Fruit is always a popular light and refreshing dessert choice after a good meal and best of all, it usually needs very little dressing up.

Today’s fruity combination is a typical example of how to do things the easy, tasty way.

I always try to use fruit that is in season and right now the mangoes we are getting are terrific so we should take advantage while they are still around.

To add to the fun we will boost the mango flavour with watermelon and freshly squeezed lime and add in a few litchis, but generally one can supplement the mango and watermelon with a variety of other fruit, particularly berries.

I always manage to spill just a little oopsie or two in my fruit desserts and for this recipe Cointreau just begs to join the party. What’s more it forms a pleasant contrast to the sharpness of the fresh lime juice.

To prepare four portions of  today’s dessert you need:

Ingredients

½ watermelon, cubed

1 large mango, sliced

16 litchis, peeled

For the syrup:

1 tot of Cointreau liqueur

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla essence

Juice of one lime (or lemon, if you can’t find lime)

½ cup water

Method

Divide the fruit into four dessert bowls.

For the syrup:

In a saucepan pour the syrup ingredients except for the lime juice, and stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved.

Remove from heat, stir in the lime juice and set aside to cool.

When ready to serve, pour the syrup over the fruit.