How to make a funky fruit platter

Turn a simple fruit platter into something spectacular with these clever ideas.

1. Make the cut

Try cutting fruit into different shapes. Use a melon baller to scoop balls from different coloured melons, then pile into a serving bowl or glasses. Then add tropical fruits with interesting shapes, such as carambola (star fruit), cut into slices, dragon fruit, cut into wedges, or rambutans, halved.

2. Bowl them over

For clever serving bowls for your platter, use fresh coconut halves or hollowed out melon halves, trimming the base of each melon half so it sits flat. For individual bowls, scoop the flesh from
halved oranges, grapefruit or lemons.

3. Pump up the platter

Add pizazz to your platter with decorative extras. To give an exotic touch to a platter of tropical
fruits, use fresh Asian-style flowers, such as orchids. Or for a spring feel, try adding small bunches of fresh herbs, such as mint or basil. A bowl of fresh nuts adds loads of crunch and flavour, too.