Fresh fruit platters and fruit trays don’t have to be boring and lifeless. There are many ways to make them look extraordinary and elicit those “wow” moments! We give you the ultimate fruit platter presentation ideas and how to put them together.
Make fancy kiwi flowers with 2 green kiwis and 2 gold kiwis. Lay the kiwi fruit flat on the chopping board. Using a paring knife, pierce the kiwi at an angle right in the middle of the fruit. When the knife goes through the flesh, ensure it hits the bottom of the chopping board so that you know it’s cut right through. Do the same again, at the same angle about 2 cm apart. Continue this all the way around the fruit.
When you have completed one round, turn the knife and cut through in the opposite angle between the 2 initial cuts in the opposite direction. Essentially what you’re doing is creating a zigzag pattern all the way around the fruit. Once you have done so, pull the 2 ends apart.
Slice the remaining kiwi fruit about 1.5cm to 2cm thick.
Use a cookie cutter and cut out a shape for half of those wheels. Separate the wheel with the cut out and the actual cut out fruit.
Separate the wheel with the cut out and the actual cut out fruit.
For the remaining wheels, use a very small cookie cutter to cut out one shape in the middle.
Insert the green kiwi cut out shape into the gold kiwi wheel.
Rest of The Fruit
Peel all the mandarins and leave them as a whole fruit. Using a small sharp knife, peel off all the piths.
Slice 1 blood orange into large wheels. Cut the remaining 2 blood oranges into wedges.
Cut the passionfruit in half.
Slice half the strawberries into a fan shape. Hold the strawberry at the stem. Using a small sharp knife, slice the strawberries from one end to another, without cutting through to the top. Spread out the cut slices so it looks like a fan.For the remaining half of the strawberries, cut them in half (or thirds if they are big) and using a cookie cutter, cut out shapes. We will not be using the outer part of the strawberry.
Thinly slice the apples and pears. Place the slices in a small mixing bowl of salted water to stop it from turning brown. Pat dry when you’re ready to use.
Discard the skin and seeds of the cantaloupe. Cut in half lengthwise and slice thinly.
For the yellow watermelon, cut it in half. For the first half use the larger cookie cutter to cut out shapes. For the second half, slice them into large triangles with the rind still on as you normally would.
Assembly
Place the large triangles of yellow watermelon on the flat platter to form the base of the fruit platter.
Fill the spaces between the watermelon with the larger fruits such as blood orange wedges, cantaloupe slices, kiwi flowers and passionfruit halves.
Place the rest of the fruit evenly across the platter. Ensure the fruits are spread out evenly for colour, texture and aesthetics. Sprinkle the smaller cut out fruit and blueberries on top.
Video
Notes
You can of course use any fruit you wish to create this fresh fruit platter. This was just a way for us to show you how you can use different shapes and sizes to create a decorative fruit platter.
Blood oranges can be substituted with regular oranges.
Yellow watermelon can be substituted with red watermelon.
Cantaloupe can be substituted with any other melon in particular Canary melon and Piel de Sapo melon.
Flowers are of course optional but they sure do elevate that fruit platter. You can find edible flowers at any fine food grocer or you can even order them online. Of course, you can also leave them out, and instead, add candy, chocolate, decorative sprinkles and even cookies!