Delicious Ensalada de Melon Recipe

When it comes to Spanish salads, it doesn’t get fresher than those that have fruits as the main ingredients.

The ensalada de melon is one of them, and it mixes the sweet flavor of the fruit with the salty taste of the serrano ham.

In this article, we will show you how to make it at home, plus some helpful tips for storing and serving, as well as some ingredient substitutions that you can make.

You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Background of the Dish

The ensalada de melon is one of the most beloved traditional Spanish salads, and it was created hundreds of years ago.

In the 1800s, it became popular to eat the melon with salt, and as time went by people started playing more with the savory ingredients.

As a result, the ensalada de melon was born as a mix of feta cheese, serrano ham, and of course, melon.

Pin for later!

Things You’ll Need for Ensalada de Melon

To make this ensalada de melon you need serrano ham, melon, olive oil, and lemon juice as the main ingredients.

Still, later we will show you all of the replacements that you can make to the ingredients if necessary.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe melon (cantaloupe or honeydew melon)
• 1 cup (200 gr) crumbled feta cheese
• 150 gr serrano ham in slices
• 5 fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup (60gr) chopped walnuts (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Ensalada de Melon – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this Spanish style salad, cut the melon in half and remove the seeds. Then, cut the melon into slices and remove the skin. Cut the slices into medium-sized cubes and place them in a large bowl.

2. After that, add the crumbled feta cheese to the melon cubes in the bowl.

3. Then, cut the serrano ham slices into rectangles or smaller cubes. Also, put them in the bowl with the rest of the Spanish summer salad.

4. For the next step in this melon and jamon serrano recipe, you have to wash and chop the basil leaves. Also, cut the nuts and put them in the salad bowl.

5. Now grab a separate smaller bowl, and mix the lemon juice with the olive oil. Pour this mixture on top of the melon and ham salad.

6. After that, season the Spanish melon salad to taste and gently mix all ingredients until well combined.

7. For the final step, just place the salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving, so the flavors can blend and the salad cools properly. Now you can serve the ensalada de melon.

Substitution of Ingredients

The main ingredients of the ensalada de melon are melon (cantaloupe or honeydew melon), serrano ham, and the classic Spanish dressing.

However, you can turn it into a Spanish watermelon salad if you use that fruit, but keep in mind that it is way sweeter than the melon.

You can also take inspiration from other easy Spanish salad recipes and switch the protein, for example, copy the ensalada de salmon and use smoked salmon instead of serrano ham.

Still, the best substitution for the serrano ham is simply using regular ham or even some cooked low-fat bacon strips.

Try the ensalada de mango and ensalada de espinacas if you want similar salads that uses sweet fruits for a savory dish.

Tips on Serving Ensalada de Melon

The name might be deceiving, but the ensalada de melon is a savory dish and not a dessert.

This simple Spanish salad can work as a side dish for lunch or dinner, or as tapas.

You can prepare this Mediterranean melon salad as a stand-alone tapas, or serve it with other Spanish ham recipes, like burrata and ham on a piece of bread, etc.

Even though they are optional, we encourage you to use the chopped nuts on top of the ensalada de melon, as they will give an extra crunchy texture to it.

Give a try to our newest Spanish grilled veggie salad that can be also served as a side dish, tapas, or a light lunch.

And if you loved this ensalada de melon, you must give a try to the cantaloupe gazpacho, a tasty and cold Spanish soup with sweet notes.

How to Store Ensalada de Melon

Once you finish making this melon salad recipe, you have to store it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving, but that doesn’t mean that you can store it forever.

You can store the ensalada de melon for up to 24 hours in the fridge, as long as you cover it completely with plastic wrap (otherwise the melon might form a thick crust on top).

Unfortunately, you can’t freeze this traditional Spanish salad, because all of the ingredients are fresh.

Some Spanish salad recipes that you can make and store for longer are the Spanish seafood salad and the ensalada de bacalao.

Recipe Card: Ensalada de Melon

---

---