Description
A bright and refreshing Fresh Melon Salad combining sweet Tuscan melon balls, creamy mozzarella, briny Castelvetrano olives, juicy cherry tomatoes, fragrant fresh basil, and crispy prosciutto, all tossed in a light honey and white balsamic dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or appetizer, ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 Tuscan melon, balled using a melon baller
- 8 ounces small mozzarella balls (ciliegine), drained and dried
- ⅓ cup Castelvetrano olives, halved
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 8 slices prosciutto
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Broil the Prosciutto: Preheat your oven’s broiler on high. Arrange the prosciutto slices on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil until crispy, approximately 3 minutes on one side, then flip and broil for an additional 2 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning. Remove once crispy and let cool completely before crumbling into pieces.
- Prepare the Salad Ingredients: Using a melon baller, scoop out melon balls from the Tuscan melon and place them into a large salad bowl. Add the drained mozzarella balls, halved Castelvetrano olives, and halved cherry tomatoes. Scatter the torn fresh basil over the mixture and sprinkle with the crumbled prosciutto pieces.
- Make the Dressing and Toss: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, and flaky sea salt until well combined. Drizzle this dressing over the salad and gently toss everything to ensure even coating. Serve immediately, optionally with crusty bread.
Notes
- Keep a close eye on the prosciutto while broiling as it can burn quickly.
- You can substitute the Tuscan melon with cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon according to preference.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the prosciutto and consider adding toasted nuts for extra texture.
- The salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the ingredients.
- White balsamic vinegar can be substituted with regular balsamic or red wine vinegar, but this alters the flavor slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: melon salad, Tuscan melon, mozzarella salad, prosciutto salad, summer salad, fresh basil, easy salad recipe
