Cantaloupe Cucumber Salsa

Light, refreshing and delicious, this Cantaloupe Cucumber Salsa has all the beautiful flavors of summer. Excellent as a dip for chips and equally great over grilled meats or fish, it’s like a party in your mouth!

We love all sorts of fruit dips around here, and along with the kiwi mango strawberry salsa, pico de Gallo, nectarine salsa, this Cantaloupe Cucumber Salsa is one of our favorites. It’s a light and refreshing twist on the classic side dish, with subtle sweetness and a zesty tang you’ll love to pair alongside grilled meats and veggies or enjoy as a tasty snack with tortilla chips. 

Ingredients you’ll need

• Cantaloupe– choose ripe but firm fruit for the best results
• Cucumber– I like to use Persian cucumbers, which have very thin skin and are almost seedless.
• Red Onion– use red onions for a pop of color
• Cilantro– adds a mix of lemony, peppery, and pungent taste. Swap with mint for a refreshing twist of flavor.
• Tomatoes– Roma or plum tomatoes are a sweet and juicy option. Seed first before chopping to keep from watering down the salsa
• Lime– brings a citrus tang. Use freshly squeezed for optimum taste
• Olive oil– adds creaminess
• Salt- enhances the taste

1. In a bowl, combine cantaloupe, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to distribute. Cover and chill in the fridge for about 7 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Serving suggestions

This cantaloupe cucumber salsa is a delicious addition to:

• Tacos – Add this salsa as a topping to all varieties of tacos (fish, chicken, or beef tacos).
• Grilled meats – Serve this sweet salsa grilled chicken, fish, or beef. The sweetness of the salsa complements the savory meat. 
• Quesadillas – Use this salsa with cheese and other filling ingredients.
• Salads – Combine this cantaloupe salsa with leafy green salad ingredients for a refreshing side dish.
• Seafood – This salsa pairs beautifully as a side or garnish with seafood.
• Tortilla chips – Serve it as a dip alongside your favorite tortilla chips as a delicious snack or party appetizer.
• Grilled vegetables – Use this salsa as a topping on grilled vegetables.
• Bruschetta – Add this cantaloupe cucumber salsa to the toasted bruschetta as a delicious snack or appetizer. 

How to choose cantaloupe

Choosing fresh and ripe cantaloupe is essential for this salsa since it’s the hero ingredient! Here are some ways that you can ensure you select the best fruit!

• Look for a golden skin color with a net-like pattern. Avoid ones with green patches, as this indicates under-ripe cantaloupe.
• Gently press the ends of the cantaloupe. It should be slightly soft without being overly mushy. If it’s too soft, then the cantaloupe is overripe. 
• Consider the smell of the fruit. A ripe cantaloupe should smell sweet and fragrant. No smell indicates an under-ripe cantaloupe.
• If you shake the cantaloupe and it rattles, this means that the seeds have loosened and that the fruit is likely overripe. 
• A ripe cantaloupe will feel heavy for its size. An under ripe cantaloupe will feel light for its size. 

IPS FOR MAKING CANTALOUPE CUCUMBER SALSA

• Always use fresh and ripe ingredients when making this refreshing cantaloupe cucumber salsa. 
• The juiced limes will help to balance the flavors in this salsa. Taste to test once the salsa is assembled and then adjust as needed. 
• Chilling the salsa before serving helps to meld the flavors together for deeper flavor.

Another thing I love about this cantaloupe salsa, it’s “sturdier” than the other fruit salsas I make. The watermelon and kiwi-mango-strawberry versions are equally impressive but tend to water down quickly. This cantaloupe cucumber salsa, however, keeps well for a good few hours and maintains its crisp texture longer. I like to refrigerate it for a few minutes before serving it to cool and to allow the sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors to meld beautifully.

Serving suggestions

• Tacos or quesadillas- Add it as a salsa topping to all varieties of tacos or as a filling ingredient with cheese for quesadillas
• Grilled meats and seafood – serve as a side or garnish for grilled chicken, fish, or beef. The sweetness of the salsa complements the savory meat. 
• Salads – combine with leafy green salad ingredients for a burst of fruity flavor and extra crunch
• Tortilla chips – enjoy the fruit salsa as a dip alongside your favorite tortilla chips.
• Bruschetta – Add to the toasted bruschetta as a delicious snack or appetizer. 

Storage instructions

• Refrigerate– transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Although it will be safe to eat, it will begin to water down and lose texture when stored longer.
• Freezer– this salsa doesn’t freeze well. Cantaloupe and cucumber hold a lot of moisture and will turn mushy when frozen and thawed.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @OnionRingsAndThings on Facebook and Instagram!

5 from 1 vote

Cantaloupe Cucumber Salsa

Light, refreshing and delicious, this Cantaloupe Cucumber Salsa has all the beautiful flavors of summer. Amazing as a dip for chips and equally great over grilled meats or fish, it’s a like a party in your mouth!

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Author: Lalaine Manalo

Course: Appetizer

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8 Servings

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 small cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and diced
• ▢ 4 Persian cucumbers, peeled and diced
• ▢ 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
• ▢ 1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
• ▢ 2 Jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• ▢ 1 bunch cilantro, stemmed and coarsely chopped
• ▢ 2 limes, juiced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper

Instructions

• In a bowl, combine cantaloupe, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to distribute. Cover and chill in the fridge for about 7 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 224g, Calories: 56kcal, Carbohydrates: 2.1g, Protein: 1.7g, Fat: 2.1g, Sodium: 250mg, Potassium: 395mg, Fiber: 1.8g, Sugar: 5.3g, Vitamin A: 1450IU, Vitamin C: 26.4mg, Calcium: 40mg, Iron: 0.7mg

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”