Melon, Cucumber and Cherry Tomato Salad

By David Tanis

Published Aug. 4, 2021

Melon, Cucumber and Cherry Tomato Salad
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
5 minutes, plus marinating
Rating
4(493)
Comments
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This is an extremely simple, yet spectacularly refreshing salad, especially when made from height-of-the-season summer produce. Ripe melon mirrors the tomatoes’ sweetness. Cucumber, a relative of melon, gives both crunch and flavor. A handful of basil and mint leaves, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice added just before serving, bring it all together.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings
  • 1small melon, such as cantaloupe or honeydew (about 3 pounds), peeled, seeded and cut into ¾-inch pieces
  • 8ounces cherry tomatoes of different colors, halved
  • 2medium English cucumbers (about 12 ounces), peeled and cut into ¾-inch pieces
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2tablespoons lime juice, plus more to taste
  • Small handful of basil leaves
  • Small handful of mint leaves
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

136 calories; 5 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 20 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 776 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place melon, tomatoes and cucumber in a large salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss well. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice. Toss lightly and leave to marinate for a few minutes and up to 30 minutes, to let the flavors mingle.

  2. Step 2

    Add the basil leaves, tearing larger leaves into pieces, and the mint leaves.

  3. Step 3

    Just before serving, fold the leaves into the salad and toss well. Taste and add a little more lime juice, as needed.

Ratings

4 out of 5
493 user ratings
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Comments

caroistaa

This is just okay, nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe some toasted nuts and/or cheese (feta?) would help really bring this together?

Ann

I wanted to love this one. But I just didn’t like the tomato in this combo. Maybe I used inferior cherry tomatoes. Not sure. But the cantaloupe and cucumber worked well together with the herbs and salt and pepper.

james

Honestly delicious. Went heavy on salt and lime juice and let it sit for 40 minutes before adding herbs and eating with some lemon roasted chicken. Perfectly ripe cantaloupe and sweeter cherry tomatoes - this tasted like summer.

Toby

Nice combination of flavors but this needed considerable doctoring to be good, especially since I had mediocre produce. I added a LOT of basil and mint, which helped. I also added quite a bit more dressing than called for, added some balsamic for more acid and sweetness as my tomatoes weren't very sweet.

Joan

It does take longer than 5 minutes to prep all of these ingredients.

sjb

Delicious! I followed the recipe as written, but added some diced prosciutto to make it a bit hardier. Lovely meal for a 90 degree summer day

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