Dairy Free/ Gluten-Free/ Salads/ Vegetarian & Vegan

Melon Cucumber Salad

Serve this refreshing and healthy melon cucumber salad as a delicious salsa or side salad. Quick and easy to make with hints of lime and cilantro.

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Melon and cucumber salad with red onion in a white bowl with a spoon.

Last Updated on April 18, 2022 by Betty Davies

Wonderfully fresh, sweet and tangy, this melon cucumber salad is the perfect refreshing side to enjoy during the warmer weather. Made with red onion, cilantro and lime juice, this salsa works wonderfully with seafood and is great for topping tacos!

Overhead shot of a melon and cumber salad in a white bowl with a spoon, next to a squeezed lime.

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Warmer days are nearly upon us, and this refreshing melon cucumber salad is a must make for this summer. Sweet melon, crunchy cumber and red onion are tossed with fresh lime juice and cilantro for a side salad full of flavor.

Inspired by Mexican salsas, this vibrant recipe is seriously addictive. Sweet and salty it’s a great addition to picnics, BBQs and potlucks. Made from scratch with fresh ingredients, this healthy salad is perfect to enjoy any night of the week.

Be sure to try my Cilantro Cucumber Salad and Cherry Tomato Salsa too!

Why you will love this recipe!

Quick and easy: Just chop up the ingredients and toss everything together to serve. You can whip this up in a matter of minutes.
Make ahead: Once made, this salad will keep well in the fridge, so it’s a great option for a side for a cookout. It also travels well, so it’s great for picnics and potlucks.
Healthy: Full of fresh fruits, veggies and herbs, this is a great healthy option that is low in calories and fats.
Dietary info: This melon cucumber salad is vegan, gluten-free and dairy free, plus you get tonnes of vitamins and minerals!

Melon cucumber salsa served in a white bowl.

Ingredients

Melon: I used honeydew melon for this salad recipe. It has a nice firm flesh and a delicious sweet flavor.
Cucumber: English cucumber adds a wonderfully refreshing taste and doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.
Red Onion: A little chopped red onion adds a nice zing and I love the color it adds to the bowl too.
Cilantro: Chopped cilantro adds a nice herby freshness.
Seasonings: Salt and black pepper. Depending on how sweet your melon is, you may want to add in a little sugar as well.

How to make melon cucumber salad

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Chop the melon, cucumber and red onion and add to a bowl with the other ingredients (photo 1).
Toss everything together til well combined (photo 2).

Two step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

Recipe Variations

This melon cucumber salad is pretty delicious as it is, but you can easily adapt it to suit individual tastes.

If you don’t like the taste of cilantro you can swap it for other fresh herbs like parsley, dill or chives. For a milder onion flavor you can swap the red onion for sliced green onion. Try adding in different seasonings like red pepper flakes or garlic powder, or swap the lime juice for lemon juice for a different flavor. Try adding in some crumbled feta cheese too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use other types of melon?

I like to use honeydew melon for this recipe, but you can use other varieties. Watermelon, cantaloupe or galia will all work great and result in different flavors and textures.

Can you make this without onions?

Sure! I like to use red onions in this recipe, they give a great pop of color and are mild enough to enjoy raw. You can make the onion flavor milder by soaking the chopped red onion in a bowl of water for 10 to 20 minutes first.

How do you stop cucumbers from getting watery?

If you do plan on making this a day or so ahead of serving, you can easily remove excess water from the cucumber. You can remove the seeds by cutting the cucumber in half and using a spoon to scrape out the core. If you like, you can also salt the cucumber once you’ve chopped it.

Chunks of melon and cucumber in a bowl mixed with red onion and cilantro.

Serving Suggestions

This melon cucumber salad is great to serve as a refreshing summer side and it works wonderfully with seafood. It’s also great for topping tacos! Try it alongside these favorite recipes:

Make Ahead and Storage

Once made, this melon cucumber salsa keeps well in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, just keep it covered so that it doesn’t dry out. Some water may pool in the bottom of your container while it sits, but you can easily drain this away to serve.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Dice the cucumber and melon smaller for salsa and larger for a side salad.
I prefer to keep the green skin on the cucumber, but you can remove it if you like.
If you can, allow the salad to sit in the fridge 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors develop.
Taste before serving and add sugar, salt and pepper to taste.

Cucumber red onion salad in a bowl in front of a slice of melon.

Simple, easy and refreshing, this melon cucumber salad tastes like summer! Super quick and easy to make with just a few fresh ingredients, this recipe is a no brainer!

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