Cucumber Melon Salad with Mint Honey Lime Dressing
This sweet melon salad recipe combines ripe melon (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew) with cool cucumber, feta, and a simple honey lime dressing.
If you’ve been following me here at Blackberry Babe for a while, you know I LOVE to play with my food! My main outlet for creative arranging of food is big spreads like this charcuterie table. Recently, I had an abundance of fresh melon at the house (and refreshing cucumber from a local farmer’s market) and decided to try my hand at a creative melon cucumber salad, perfect for hot summer days!
This yummy recipe is a spin on a juicy watermelon feta salad that I recently tried on vacation. It had a light, sweet and slightly tangy dressing on top, and a bit of cucumber, onion and spring greens mixed in. I honestly could have eaten the whole bowl!
Considering that I had more melons on hand and we all love the flavor of slightly sweet cantaloupe and honeydew melon in my house, I really wanted to work those melons in alongside the watermelon!
Cantaloupe and honeydew are a great addition to a melon salad not only because of the flavor they add, but because of the color they add!
For this delicious salad recipe, I cut the melon, cucumbers and strawberries into cubes, roughly 1-inch pieces. I know that this takes more effort to cut into a specific shape. It took me about 20 minutes to get everything prepped and cut.
But remember, that I have to take photos of my food so I am always motivated to make my food extra pretty! This colorful salad recipe makes a great summer salad NO MATTER HOW you cut your fruit up.
Whether you cut your produce into cubes, melon balls, or different sized pieces, the salad will taste the same. I have to admit that I probably would have preferred to use a melon baller (and it would have saved some time), but I surprisingly don’t have one! But, I’m adding one to my shopping cart as we speak.
Arranging this cantaloupe cucumber salad was very fun and absolutely something your kiddos could help with! I did a mosaic pattern and found that it really helped to start in the center of the platter and move outwards in circles/rings.
For garnish, I used berries, mint sprigs and some edible flowers I had left over from a charcuterie spread I made for a party.
Remember, you have total flexibility with your garnishes! Use whatever berries and herbs you have on hand.
Recipe Substitutions and Additions
This melon salad recipe has plenty of available ingredient substitutions and additions! Here are a few suggestions:
- Use any type of fresh cucumber for this recipe! English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, etc. are fine.
- Don’t have cantaloupe, honeydew and/or watermelon? Don’t worry! Any of these melons can serve as a substitute for another melon! You can do just watermelon, just honeydew, just cantaloupe or any combination of the three.
- Omit the strawberries or substitute with blueberries, blackberries or raspberries!
- Substitute lemon juice, orange juice or apple cider vinegar for the lime juice in the homemade dressing.
- Instead of chunked or crumbled feta cheese, try blue cheese, gorgonzola or goat cheese crumbles or chunks!
- Substitute fresh basil leaves or other fresh herbs for the fresh mint leaves.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing for a kick of spice. You could also add a few splashes of your favorite hot sauce! I think habanero hot sauce would be especially good.
- Add slivers of red onion to the dressing for extra crunch and tang.
- Feel free to add any fruit or veggie you like! Bonus points if you can cut it into a 1-inch cube so it can hang out alongside the rest of the ingredients.
Please note that some watermelon salad recipes call for extra-virgin olive oil in the dressing. You can absolutely add a splash of it to the dressing, but I really don’t think it’s necessary for this recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Fruit salads are a great choice for summer barbecues and gatherings! This delicious cucumber cantaloupe salad will hold up well when it’s hot outside, which makes it a great side dish option for the 4th of July or Labor Day parties.
For a drink, you could pair it with refreshing Cucumber Agua Fresca, Brazilian Limeade, a Cucumber Vodka Martini or my Summer Beer Cocktail!
I think the sweet citrus flavor of the dressing would make this an excellent side dish for dishes like Baked Red Snapper with Spicy Honey Lime Sauce or Sriracha Chicken with Mango Avocado Salsa!
Storing Leftover Melon Salad
Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This melon salad keeps super well! The citrus juice from the lime will keep the salad fresh.
Cucumber Melon Salad with Mint Honey Lime Dressing
Ingredients
- • 1/2 watermelon seedless
- • 1/2 honeydew melon
- • 1 cantaloupe melon
- • 7 ounces feta cheese from a block not pre-cut, OR feta crumbles
- • 1/2 large cucumber
- • 8 large strawberries
- • 8 large radishes
- • 1 large avocado
For the dressing:
- • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- • 1/4 cup honey
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- • small handful fresh mint finely chopped
For garnish (optional):
- • 8 blackberries
- • edible flowers or mint sprigs
Instructions
- Prepare by cutting the produce and feta cheese block into roughly 1-inch cubes. It does not have to be perfect; a little bit of variation adds to the charm! Cutting tips are below in the notes.
- On a large serving tray, arrange the cubes. It is easier to arrange if you start in the middle and work your way out towards the edges of the plate.
- For the dressing, add all of the ingredients into a small bowl. Whisk vigorously to combine, then pour over the top of the salad.
- (Optional) Decorate with your chosen garnish.
- Serve and enjoy!
