delicious salad. Inspired by a family vacation we took back in 1985, my mom has been making this salad ever since. This is definitely one of those recipes that I can’t believe I haven’t shared on The Lemon Bowl before!
If you’re not familiar with Tortola, it is the largest, most populated island of the British Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. I was only 4 years old at the time so I don’t have many memories of the vacation but I love hearing the stories whenever my mom prepares this salad.
That’s the great thing about food, it is a great way to make travel memories last for years and years. Now that I have a 2 year old and a 5 month old, I give major props to my parents for making this trip when my little sister was just 3 months old!
I love the fact that we can make this Caribbean Salad without ever stepping foot on an airplane and immediately we are transported back to the island of Tortola.
What foods do you make to bring back travel memories? I would love to hear from you.
Your fork is waiting.
- 6 cups romaine - roughy chopped
- 1 medium banana - sliced in rounds
- 1 orange - peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ medium red onion - thinly sliced
- ¼ cup minced parsley
- juice of one lemon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup minced parsley - optional garnish
- Place romaine in a large salad bowl and top with sliced bananas, orange pieces, red onion and parsley.
- Drizzle with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss well before serving.
Want more delicious salad ideas? Explore these incredible recipes put together for the Food Networks #SensationalSides Party!
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Red or Green: Green Salad with Grilled Salmon, Avocado and Tortilla Chips
The Sensitive Epicure: Strawberry Spring Salad with Cilantro Flowers
Virtually Homemade: Thai Beef Salad
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FN Dish: Get Your Leafy Greens
What a refreshing salad. Thank you Liz.
My pleasure Liz!
I haven’t been to the Caribbean in years either but I still have fond memories of the food. So funny, just had a salad the other night with bananas for the first time – it was absolutely delicious – can’t believe I’ve never tried it before. Going to make your salad for sure!
You did?? Too funny – small world on the bananas in salads!!
I have seen a lot of fruit in salads before, but never bananas! I just know I’d love that hit of sweet amongst all the savory.
It’s totally balanced and tasty!!
What a sweet little salad. I like lettuce/greens and fruit together. But you know I am thinking this is the first time I have seen bananas mixed in. I love your story of it being a family recipe and when/how it became part of family lore. Very enjoyable.
Thank you so much for reading!
I’d like to experience the caribbean…and this salad looks like the perfect way to do so! Super cute post 🙂
You and me both!!
What a fresh and delicious idea Liz. I love that you have been eating this recipe since you were a kid. I am sure my daughters would love it!
It’s a really fun salad for kids to see their favorite fruit at the dinner table!
This salad looks so refreshing on a nice warm day! I’ve never added bananas to my salads before but I will give it a try! This looks delicious!
Let me know what you think!
Love the red onion in the salad. Looks so inviting and fresh.
This post literally warmed my heart, went to Tortola and every Island there for my honeymoon and loved it! And for our first anniversary we went back to all the B.V.I.
Then we had kids and took a very different (but fun =) trip…..the no sleep kind!
Good think they’re so darn cute.
I love that you’ve been to Tortola!! I haven’t been back since but miss it so much!!
So light and perfect for spring!
Thanks Meredith!!
This is the perfect summer salad!
Thank you Christine!!
This looks so fresh and delicious – just perfect for the upcoming hot summer days!!!
Thanks so much Robyn!