Satisfy your sweet and salty cravings with this delicious cantaloupe feta cheese salad! Fresh, refreshing, scrumptious and takes no time at all.
(Looking for another light and refreshing summer salad? Try this peach caprese salad with balsamic reduction. It’s just as simple and delicious!)
I know what you’re thinking. What is a salad recipe doing here? What devilry is this? LOL!
Since I bake a lot, it always surprises people when they find out that we don’t actually eat sugar all day, everyday (well, certainly not all day).
We don’t deny that we have a sweet tooth (and it’s a dang massive sweet tooth, that tooth). It’s just we do our best to eat healthy (er) when we’re not eating cupcakes (balance!).
One time all I ate was salad for a week (the fact that I eat only vegetables for dinner continues to horrify my meat and rice loving parents haha) so yes, I love my fruits and vegetables! And I really should share more of our favourite salad recipes here. Like this cantaloupe feta cheese salad.
Sweet, salty and a breeze to make, it’s lovely enjoyed on your porch, while on a picnic or as a side dish for your next BBQ.
How can you tell if a cantaloupe is sweet and ripe?
We’ve had our share of bland cantaloupe. Which isn’t bad. Just a little sad.
My grandma and my mom have this trick – they just tap the cantaloupe (or watermelon or honeydew or other similar fruit) and they know right away if it’s good to go.
I did not inherit that power. So we just use our noses. If the fruit smells nice (pleasantly sweet, not overly sweet) then we know it’s ripe. It’s been working so far!
How to make basic vinaigrette
We usually slice and dice the cantaloupe and eat it as is but if sometimes we want something different, we make a salad!
It’s super easy and uses the simplest vinaigrette ever – 1 part balsamic vinegar to 2 parts olive oil. We use this as a dip for bread too, but I digress.
Cantaloupe feta cheese salad with basil
Then we sprinkle some (or a lot) of crumbled feta cheese, season with salt and pepper and it’s done!
OK not really done. We add fresh basil and it really elevates the dish so don’t skip it!
Then we go out to our balcony, sit on our Muskoka chairs while watching the sunset and just be super hygge.
IRL we’re probably discussing what to binge watch on Netflix next LOL. But do try this salad. It’s delicious and very summery! Enjoy!
Cantaloupe Feta Cheese Salad with Fresh Basil
Ingredients
- 1 pc ripe cantaloupe diced into bite sized pieces (see notes)
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
- crumbled feta cheese
- fresh basil chopped
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Mix 1 part balsamic vinegar with 2 parts olive oil.
- Place a serving of cantaloupe in a plate or bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss. Top with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- We like to chill the cantaloupe after dicing and only take it out when we're ready to assemble our salad. This way, our salad is cold and refreshing!
- As with any salad, how you build your salad is entirely up to you so I did not include measurements in this recipe. Just taste and season to your liking.
Happy salad building!
Did you make cantaloupe feta cheese salad? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Click here for the rest of our No-Bake Summer Series recipes.
Here are some savoury recipes you can try if desserts aren’t your thing:
-
- Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chili Butter
-
- Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
-
- Easy Huevos Rancheros
-
- Cheesy Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers with Toasted Almonds
And let’s get social! Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and Flipboard.
Or subscribe so you don’t miss a recipe. I promise I don’t spam (I hate spam too).
Do you want to improve your food photography, monetize your blog or start your very own food blog? Check out my Blogging Resources.
Jessie says
LOVE this!! I have had something along similar lines made with watermelon and I remember it having such a unique and “gimme more” flavor. This sweet and salty combo sounds incredible – I love the texture of cantaloupe, I think it might be even better than watermelon for my preference, and the addition of basil just brings it home in the best way.
Liz Mays says
Oh yum! This is such a cool way to use cantaloupe. I’m definitely into fresh fruit salads like this.
Suchi says
This looks super yum! I am actually gonna try making this tomorrow! Love cantaloups!
Jolina says
Nice! Hope you like it!
Chndresh says
Looks so fresh and good ..surely going to try this one
Fatima says
I like to eat cantaloupe, watermelon or melons sliced and chilled. I also make it into fruit shakes – the fruit, ice, and milk together in a blender. I have never tried making a salad using cantaloupe. I will have to try this. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Kim says
I never thought of feta with cantaloupe! I love it with watermelon so this sounds divine!
Jolina says
Hi Kim! It works really well together 🙂 I know the traditional salad is watermelon + feta but I don’t care very much for watermelon (weird, right??) so cantaloupe it is.
Kathryn says
I’m loving this salad idea. Love the contrast of the salty feta cheese mingled with the aromatic taste of the basil and the sweetness of the cantaloupe. To be honest I didn’t realise what a cantaloupe was until you likened it to a melon. We don’t get them here in Ireland. Know I would love it though.
Jolina says
That’s so interesting! If you get melons or honeydew, they should work well too 🙂
andrea says
I LOVE cantaloupe! I have never thought to put cheese on and I do love cheese too:) I am going to give this delicious recipe a try
Denay says
What a delightful refreshing summer salad! As a matter of fact, I have all the ingredients for this beautiful Cantaloupe Feta Cheese Salad here at home. I’m looking forward to preparing it for lunch tomorrow. I love this easy, healthy recipe!
Jolina says
Nice! Would love to know how it goes 🙂
eliza says
Wow! I really love browsing and reading your posts. They are all mouth watery, I cant wait to try – the best that I love, because that my favorite was the grilled corn.
Jolina says
Thanks Eliza, that’s so sweet 🙂 Hope you get to try the grilled corn, it’s sooo good. Perfect summer/BBQ side!
Maggie Unzueta says
This is a great combo. So yummy!
Leah says
I love the combination of flavors in this salad! Great idea, and I can’t wait to try it out!
Jolina says
Hey Leah! Hope you guys like it 🙂
Sheila Price says
I would never think of this flavor combination, but YUM! Thanks for sharing this…I can’t wait to try it!
Jolina says
My pleasure! Hope you like it Sheila! 🙂
Kate says
I never thought a cantalope and feta cheese would ever pair well together. This is something I will have to try! Thanks for the recipe!
Vanessa says
This sounds so interesting and looks delicious! Definitely something to try this Summer!
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Chloe says
Hi, I use the same test to see if a melon is right. I need to give this salad a try when I can get some vegan feta.
Jolina says
Haha it works right? 🙂 Hope you find vegan feta!
Dawn says
Lucky me – cantaloupes are on sale 🙂 ! I loves me some sweet/salty combos so this one is definitely made for me. Love the basil touch there too and I promise not to skip it 😉 I could make a meal out of just this and maybe some prosciutto and some vino 😀 If all salads looked this good, then we’d all be eating them a lot more! Cheers to a fab week, my friend!
Jolina says
Wee! Yay to food on sale. I think we may have bought nectarines that we can handle yesterday haha. Prosciutto would be amazing. And of course the wine 🙂 Have a fab week too!
Natanja says
I just made this as a morning snack and it was super delicious! The combination of sweet and salty is so good. I used fresh basil from the garden and freshly ground black pepper. Good thing I always keep a melon in the fridge during summer months 🙂 Will surely be making this again.
Jolina says
Awesome! I’m glad you liked it 🙂 It’s quite filling too eh?
Bailey says
This sounds so refreshing and delicious. Perfect for hot summer days.
Agnes Dela Cruz says
I never tried incorporating cheese or anything deli with cantaloupe fruit. This fruit is seasonal here in the Philippines and when it is in season we can have it anytime of the day. I will try this one when i buy cantaloupe.
Nicole says
Wow this is so interesting! I never heard of this before!
Emily says
This sounds like an amazing mix of flavors! I can’t wait to try it.
Lorelai says
This sounds like a nice and refreshing salad for an end of summer barbecue or campout! Thanks for the idea!
Katie says
This looks and sounds so refreshing! Definitely going to try it!
Julie says
Wow, would never think to add feta to cantaloupe! Sounds (and looks) amazing!
Marian Mitchell says
Um I need to try this with goat cheese! I never thought to put vinegar on my cantaloupe! YUM
Molly says
Cantaloupe is so good! I never thought to add feta to it. It looks very tasty!
Elena says
Cantaloupe is my favourite fruit, I never thought that I can mix it with cheese. I have to try that combination.
Jeanine says
Oh my goodness this looks so good. I can’t remember the last time I had cantaloupe. My kids love it, so this is worth trying for us!
Erica says
This sounds really different but so good! Already looking forward to trying it tonight when I get home!
John says
Awesome, I have all these ingredients in my fridge and pantry. In fact, I just cut a fresh cantaloupe this morning. I know what I am making for a mid-morning snack. Thank you for sharing, Jolina!! Have a great Tuesday 🙂
Jolina says
Nice! It’s a sign from the food universe 🙂 Hope you guys like it! Happy Sunday!
ada says
I used to hate Feta Cheese but they I started to adding it to salad and now its one of the best salad cheese I could have! This salad here sounds yummy I am gonna have to try it! Thanks for sharing!
Delphine says
Cantaloupe and cheese… Interesting mix… But I heard of people adding salt to cantaloupe to emphasise the flavour so this would be the same idea.
laurie beth says
This looks amazing. I have never thought of this combination and I have to try it! THANKS!
Trish says
Hmmm…Interesting combination! I love sweet cantaloupes, feta, and balsamic vinegar, but haven’t really tried all of them together. Though I can see the appeal of this salad – sweet, salty, and refreshing all at the same time!
P.S. Would you recommend the hygge book? Is it doable?
Jolina says
Hi Trish! It’s our new favourite salad of the summer 🙂 And hygge, it’s really all about chillaxing haha. It’s a cute book, but I honestly didn’t learn anything new sadly.
Heather Johnson says
You had me at feta cheese. I just wish that I could eat melons! Your summer salad looks tasty and refreshing!
Dominique says
I’ve never tried feta with cantaloupe! I’ve only tried it with watermelon. I can’t wait to try this! YUM
Anvita says
Love cantaloupe. this sounds like a salad I would love. Would love to try this.
Neely Moldovan says
What an amazing idea this is. I love everything in this recipe so this is one I realy want to try!
Elizabeth says
This is an interesting combination but I’m definitely going to try this. It looks refreshing and delicious. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Carrie says
I love cantaloupe. It is one of my favorite fruits ever! I don’t know about putting feta cheese on it! I guess I will have to try it before I decide its not for me.
Brandy says
I would have never thought to pair cantaloupe with feta cheese and basil. What a wonderful flavor that must be for our taste buds. I will give it a try, doesn’t hurt! I am on a kick of trying new healthy ideas.
Val says
That sounds like an interesting flavor combination. Hubby likes feta cheese and I believe also melon, I’ll have to mention this to him.