Melon Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette is a delicious marinated fruit salad with the addition of seedless mini cucumbers and fresh herbs. Another delicious summer fruit salad can be found here.
Why You Will Love This Salad…
- It is basically just three ingredients plus the vinaigrette!
- The title doesn’t hint that this is a marinated salad because it was getting way too long and complicated. But, the cucumber and cantaloupe are marinated overnight with the honey-lime vinaigrette and cilantro or mint(optional). Marinating these two items together with the vinaigrette makes this recipe so good and takes it to a completely different level of delicious.
- Guys… this is better than ice cream on a really hot day and healthier! Freeze for 10-15 minutes before eating, sprinkle with a few fresh berries, and you have a refreshing ice-cold snack!
How To Make The Honey-Lime Vinaigrette
This vinaigrette is what makes this a “salad” 😁. And it is easy to make by just adding all of the ingredients to a blender. I will say to use some caution and taste as you go because the lime juice and white balsamic vinegar can make this a lot too tart very quickly. I will add a little extra honey or even a splash of pineapple juice when needed, and marinating overnight allows the flavors to blend and mellow out as well.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Raspberries are so delicious in this salad but they do not hold up very well. I would recommend adding them just before eating or substituting blueberries. They are so good as well and hold up longer.
- This is a very versatile recipe with lots of add-in or substitution options. Some options are:
- watermelon
- honeydew
- blackberries
- cherries
- strawberries
- grapes
- I like to use watermelon, honeydew, and blackberries together. It is so pretty and delish!
Melon Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette
An icy cold side summer side dish with cantaloupe, seedless mini cucumbers, raspberries or blueberries. The delicious vinaigrette brings it all together as well as a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
Servings 10
Ingredients
- 2 small cantaloupes, make balls with melon ball scoop or chop into small chunks
- 4-5 mini seedless cucumbers, sliced
- 4 cups fresh raspberries or blueberries
- 1/4 cup fresh mint or cilantro, minced
Honey-Lime Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4-1/2 cup fresh lime juice, to taste
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tsp salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup white wine balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Assemble prepared cantaloupe and cucumbers to a large bowl with a airtight lid.
- Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a blender and blend well. Taste and adust ingredients as needed for sweetness/tartness.
- Pour vinaigrette over the cantaloupe and cucumbers tossing to combine. Cover the bowl with the lid and refrigerate overnigt.
- Right before serving toss to coat, add the berries and sprinkle with chopped fresh mint or cilantro.