• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Coley Cooks
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Casseroles
    • Chicken + Poultry
    • Cookies + Bars
    • Drinks
    • Frozen Treats
    • Pasta + Risotto
    • Pies + Tarts
    • Meat
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Snacks
    • Soups + Stews
    • Starchy Sides
    • Vegetable Sides
    • Vegetarian Main
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy
×

Home » Recipes » Gluten Free

Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta and Mint

Published: Aug 15, 2017 · Modified: Feb 20, 2021 by Coley · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe

This incredibly refreshing Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta + Mint is loaded with crisp cucumber, sweet summer cantaloupe, and salty chards of feta cheese. Simplicity at it's best!

This simple melon and cucumber salad is hands down my favorite dish of the summer. It's crisp and sweet and juicy and salty and I just can't seem to get enough of it right now.

August is a funny month, and that's why I love it. Feelings of anxiety and relief start overlapping in the strangest way. The days are noticeably shorter, the weather a bit cooler, and we feel pressured to do all the summering we can for the next three weeks, because after that, it's all over until next year. Let's sip rose on the deck, dine al fresco, lounge on the beach, linger in the late daylight, smell the flowers, bask in the humid air, and eat all of the summer produce.

A large salad bowl with cucumber melon and fresh herbs.Salad servers in a large serving bowl with cucumber melon salad.

And there is SO much produce to be eaten. If only our big harvest season could be spaced throughout the year. Like, one month we could have tomatoes, then the next month eggplant, and after that zucchini, then cucumbers, etc., etc. But instead, at least here in New Jersey, it all comes barreling in at once. There's a lot of pressure to use up every last bit and enjoy it all right now. It's not ideal, but it's part of what makes late summer so special.

I'm really into melons right now, which I realize is a fairly nerdy statement to make. I've given up on growing them this year, since they always take over the garden and never seem to produce anything worth eating. Instead, I seek them out like a mad woman at farmers markets, giving each one a good visual exam and a strong sniff before I make my selection. A nice, ripe melon should smell sweet and fruity. It should feel heavy for it's size and it shouldn't feel hard as a rock. Pretty much any sweet summer melon will work nicely in this salad, but I've really been feeling the cantaloupe lately.

Top view of a serving bowl with cucumber melon salad topped with feta and mint.Salad servers in a large bowl of cucumber melon salad topped with feta and mint.

Not only have the cantaloupes been especially flavorful this year, the contrasting orange hue gives such a nice look to the overall dish. Cool, crisp cucumber makes a perfect match for the sweet melon, and luckily my garden is overflowing with them right now. A few salty shards of feta helps to bring out all the flavors and adds a bit of creaminess, but a cheese-less vegan version is actually pretty good too (just go a little heavier on the salt). Fresh mint is lovely, and happens to be my preference, but so is basil, cilantro, and even dill.

I use my handy dandy mandolin slicer to make thin, even slices of the cucumber, melon, and red onion, but a sharp knife will do ya just fine. You can honestly make the chunks as little or as big as you'd like - it really doesn't matter. I love the bite of raw onion, however many do not, and in certain applications - like this one - it really can overpower everything else. To curb that, I like to slice the onion super thin, then place it under cold, running water for about 30 seconds. It really helps to deflame and take out that burning sting, making for milder pieces of onion that still retain their crisp, raw crunch.

This is the kind of rustic, forgiving, minimalist salad that is so essential on these humid August days when we're all just doing our best to live in the moment and soak up as much summer as we can.

Enjoy.

Close up view of thinly sliced cucumber and cantaloupe in a serving bowl.

One Year Ago: Thai Shaved Summer Squash Salad, Savory Peach Galette with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Shallots
Two Years Ago: Blueberry Peach Crostata, Heirloom Tomato and Feta Toasts
Three Years Ago: For the Love of Tomatoes
Four Years Ago: Pan Con Tomate

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
A large salad bowl with cucumber melon and fresh herbs.

Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta and Mint

  • Author: Nicole Gaffney (ColeyCooks.com)
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: salad
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: american
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This incredibly refreshing Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta + Mint is loaded with crisp cucumber, sweet summer cantaloupe, and salty chards of feta cheese. Simplicity at it's best!


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¼ small red onion
  • 1 medium-large cucumber, cold, peeled and seeded only if needed
  • ¼ medium cantaloupe or other ripe summer melon, cold, seeded and removed from the rind
  • flaky sea salt
  • ½ lemon, squeezed
  • best quality extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
  • fresh mint, torn
  • 2 ounces feta cheese, sliced or crumbled

Instructions

  1. Use a mandoline or sharp knife to slice the onion as thin as possible. Place in a strainer and run under cold water for about 30 seconds. Drain, then add to a medium-large bowl.
  2. Thinly slice the cucumber and add it to the bowl. Slice the cantaloupe, but not as thin as the cucumber, and add to the bowl. Season with salt, then squeeze lemon juice all over. Drizzle generously with olive oil, then toss well to combine. Top with torn mint leaves and feta. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For a dairy free / vegan version, omit the feta, but season a little more generously with salt.

Serves 2-4. Double or triple to feed more.

Keywords: cucumber melon, cucumber salad, feta, mint

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @coleycooks on Instagram and hashtag it #coleycooks

CUCUMBER MELON SALAD with FETA AND MINT | This easy, refreshing Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta + Mint is loaded with crisp cucumber, sweet summer cantaloupe, and salty chards of feta cheese. Perfect easy sumer salad recipe! #glutenfree #vegetarian | ColeyCooks.com

« Grilled Peach Panzanella with Burrata
Maryland Crab Cakes »

STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for my newsletter to get recipes and tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Danielle

    August 15, 2017 at 5:03 pm

    It's been far too long since I've had cantaloupe. The color is so pretty next to the cucumber, feta, and red onion.

    Reply
    • Coley

      September 09, 2017 at 3:49 pm

      I bet it would be fantastic with mango in place of the cantaloupe! I hope you guys are staying safe in Tampa... actually, I hope you aren't actually in Tampa (or the keys) at the moment. If you need to come north, you always have a place to stay in Brigantine 😉

      Reply
  2. Alia | Everyday Easy Eats

    August 16, 2017 at 5:43 am

    Hi Nicole! This is such a unique, creative recipe!! Love a refreshing melon and cucumber salad for the summer! Great photos too! 🙂 I'm pinning this recipe right now!

    Reply
    • Coley

      September 09, 2017 at 3:50 pm

      Thanks Alia!! I don't want melon/cucumber season to end!

      Reply

Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating and review! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Hey! I'm Nicole Gaffney, but my friends all call me Coley. You should, too! Or call me Nicole. Whatever. Just don't call me late for dinner.

About Nicole Gaffney

Subscribe to my Newsletter for all the latest recipes!

Looking for something in particular?

Soups

bowl of bean soup with a spoon sticking out

Easy + Inexpensive 5 Ingredient Bean Soup

close up of vegetable minestrone soup with parsley pistou herb drizzle

Vegetable Minestrone with Parsley Pistou

A bowl of lobster bisque with a spoon

Lobster Bisque

Chicken poblano white bean chili in red bowls. Tortilla strips, cilantro, and sour cream make wonderful toppings.

Chicken Poblano White Bean Chili

Hands cupping a bowl of chicken white bean soup.

30 Minute Pesto Chicken, Kale + White Bean Soup

Top view of three bowls of spicy carrot soup garnished with yogurt swirls.

20 Minute Spicy Carrot Soup with Yogurt + Sesame

Salads

overhead shot of grilled halloumi and peaches with arugula, jalapeños and honey lemon vinaigrette

Grilled Halloumi + Peaches with Arugula, Jalapeños and a Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

A plate of spinach salad with a fork and a hand

Warm Spinach Salad with Pancetta + Goat Cheese

Thai flavored papaya salad piled up on a blue plate with a fork.

Thai Green Papaya Salad

Oval serving platter with a fork next to green bean tuna salad with lemon wedges.

Italian Tuna + Green Bean Salad

Top view of a serving bowl with raw corn and nectarine salad.

Raw Corn + Nectarine Salad

Vertical shot of a tan plate with a fork and serving of lyonnaise salad.

Lyonnaise Salad

Breakfast

close up of scrambled eggs on a plate with a fork

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Ricotta

Pouring maple syrup over a stack of blueberry oatmeal pancakes on a plate.

Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes

A sunny side up egg over a pile of sweet potato bacon hash.

Sweet Potato + Bacon Hash with Crispy Fried Eggs (Video!)

French Baked Toast with Cream and Eggs | Easy + Impressive French Breakfast | ColeyCooks.com

French Baked Toast with Cream and Eggs

maple syrup being poured on a slice of Oatmeal Pumpkin Dutch Baby

Oatmeal Pumpkin Dutch Baby Pancake

Five slices of bacon frying in a cast iron skillet.

How to Make Homemade Bacon

Vegetable Sides

Celery Root Remoulade (Video!) + An AMAZING French Culinary Vacation Giveaway!

Celery Root Remoulade

Grilled pea pods in a white bowl.

Grilled Peas in the Pod (Video!)

Goat Cheese + Chive Stuffed Tomatoes (Video!)

Baked Goat Cheese + Chive Stuffed Tomatoes

Close up of a square removed from the corner of a gratin in a baking dish.

Cheesy Baked Zucchini Gratin

spoon full of fennel onion gratin in a cast iron skillet with fresh thyme

Fennel + Onion Gratin

Top view of a square bowl of Thai cucumber salad with a spoon.

Thai Inspired Cucumber Salad

Winter Recipes

Top view of a flourless chocolate cake with a cracked top and cardamom pods

Turkish Coffee Flourless Chocolate Cake

Top view close up of chocolate chunk cookies on a wood table.

Crispy Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

a plate of cookies with a broken cookie in the foreground and ingredients in the background

Mom's Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

bowl of bean soup with a spoon sticking out

Easy + Inexpensive 5 Ingredient Bean Soup

a loaf of cinnamon raisin walnut bread sliced

Cinnamon Raisin Walnut No-Knead Bread

close up of vegetable minestrone soup with parsley pistou herb drizzle

Vegetable Minestrone with Parsley Pistou

The Art of the Smoothie Bowl Cook Book is Out NOW!! Click the photo above to order.

Footer

Nicole Gaffney, aka Coley, is a professionally trained chef, recipe developer, tv host and food writer. Learn More about Coley…

Stay Connected!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme