When people think of dried fruits, fruit cake and raisins usually come to their minds. However, there is a whole world out there of lesser-known but healthy dried fruits that can make your diet easy, convenient, and delicious!
Finding ways to use bulk dried fruits is of great importance. Yes, dried fruit is good for snacking, but you can make so much more using dried fruit. Let’s look at seven ways in which you can incorporate dried fruits into any meal:
1. Fix-Up Salads
Dried fruit is a wonderful addition to salads. It provides an extra punch of summer flavor any time of the year. Dried blueberries and cherries are super delicious and pair very well with green salads. On the other hand, dried cranberries and raisins go well with tuna and chicken salad mixes, along with chopped nuts and seeds.
2. Add to Smoothies
Dried fruit can make your smoothies instantly more refreshing and healthy! Besides fresh fruit, juice, milk, yogurt, and ice, dried fruits add the extra flavor you need to make your mornings better. They provide a thicker texture and additional levels of flavor to smoothies. Consider combining dried blueberries and cherries with tropical fruit smoothies such as mango, pineapple, and banana for a delightful beverage.
3. Make Energy Bites and Baked Goods
Dried fruits bits can add intense flavor to all types of baked goods such as cookies, energy bites, bread, scones, and muffins. The best part is that you don’t have to alter the basic recipes of all of these items. You can just throw in a handful of dried fruits in the mix and bake away!
One of our favorite concoctions using dried fruit is a cherry pie that uses a combination of fresh and dried cherries, adding a lot of texture and flavor. We recommend using a mixture of bulk dried fruits for a lovely, homemade pie that is very easy to whip up in today’s modern kitchens.
4. Use as Sugar Substitutes
If you are trying to cut back on sugar to get your health on the right track, use dried fruit as a substitute! Dried dates, in particular, have become very popular in sugar-free and paleo baking because they have a natural sweetness that adds a lovely, mild flavor to dishes.
The right way to use dried fruits like dates in desserts is to blend them into a paste and then combine them with the rest of the ingredients. You can also use this blended paste as a layer between cakes or top parfaits, smoothie bowls, and even ice cream!
5. Spread Out as Jam
Creating delicious jams using dried fruits from BULK is an easy process. All you need to do is boil these premium dried fruits in some water or a bit of juice and add just a touch of sugar. We recommend using apricots and peaches because they combine nicely with water and sugar and make a lovely glaze for chicken and pork dishes.
If you want an amazing spread for your morning toast, combine dried figs with lemons and walnuts. This delightful conserve pairs pretty well with toast and even cheese! Dried cranberry raisin jam is also a great idea if you want to make many Thanksgiving giveaways or gifts for your loved ones.
6. Serve on a Charcuterie Board
A DIY charcuterie board with nuts, jams, cheeses, meats, crackers, toasted bread, and dried fruit can add color to your table and serve as one large shareable appetizer. Everyone loves a good cheese platter, and no platter is complete without dried fruit.
Take a party-sized platter and fill it with all your favorite items, including dried fruits such as peaches, apricots, and berries. You can also buy bulk nuts online to make your platter extra special. Whether you have company over or want to enjoy the weekend on your own, relaxing on your couch, you can’t go wrong with this platter!
7. Add to Cereals or Trail/Granola Mixes
One of our favorite things to do using dried fruits and nuts from BULK is to make chopped dried fruit snacks full of energy, such as cereal, trail mixes, and granola mixes. You can use all kinds of dried fruits to dress up cold and hot cereals. You can also throw in some pecans and coconut for a delightful granola mix that is best enjoyed with yogurt.
Final Words
Adding dried fruits can take any recipe from good to great. For creative cooking and added flavor, use bulk dried fruits as creating your favorite dishes with dried fruit will allow you to keep your dishes interesting. It will enable you to tap into combinations that work the best for you and make your taste buds the happiest!
