Agua Fresca Melon Salad with Hot Honey Lime Dressing

As soon as it turns warm (which it always seems to do so literally overnight here in Toronto) I get excited for all the melons.

Whether it is watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, or some of the more hard to find melons, I can just snack on these, add them to sweet or savoury salads, even just juice them and drink (spiked if so desired!)

Along with the refreshing sweetness they carry with them, here is my main healthy reason for craving them:  they are just so hydrating.  Especially as we get a bit older, after so much time spent in the sun, any hydration we can replenish our body and skin with is a good thing.

Here are some of the health benefits of the common melons we know best:

Cantaloupe

• Protects Skin: Move over oranges, because a serving of cantaloupe (1 cup), has 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. Vitamin C, in turn, helps the body produce collagen which helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays. 

• Better Bowel Movements: Cantaloupes can also help regulate bowel movements as they are high in fiber.

• Post Workout Hydration: These melons make a great post workout snack as they contain potassium which is an electrolyte mineral and helps with hydration.

Honeydew

• Brain Health: One cup of this sweet fruit contains 8% of your daily B6 vitamin. B6 is needed to help kids form correct brain development. It is also needed in adults for correct brain function.

•  Stronger Bones: Due to this melon being rich in calcium, it helps strengthen bones (including teeth).

•  Eye Health: Honeydew melon contains zeaxanthin and lutein. These two antioxidants are known to help keep eyes strong and healthy.

Watermelon

• Supports a Healthy Immune System: Watermelon contains beta carotene which our bodies then are able to turn into Vitamin A which helps support our immune system by keeping it healthy.

•  Super low in fat: A serving of watermelon has only 0.2 grams of fat.

• Helps Fight Inflammation: This fruit has lots of lycopene which is great for helping treat inflammation.

• Helps Control Blood Pressure: Watermelon has an amino acid called citrulline, which helps manage one’s blood pressure. 

*Nutritional Information thanks to Health Fitness Revolution.

A Salad Based on a Mexican Drink

Agua Fresca is one of the most refreshing drinks you can enjoy all summer long.  And just so easy to whip up.  It’s basically a combination of cubed melon, sugar, lime and honey.  Depending on the melon, you can even cut way back on the sugar (I usually do).  Blend and keep in the fridge.  Serve over ice.  If you want to kick it up a notch, add tequila or rum or gin, for a refreshing summer cocktail.

So I took these ingredients and turned them into a salad.  With a few fun twists.  Instead of just honey, why not use Hot Honey in the dressing?! It adds a sweet heat, a perfect kick to this simple salad.  The Hot Honey and Lime dressing also has fresh mint chopped in.  It’s a basic vinaigrette, and once you make up a batch, it will work on so many summer salads.  

And how to finish a salad that was inspired by a Mexican classic drink, Tajín of course!  A sprinkling of this classic Mexican seasoning mix will add an extra layer of kick.  It is basically dried lime zest, chilli flakes, pepper etc.  You will often see melon served with it as a refreshing snack throughout the summer, on Mexican tables.  You will be able to find Tajín on the Mexican shelf of your local grocery store.  Of course, you can also find it online and have it delivered right to your door.  I sprinkle it on savoury dishes, tacos, enchiladas, even eggs.  And yes, I even add it to my cornbread batter, for the best Jalapeño Chedder Skillet Cornbread

Details

Feel free to use a melon baller to turn your melons into bite sized pieces.  If you don’t have one, go ahead and cube them.  You will want to keep the cubes about 3/4 inch all around for easy eating.

I add mini bocconcini balls for a bit of creamy protein contrast. You can use feta or goat cheese instead if you want.

The other contrast comes in the salad greens you can add.  Chopped little gems lettuce, watercress, baby spinach, frisée etc, whatever you have on hand will work.  Chopped herbs like mint, parsley, basil will work great as well.

This recipe will work with whatever melons you can get, so don’t feel obliged to use the three I show here.  You can also play with the ratios, more greens to melon, etc.  

Other additions that will work in this salad: cubed avocado, sliced mini or Persian cucumber, pickled red onion, my preferred method linked.

You can prepare everything ahead of time and store in a sealed container in the fridge till needed.  Bring the balled melons out about 30 minutes before serving, melon actually tastes better at room temperature rather than too chilled.  Lay out the greens you are using in a serving bowl or platter.  Top with the melons and cheese. Dress just before serving. 

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for the next day, after that the dressing may start to compromise the melon.

This salad is great as part of a brunch table, or even as the side to grilled chicken, ribs etc. Here are some fantastic options: Bourbon Sticky and Spicy Baby Back Ribs, Peri Peri Chicken Wings, Mediterranean Pork Souvlak with Labneh Tzatziki

Here is the link to my favourite method for Agua Fresca.  Other Melon Salads on the site are linked below the recipe card.

If you make this Agua Fresca Melon Salad, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! It’s always lovely to hear from you guys, and I always do my best to respond to each comment or question. And of course, if you do make this recipe, and you post it on Instagram, don’t forget to also tag me so I can see! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is such a treat.

Love Jen

Print

Agua Fresca Melon Salad

Everything that goes into a refreshing Mexican melon smoothie like drink is in this epic and summery salad. Served with a hot honey and lime dressing, this salad will keep you hydrated and satisfied all through the warm summer days.

Course Salad

Cuisine Mexican, North American

Keyword hot honey, melon salad, tajín

Prep Time 30 minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 watermelon
• 1 cantaloupe
• 1 honeydew
• 2-3 large handfuls of fresh salad greens see Notes
• 1 container or 1 cup of mini bocconcini balls
• 2 tbsp fresh mint chopped finely
• Tajín seasoning

Hot Honey and Lime Dressing

• 2-3 tbsp hot honey see below
• zest from one lime
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• good pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Cube or use a melon baller on all the melons. Feel free to use as much as you want. Expect to use between 1 1/2-2 cups of melon per person. Place all the melon in a container and refrigerate till needed.

Dressing

1. Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small jar with a lid. Shake well to combine. Taste, and re-season as desired. Store in the fridge till needed. Remove to allow the olive oil to loosen up if needed. There may be more dressing than you require, use it for other salads through the week.

Assemble

1. Lay out the greens you are using on a platter or serving bowl. Scatter the melon balls and bocconcini over the greens.
2. Drizzle with the dressing, but don't go overboard. Better to under-dress, and allow everyone to add more to their servings, than to have the salad saturated. This is especially important if you plan on saving any leftovers.
3. Garnish with chopped mint and a good sprinkling of Tajín seasoning.

4. See Blog post for more details and ingredient suggestions.

Recipe Notes

Use as much or little of each melon as you desire. Any leftover melon can be juiced or turned into actual Agua Fresca.
For the greens you can use chopped little gems lettuce or romaine, watercress, baby spinach, sprouts, frisée etc.
Here is the link to my homemade Hot Honey.