Cantaloupe Summer Salad

This cantaloupe salad features a mixture of sweet and savoury ingredients and comes with a refreshing lime and mint dressing. Perfect for a summer BBQ and ready in minutes. 

See also strawberry and spinach salad.

This cantaloupe salad is a colourful summer dish, easy to make and perfect for entertaining.

The cantaloupe, also known in various parts of the world as rockmelon, sweet melon or spanspek has a mild, sweet, delicious flavour, which makes it easy to pair with a wide range of ingredients both sweet and savoury, including fruit as well as vegetables. Cantaloupe is also packed with nutrients, high in vitamins and minerals.

This easy salad with cantaloupe contains creamy avocado and a handful of fresh blueberries for a truly summery feel. I served it on a bed of spinach with freshly chopped mint leaves and chives and an easy lime dressing.

How to prepare the cantaloupe

I used a melon baller to prepare the cantaloupe (as well as the avocado). The melon baller is very easy to use and there is no need to peel the ingredients so the salad comes together very quickly. Simply cut the cantaloupe and avocado in half, remove the seeds and scoop out the pulp.

That said it's absolutely fine to slice or chop the ingredients into chunks if you prefer.  

Cantaloupe salad ingredients and substitutions

• Cantaloupe: use either European or North American variety.
• Spinach: you can use arugula/rocket or Boston lettuce instead if preferred.
• Avocado: fresh cucumber is a good alternative.
• Blueberries: you can use dried sweetened cranberries instead.
• Fresh herbs: I used chives and mint, but cilantro/coriander will also work.
• Vegetable oil: you can use another neutral tasting oil, such as grapeseed.
• Lime: use both the juice and zest.
• Honey: use maple syrup instead.
• Salt and pepper: bring all the flavours together.

What vegetables pair well with cantaloupe

Cantaloupe pairs well with the following vegetables (which you can also use in this salad):

• Cucumber
• Cherry tomatoes
• Red pepper
• Red onion

Assembling salad with cantaloupe

1.Make dressing: Combine the lime juice and zest with the oil and honey. Add some chili flakes for added heat and vinegar for more acidity (as an option). Set aside.

2. Assemble salad: Scatter the spinach over a large plate/shallow bowl. Arrange the cantaloupe, avocado and blueberries over the top. Garnish with the chopped herbs, pour over the dressing, season to taste and serve.

Serving suggestions

This simple cantaloupe salad is delicious with my easy lime dressing, but you can also serve it with blueberry vinaigrette or redcurrant sauce. Delicious on its own or with crusty bread, grilled chicken or sausages.

Optional ingredients

• Feta or goat's cheese for added savouriness (see also beet salad with feta).
• Garlic: add to the dressing.
• Pancetta.
• Roasted cashews.

Top tips

• You can slice or chop the cantaloupe and avocado, alternatively use a melon baller.
• I recommend using baby spinach as it's tastier and a little sweeter than regular spinach.
• This cantaloupe salad is especially delicious with pink himalayan salt which tastes a little sweet.
• You can prepare the dressing in advance, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Best served immediately.

More salads with fruit to try next

• Chickpea Avocado Grapefruit Salad
• Quinoa Roasted Fruit Salad
• Vegetarian Pomelo Salad
• Blueberry Salad with Zucchini
• Mango Avocado Salsa

See also these other easy salad recipes!

Recipe

Keep in touch

If you make this cantaloupe salad recipe I'd love to know how it turns out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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