I have the perfect thing to ease us back into the week on this Monday morning.
It’s healthy. Refreshing. Delicious. Pretty! AND SO STINKING EASY.
So easy, in fact, that I’m almost embarrassed to share this recipe with you. I know easy is always a good thing in our busy lives, but sometimes, in the blogger world, sharing things that are “too simple” doesn’t really make you stand out. Or maybe it does? I’m still figuring all that out.
Regardless of my blogger worries/hold-ups, I knew that this was something I wanted to share with you all. This melon salad came together sort of my accident, but it was a darn happy accident, for sure.
I always overbuy when it comes to fruit. As soon as spring produce starts showing up at my local store, I kinda go berserk. I buy way too much of it. My fridge crisper drawers are practically busting open with greens, zucchini, berries, cherries, and melons. Yup. Melons with an S. Plural. Like I said, I tend to go a little overboard. Especially considering that neither my husband nor my son eats melon. Heh.
There are worse things, though. Having too much food in my fridge is definitely something I need to stop complaining about. For reals. I just have a hard time coming up with ways to use it all up! It’s overwhelming at times. #firstworldproblemos
After I come down from my produce shopping high, I often have a moment of “Whoops. I did it again. Now what?” And that’s exactly how this melon salad came to be.
I had a ton of limes, two melons rapidly approaching the too ripe stage, and a planter on my back patio practically overflowing with fresh mint (seriously don’t know what I am going to do with all the mint, guys. I planted way too much and have made more batches of mojitos and mint simple syrup than I care to admit. HELP!). The wheels started turning, and before I knew it, I was throwing this delicious dish together.
The sweetness and juiciness of the melon paired with the tang of the lime juice and the fresh bite of the mint is just…perfection. It really, really is. it is truly simplicity at its finest!
Fresh melon is probably my most consumed food during the summer, and I could easily house an entire batch of this melon salad in a matter of hours. It’s incredibly refreshing and light and goes well on the side of just about anything. Or in a big bowl all by itself. Which is how I ate the majority of this salad. I think I ate it for breakfast and again for snack for like three days straight. So good.
And while this dish has “mojito” in the title, there’s no actual booze in the recipe. All the flavors of a good mojito are present, but it’s safe for consuming before noon and with children. Hah.
I could TOTALLY see this being a fun party thing, though. Splash in a couple glugs of rum or vodka and call it a day.
Oooo, coconut rum would be delicious here! See? The wheels are still turning. Always.
Mojito Melon Salad
- Yield: roughly 6-8 cups of salad (depending on the size of your melons) 1x
Ingredients
- 1 small seedless watermelon, cut into cubes or scooped into balls
- 1 cantaloupe melon, seeded, and cut into cubes or scooped into balls
- Juice and zest of 2 limes
- 2–3 teaspoons honey or agave nectar (to taste and optional)
- Tiny pinch of fine sea salt
- ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
Instructions
- Combine the two melons in a large serving bowl.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together the lime juice, zest, honey (if using), and salt. Stir in half of the mint. Taste the dressing for sweetness (the amount of honey you need will really depend on your taste/the sweetness of your melon. See NOTES below).
- Pour the dressing over the fruit and toss to combine everything. Garnish with remaining mint and chill until you are ready to serve. This will keep in the fridge for a few days. I like it SUPER COLD, straight out of the fridge.
NOTES:
- I didn’t use the honey in my dressing because the melons were both super sweet. I didn’t think it needed any added sweetness, but feel free to adjust the recipe to your tastes! More lime juice for higher acidity or more honey for sweetness – whatever works for you!
- Also, feel free to add or swap in honeydew. I personally don’t like honeydew as much as watermelon/cantaloupe so I skipped it. It sure would look pretty here, though!
Caitlin - Simply Caitlin C says
Molly – this looks sooo refreshing! Love the taste of a mojito but don’t always want the alcohol with it. This is the perfect solution! And who doesn’t like melon on melon in the summer 🙂
Molly says
Thanks, Caitlin!