Cantaloupe & Cucumber Salad with Spicy Pepitas

Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad with Spicy Pepitas

Farmer’s markets are showcasing their summer melons and fresh cucumbers.

Fresh ripe cantaloupe are available at the local Farmer’s Market

Cantaloupe & Cucumber Salad with Spicy Pepitas is a flavour forward savoury fruit salad, accented by the sweetness of the fruit and the bite of the pepitas, dressed in a lime and honey flavour.

This amazing salad will make you a fan of cantaloupe. Cantaloupe gets a bad rep as the hard, tasteless fruit they put in buffets. This farm fresh version tastes of sunshine and sweetness.

The spicy pepitas temper the sweetness of this salad and combined with the lime and honey dressing, make you yearn for a second helping.

Enjoy!

Print recipe

Serves	6
Inspiration	LCBO Summer 2020 Magazine

Ingredients

Optional

Large lime wedge

Spiced Pepitas

1/2 Cup roasted unsalted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
1/2 Tsp olive oil
1/8 - 1/4 Tsp cayenne powder
1/2 Tsp paprika

Salad

1/4 Cup your best olive oil
2 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tsp honey
1/4 Tsp salt
freshly ground pepper
1/2 Medium to large ripe cantaloupe (peeled and seeded)
4 Mini cucumbers (sliced on bias, 1/4 inch thick)
4 Oz (115 gm) Greek feta (crumbled)
Italian parsley (small chop)

Directions

Spiced Pepitas

Place the pepitas in a medium fry pan over medium heat. Cook stirring occasionally, until starting to brown and making a crackling sound.

Remove from the heat and stir in the olive oil, coating completely. Add the cayenne and paprika and stir to coat. Add some salt to taste.

Transfer to a plate or small bowl to cool completely.

These can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a month
Salad

Whisk the 1/4 cup of olive oil with the lime juice, honey, salt and pepper until combined. Set aside.

Cut the cantaloupe into 3/4 inch (2 cm) wedges. Cut each wedge into 3 or 4 pieces. Place in a large mixing bowl with cucumber. Drizzle with dressing and gently mix.

Arrange on a shallow serving dish. Sprinkle with Feta cheese and some spiced pepitas and the Italian parsley. Squeeze lime wedge over salad if desired and serve.