my( @found ) = grep { ( ref $fruit{ $_ } eq 'ARRAY' ? (grep { $_ eq $search } @{ $fruit{ $_ } } ) : $fruit{$_} eq $search ) } keys %fruit;
##</code><code>##

my( @found ) = grep { grep $_ eq $search, @{ $fruit{ $_ } } } keys %fruit;

##</code><code>##

my %fruits = (
  apple  => { red => 1, green => 1 }, 
  kiwi   => { green => 1 },
  banana => { yellow => 1 }
);