Cucumber Melon Salad is a colourful, refreshing salad. It's perfect with grilled meats or fish and great for summer picnics and potlucks.
Cucumber Ribbons
As cucumbers start to come on in the garden, I'm always trying to come up with new ways to use them. For this salad, I used a spiralizer to make cucumber "ribbons". I also used a spiralizer to make another cucumber salad: Sunomono Salad. If you don't have a spiralizer, you can also use a vegetable peeler, or, simply slice the cucumbers.
Types of Cucumbers for Salads
There are many different varieties of cucumbers, even one that looks like a lemon! Check out some of them here: Cucumber Varieties However, they all come under two categories: fresh eating cucumbers, and pickling cucumbers. In my garden, I have both, and I grow long English cucumbers for fresh eating. I like them for salads like this one because they are seedless, and you can eat the skin, so you don't need to peel them.
Which Melons to Use
There are three types of melon in this recipe: watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. You can choose to use just one or two and it will still be delicious, but I like the variety of colours and flavours with all three.
Chill the Salad Ingredients
Because this salad needs to be served cold, be sure to chill the cucumber and melons before tossing them together. You can also chill the finished salad once you have put it together. I find it tastes best when eaten immediately, but you can keep it in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
Looking for more summer salads? Try Watermelon Salad with Jalapeno and Bacon, or Strawberry Kale Salad, or Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad.
Cucumber Melon Salad
Equipment
- spiralizer
- melon baller
Ingredients
Pickled Onion
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 red onion small, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 1 English cucumber unpeeled
- I cantaloupe scooped into balls
- 1 honeydew melon scooped into balls
- ½ seedless watermelon small
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoon pickling liquid from the pickled onions
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
Pickled Onion
- Season the onion slices with salt & pepper
- Combine the vinegar and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave 1 minute, stir to dissolve sugar & pour over the onion slices to cover.
- Refrigerate until ready to use
Salad
- Drain the pickled onions, reserving 2 tablespoon of the liquid
- Combine cucumber ribbons, and melon balls, pickled onions, and feta in a large bowl.
- whisk together olive oil and pickling liquid. Pour over salad and toss gently
- Sprinkle with sea salt, and serve immediately
Notes
Nutrition
Sharon
Great tips here!! Chilling the veggies first was a great one. And I loved the cucumber ribbons!! Thanks Colleen for sharing. 🙂
Colleen
You're so welcome Sharon!
Sabrina
This salad is the bomb! So refreshing, the perfect side with grilled steak or chicken, thanks 😋
Colleen
Sabrina, exactly! You are welcome.
Nina
What a beautifully colourful and fresh looking salad! I'll be pinning this!
Colleen
Thanks for pinning, Nina. I can't wait to hear how it turns out for you!
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
So colorful and refreshing on a summer day! I think I am the only one on Earth that cannot stand cucumbers, but Loreto and our family/friends would simply love it.
Colleen
Hi, Nicotta, if you don't like cucumbers, then wrong salad for you, haha. But, I hope Loreto enjoys it 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Like summer on a plate! Love summer salads like this - super easy to whip up and super refreshing! I could eat this one all summer long and never tire of it 🙂 Delish, Colleen!
Colleen
Dawn summer on a plate is a perfect description. I know you're going to love it! Cheers.
Lisa
This looks like the perfect salad to devour with the onset of hot weather! I can just imagine how refreshing it is!
Colleen
Yes, it is, Lisa! I hope you give it a try!
Jessica
Simple, beautiful and I can only imagine a very refreshing salad! So beautiful for the summer season!
Colleen
Hey Jessica, I hope you give it a try this summer! It's a truly refreshing an delicious salad!
Suzy
I love how easy and simple this is but I love flavors of it! Delicious!
Colleen
Suzy, I'm so happy that you loved it! It's such a great salad for summer. Enjoy!
Nicolas Hortense
This right here is perfect summer food! Just a really nice combination, but still a beautifully thought out recipe. Awesome job!
Colleen
Thanks so much, Nicolas! I hope you enjoy it.
Veena Azmanovv
Colorful, healthy and amazing combinations. Love to have some for a party platter.
Colleen
Hi Veena! You're right, this is a great salad to have out for a party.
Alina | Cooking Journey Blog
I don't like onions in salad, that's why I use mild shallots a lot. But your idea of pickling onion may change my mind! I love the combination of cucumber and melon, that's the summer dish we all want on a hot day..
Colleen
Hi Alina, I think the pickled red onion added another great flavour element to this salad, but you could leave it out or use shallots, too.
Noelle
What a refreshing summer salad! Loved all the flavors
Colleen
Hi Noelle! So happy you loved it. It really is a refreshing salad!
Saima
Oh, how I love this cool summer salad! It is so colorful and refreshing, I can almost imagine popping a few of those melons and cucumber in my mouth right now! Your pictures do full justice to the recipe too.
Colleen
Hi Saima! Thank you so much, and please do make this salad. It's so perfect for summer.