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This Melon Salad with Prosciutto combines fresh honeydew and cantaloupe melon, veggies, prosciutto, and mozzarella with a refreshing mint apple cider vinaigrette. Packed with sweet and savory flavors, it’s the perfect addition to your summer table!
Quick to make, this melon prosciutto salad is gluten-free, grain-free, and nut-free.
The Best Prosciutto Melon Salad
I’m a huge fan of fresh melon, especially in the summer, and often put it to use in recipes like my watermelon salad and watermelon juice. However, one of my favorite ways to switch things up is with this melon prosciutto salad!
Sweet, salty, tangy, and creamy all at once, it’s so delicious, and the flavors just scream summer. There’s so much going on in such a good way! The vibrant mint really takes the flavor over the top, and the homemade dressing ties the whole thing together.
Made with simple ingredients and ready to serve in minutes, this recipe is the perfect appetizer for all your summer parties. Or, enjoy it as a light meal with a side or two. No matter what, it’s sure to leave you full and satisfied!
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
*Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list!
Dressing
- Oil: Extra virgin olive oil forms the base of the dressing, creating a smooth consistency and adding a boost of healthy fats.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This gives the dressing an extra kick.
- Maple Syrup: I use this to add a touch of sweetness without the need for refined sugar. If preferred honey will also work.
- Dijon Mustard: This adds depth and enhances the tangy taste.
- Mint: Use fresh mint leaves to add a vibrant, refreshing taste and tie the flavor of the dressing in with the salad.
- Salt and Pepper: Use as little or as much as you like!
Salad
- Shallot: This adds a sweet, pungent flavor. Onions will also work, but they have a slightly stronger taste.
- Arugula: We use this as the base of the salad, but you can use any greens you like best.
- Melon: Fresh cantaloupe and honeydew add lots of color, nutrients, and a sweet, refreshing taste.
- Fresh Mozzarella Balls: These add a creamy consistency and savory, salty flavor. Feel free to experiment with any cheese you like best! Feta cheese makes a great substitution.
- Avocado: Fresh avocado contributes to the creamy texture and adds even more healthy fats.
- Mint: Don’t skip these! They tie all the ingredients together, creating a sweet, vibrant flavor.
Health Benefits of Melons
Obviously they’re delicious, but fresh melons are also full of health benefits, too! For instance, fresh melons are:
- Low in calories and fat
- An excellent source of vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin A
- A good source of fiber
How to Make This Easy Melon Salad Recipe
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk all the salad dressing ingredients until smooth. Adjust the seasonings as needed.
- Assemble the salad: Arrange all the salad ingredients on a serving platter, or transfer them to a large bowl. Then, drizzle half of the prepared dressing on top.
- Serve: Enjoy your salad right away, and serve the remaining dressing on the side!
How to Clean Melons
Make sure to clean your melons before you start cutting them! While we aren’t eating the skins, they can contain harmful germs that cling to the knife and transfer to the fruit flesh as you cut.
To eliminate this risk, simply scrub the melons with a vegetable brush and warm water just like you would clean potatoes. Then, pat them dry, and slice! Or, use a melon baller to create fun shapes with the different types of melons.
FAQs
Once assembled, this melon salad is best served right away. However, you can prepare the different components in advance!
Whisk the dressing, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Then, slice the fruit, sprinkle it with lemon juice or lime juice, and store it in a separate container for up to 3-5 days. When you’re ready to eat, just combine all the ingredients, and your salad will be ready in minutes.
I love to serve this recipe as an appetizer with main courses like 3-ingredient Dijon salmon and grilled chicken thighs. However, it’s also great as a main course with a side of gluten-free garlic bread!
Feel free to mix and match any ingredients you like best. Some of my favorite additions include pickled red onions, chopped pistachios, chopped almonds, and cucumber.
More Summer Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Tomato Cucumber Salad with Crispy Chickpeas (& Green Yogurt Dressing)
- Gluten-Free BLT Pasta Salad
- Watermelon Ahi Tuna Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- TikTok Cucumber and Sweet Pepper Salad
- My Go-To Potuck Sweet Cucumber Salad
Melon Salad with Prosciutto
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey add more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard more to taste
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped mint
- big pinch of salt and big pinch of pepper
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 cups fresh arugula
- 1 cantaloupe sliced into half moons or cubed
- 1 honeydew melon diced
- 1 8- ounce container small mozzarella balls
- 15-20 slices prosciutto
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/4 cup mint leaves thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 3 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey, 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon finely chopped mint, big pinch of salt and big pinch of pepper, 1 shallot
- Assemble all salad ingredients on a serving platter.2 cups fresh arugula, 1 cantaloupe, 1 honeydew melon, 1 8- ounce container small mozzarella balls, 15-20 slices prosciutto, 1 avocado, 1/4 cup mint leaves
- Drizzle 1/2 of dressing over salad right before serving serve with more dressing on the side!
I’m especially interested in trying the Rubbermaid Freshwork containers for clamshell greens (like arugula or other greens called for in this recipe). Seems they easily hold moisture and go bad before I can eat a package.
Avocado or no avocado?
Would love to try some new storage containers!
OMG! This is a perfect combo! Italian meets healthy! I love prosciutto! What brand do you use because I sometimes find it hard to find good quality? Thanks for posting this!
I hate wasting food, but I often do since my berries and greens (such as salad mixes) spoil so fast. I would definetly use these for lettuce, berries, and my herbs, which are allready coming from the garden!
This salad looks amazing! One I must try!
Wow! I love that these containers extend the life of produce, that sounds like something I need in my kitchen. I lose too much fruit and veggies due to spoilage. These containers sound awesome!
I’d like to try these containers to keep fresh herbs, berries, and lettuce fresh longer. I hate throwing food away.
Wow, these containers sound amazing!!! And the salad looks delish. You can’t go wrong with prosciutto and mozzarella. Ever.
I love loading my summer salads with fresh fruit. What a great combination!
Looks delicious! I have a few parties coming up I definitely will try this. Thank you!
I’d love to try these out! I’m always looking for ways to extend the life of my greens!
Oh my gosh this salad looks so fresh and “spring-like”!! I can totally see enjoying this outside with friends, or for Mother’s Day!!
What a great idea. I’m going look for these the next time I’m at the store. We waste so much food that goes bad before we get a chance to eat it.
I am not familiar with these storage containers, but like the concept. Perfect for the all of the fresh veg, fruit and herbs coming from our garden soon! Thanks for sharing!
What a great combination! Can’t wait to try this. I’m going to have to look for these containers too. It’s such a bummer to discard salad greens, berries, etc. just because I couldn’t eat them fast enough.
Rubbermaid has a genius way to keep our foods fresh – they keep upping their game! I’m going to need 2 or 3 sets for the summer produce we love
I need these to keep my salad fresh! I’m so tired of it spoiling quickly!
YES. They are so perfect!
Have all the ingredients in the fridge now. This will be dinner for tomorrow. The containers sound amazing, I hate throwing fresh produce out because it spoiled before I used it all. Hate the waste!!
I so agree!! ENJOY!
These would really come in handy when my garden starts to produce strawberries and raspberries!
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