In the damned dog days of summer when the air is heavy and sultry and the humidity is so high that walking down the street feels like a water aerobics class, you need food that soothes and cools-- and you definitely do NOT need to be dealing with a hot stove and oven.
My grandmother used to serve a side-dish of sliced cucumbers with ice cubes and a little vinegar. She also liked to chill melon and then serve it in large wedges with salt and pepper. Both these dishes provided instant relief from the heat in the height of summer, and they're a natural combined together.
Crunchy cukes with tomatoes and ripe, juicy melon make for a lovely cooling dish that will help you beat the heat and maybe make you feel a little bit less cranky about it all. This salad goes out to Beat the Heat, hosted by A Southern Grace.
Cool as a Cucumber, Melon and Tomato Salad
2 cups cantaloupe, cubed
1 cup cucumber, seeded and chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes (or chopped tomato)
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice
fresh ground black pepper,
a light sprinkle of sea salt
1/2 cup fresh mint, coarsely chopped
feta cheese, crumbled
Toss it all together and let meld for an hour or so in the refrigerator.
Great looking salad - and a super entry!
Posted by: Nicisme | August 06, 2008 at 08:04 AM
I like the combination of flavors here, Ann! And that's saying a lot-- true-blue Filipinos would faint if they see a melon in a savory dish, haha :) I'd probably add meat in the form of prosciutto (or caramelize some bacon-- but you guys don't wanna turn on the stove, heh :)
Re: The salts-- I did taste them individually, and I gotta say, the Eurasian Black Salt is... interesting ;) I like the Hawaiian red salt most, and of course the ocean salt. I just gotta figure out how to best use them-- special salts are very, very new to me. Thanks a million again!!
Posted by: Manggy | August 06, 2008 at 09:06 AM
How cool is this...[perfect for this blessed weather Ann. Also perfect because I can get all the ingred here. i think we can beat the heat with this one! I just read an interesing post about flavoured sea salts...this gives me the delicous end product!
Posted by: Deeba | August 06, 2008 at 09:38 AM
I am feeling less cranky just reading your post, Ann.
Great combination of flavors!
Posted by: Lori Lynn @ Taste With The Eyes | August 06, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I love this salad. It has all the ingredients I love in the summer. Great entry for the event :)
Posted by: Ben | August 06, 2008 at 12:44 PM
I would have never thought to do this combination, but it sounds like a match made in heaven! What a great way to beat the heat!
Posted by: Deborah | August 06, 2008 at 12:46 PM
This is a beautiful recipe. I love the colors and the icy cukes and melon. Very nice and perfect entry for Crace's event.
Posted by: noble pig | August 06, 2008 at 01:44 PM
This is such a lovely, softly colored salad. It just sings summertime, Ann.
Posted by: Susan from Food Blogga | August 06, 2008 at 03:34 PM
cool, cool, cool... i need that!!!
Posted by: Aran | August 06, 2008 at 07:36 PM
This is deliciously refreshing but... where's the bacon!? hehe. Sorry i can't help it! I would wrap bacon in .. err.. bacon!
Are you really sure you don't want more vegetables?? zuchinnis... tomatoes.. from the garden?? :-)
Posted by: zenchef | August 06, 2008 at 10:42 PM
this is completely fabulous, ann. i just love the fact that it's got both fruit and veggies (and cheese). yep, it's perfect for a hot day. heck, it's perfect for any day. :)
Posted by: grace | August 07, 2008 at 04:58 AM
gorgeous entry Ann!! I cant wait to see the round up of this event, with the heat im going through here in France that will surely ease my sufferings LOL I have never tried combining melons and cucumber but they must be really good together to beat the heat of the summer :-) yummy recipes as always! Have a great day dear
Posted by: dhanggit | August 07, 2008 at 05:19 AM
This looks great! I love the addition of feta cheese.
Posted by: cookinpanda | August 07, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Perfect! I've been playing around with melon in salads the past couple of years and LOVE it. Your salad's combination of textures and flavors are just right for hot weather. And anything with feta gets my attention, any time. Can't wait to try this.
Posted by: kellypea | August 07, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Aw, my grandmother used to give us the same two things in the summer - cukes in vinegar with ice and cantaloupe with salt and pepper! Thanks for the trip down memory lane - I'll have to try this!
Posted by: michelle | August 07, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Oooh. I do love combining melon with "strange" things. Thanks for the idea. It sounds lovely, especially the mint!
Posted by: ann | August 08, 2008 at 08:44 AM
i love it--and it's beautiful! i agree--no ovens for me in summer as much as i can help it (until i AVE tio bake a fruit pie) i have so many tomatoes coming now and i love the combination with melon--i may make a trip to astoria for some serious feta goodness...
Posted by: Bonbon Oiseau | August 08, 2008 at 11:55 PM
This looks great. I love the combination of ingredients - and I really think that the feta makes it.
Posted by: Fearless Kitchen | August 12, 2008 at 11:22 AM
The Rocky Ford cataloups are here so I made this last week. Everyone loves it! Best thing I've had this summer.
Posted by: Donna | August 24, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Beat the heat, or any time! Your photography is great, makes you wish you could take a bite right now.
Posted by: Anna | March 30, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Your blog has so many tasty recipes - I forgot about my diet =)
Posted by: Vincent Diego | December 21, 2009 at 04:12 AM
Yeah, that salad looks really amazing! Think I should ask my sister to cook it.
Posted by: Cafe Robin | January 09, 2010 at 08:21 AM