Spring is the time when Nature’s bounteous colors are in full bloom. It is one season that everyone eagerly waits. And why not?? After all, who doesn’t want to immerse oneself in natural beauty? My garden is ready to burst with some of the best herbs. And so am I….to fire up my barbecue station right next to it. This watermelon and cantaloupe salad is a perfect addition for those barbecue days.
Bidding goodbye to brisk winters, I am ready to welcome warm weather that I have been dreaming of lately. Being from a sunny part of the sub-continental India, I disparaged the abundant sunshine I saw. But now I genuinely value warm sunny days since we hardly get to see the sun here in Toronto. And when we do, we are just so excited and anxious to enjoy those short-lived moments.
What makes Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad such a treat?
The contrasting colors of watermelon and cantaloupe complement each other very well. It is scientifically proven that eating a diverse range of colourful fruits and vegetables is excellent for your overall health. Eating naturally vibrant foods help to uplift your mood and make you feel good. Read more about the benefits of consuming such foods here.
You will love combining these melons in a salad form. Because they taste even better together, rather eating them by itself. Adding herbs and nuts further enhances the taste of these melons. Along with taste and such pleasing looks, who want to miss a healthy treat like this. Not me for sure!! Check out my Watermelon Cooler recipe for more watermelon goodness.
So this recipe is my tribute to this season, which prompts us to be appreciative of having Nature’s charm around us. It is a classic dish to savor with a bottle of wine when we all plan to enjoy outdoor dining. This watermelon and cantaloupe salad pairs up beautifully with any of the main course dishes. But I like it alongside Italian or Mediterranean Cuisine dishes. Remarkably hydrating and refreshing, this is one recipe you ought to try during hot summer months. All you need is melon shovel-er to make your salad look appealing and enticing. You can also try my other watermelon favorite recipe, Watermelon Coolers, that is a healthy thirst quencher.
Keep your face towards the sun, and the shadows will fall behind you.”
Ingredients
- 1 Medium to Small sized Watermelon
- 1 Medium to Small sized Cantaloupe/Musk Melon
- As per your need & prefrence Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 10-15 g Pine Nuts/Choice of Nuts
- As per taste Salt & Pepper
- A handful Choice of Fresh Herbs
Instructions
- Cut open your melons into half and using a melon shovel-er, scoop out the spherical shaped fruit flesh.
- Thoroughly rinse the herbs that you want to use. You can either chop them up finely or roughly. But I just used it as it is without really separating the leaves from the stem.
- Drizzle as much oil as you prefer and top it up with the choice of nuts. (Tip: Pine Nuts go well with this dish.)
- In the end, sprinkle over it some freshly crushed salt and black pepper.
(Optional: You can add chili flakes for a more spicy flavor. Also, you can add feta or ricotta cheese if you like more creamy texture to your salad.)
Enjoy!!
Notes
- Do not discard any of the liquid that is left behind in the fruit. You can either use it in your salad dressing or add to your beverages.
- For herbs, I used Holy Basil, Lemon Balm, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, and Sage. I used little of all the herbs fresh from my garden. But you can use whatever you have or prefer.
