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July 7, 2023

Avocado and Melon Salad

An effortless and fresh melon and avocado salad for those hot summer days. It’s a beautiful dish to serve for guests or just to have around for easy lunches during the week.

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avocado and melon salad with fresh basil and drizzled with homemade dressing on a serving platter
Photography by Gayle McLeod

Melon Salad

Slicing and dressing, that’s the most work you’ll be doing for this fresh melon and avocado salad! We like to serve this refreshing salad with just about everything, and it’s especially good with flavors from the grill. Pair it with Grilled Curry Chicken with Smashed Cucumber Salad or Pork Banh Mi Burgers for a perfect summer meal.

cantaloupe, avocado, basil, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt in prep bowls

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Fresh Melon Salad

  • Cantaloupe or honeydew melon – The melon looks most elegant scooped with a melon baller, or you can cut it into bite-sized cubes with a sharp kitchen knife.

  • Avocado – Look for a large and firm (but not hard!) avocado. We think avocado looks best thinly sliced for this salad, but you could also scoop it out by the spoonful for a natural look. Check out our Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado recipe for more tips on choosing avocados.

  • Fresh basil leaves – No need to cut! We’re using the entire leaf.

  • White wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil – White wine vinegar is a delicate way to add an acidic element to this dish.

  • Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes – Just a little flourish of heat for this juicy fruit salad, but it’s totally optional if you don’t like spice!

vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, pepper, and salt in a glass bowl
dressing made with vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, pepper, and salt being whisked together in a bowl.

How To Make Melon And Avocado Salad

  • Slice. Prepare the melon with a melon baller or knife. Cut the avocado.

  • Dress. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, pepper, and salt.

  • Serve. Layer the cantaloupe, avocado and basil on a serving platter and drizzle with the dressing. Sprinkle with the flaky salt to taste.

avocado and melon salad with fresh basil and drizzled with homemade dressing on a serving platter

How to Store Fresh Melon Salad + Tips

  • Once sliced, avocado doesn’t last long. If you’re preparing this in advance, wait until just before serving to slice the avocado.

  • Sliced melon stays nice and crunchy for a few days, so you can prepare the melon in advance and have it ready for this salad. Whole unsliced melon is good for a few weeks in the fridge.

  • We don’t recommend freezing this salad–it’s best eaten with a couple days of preparation.

  • If you have watermelon on hand, you can substitute that in for the melon component.

avocado and melon salad with fresh basil and drizzled with homemade dressing on a serving platter
avocado and melon salad with fresh basil and drizzled with homemade dressing on a serving platter

More Fresh Salad Recipes From The Modern Proper

Let’s Make All The Summer Salads!

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Avocado and Melon Salad

  • Serves: 4
  • Prep Time:  15 min
  • Cook Time:  0 min
  • Calories: 206

Ingredients

  • ½ cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups balled or cubed cantaloupe or honeydew melon
  • 1 large avocado, thinly sliced
  • 10 to 12 fresh basil leaves
  • Flaky salt, for serving

Method

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, pepper, and salt.

  2. Layer the cantaloupe, avocado and basil on a serving platter and drizzle with the dressing. Sprinkle with the flaky salt to taste.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories206
  • Protein1 g
  • Carbohydrates18 g
  • Total Fat16 g
  • Dietary Fiber4 g
  • Cholesterol0 mg
  • sodium162 mg
  • Total Sugars13 g

Avocado and Melon Salad

Questions & Reviews

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  • Jenn

    As delicious as it was beautiful. Will definitely show this off to company next time.

    Thanks Jenn!