Tropical Fruit Salad with Lemongrass Simple Syrup : Marketing Florida Agriculture

Fruit-5032

Ingredients
2	mangoes
1	pineapple
1	papaya
3	oranges
1 cup	sweetened, shredded coconut
1 pint	strawberries
2	carambolas
1 small bunch	fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup	lemongrass syrup (see below)
2	lemons sliced

Preparation
Peel and cut mangoes, pineapple, papaya, oranges, carambola, and strawberres into bite size pieces, store in mixing bowl. Finely chop half of the mint, add the mint and the coconut to the fruit , toss with 1/4 cup of lemongrass syrup or to taste. Garnish with remainder of mint leaf, lemon slices and serve chilled. Yield 12 servings
Simple Syrup
3 cups	sugar
3 cups	water
	(to flavor with lemongrass, add 1 cup smashed and chopped lemongrass)

Preparation
In a saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Add lemongrass and boil until sugar is completely dissolved, stirring constantly. Pour through fine mesh strainer to remove any debris. Cool syrup completely. Syrup may be made 1 week ahead, left chilled and covered.