Name: Summer Melon Salad with Prosciutto
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh mint leaves; 1 cup fresh basil leaves; 1/4 cup toasted nuts (walnuts, pine nuts or cashews); 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 garlic cloves; juice of 1/2 lemon; pinch of salt; pinch of pepper; 1/2 cup olive oil, plus more if needed; 5 oz bag of arugula; 6 cups watermelon, cut into 1” cubes or balled; 5 cups cantaloupe, cut into 1" cubes or balled (about 1 medium melon); 4 oz. prosciutto, torn into pieces; 4 oz. Gorgonzola cheese crumbles; balsamic glaze, for drizzling

Summer melon salad with prosciutto, mint-basil pesto, Gorgonzola cheese and arugula is drizzled with balsamic glaze for a refreshingly easy summer side dish!

A large rectangle platter topped with summer melon salad with prosciutto, Gorgonzola cheese crumbles. It's drizzle with balsamic glaze and dollops of basil mint pesto.

There’s nothing more refreshing than a light summer salad on a hot & humid day.

You know those kind of summer days I’m talking about: those days you’re just sitting there and still have sweat in places you didn’t even know could sweat!

This healthy summer melon salad is made with cantaloupe, watermelon, prosciutto & Gorgonzola cheese that’s topped over a bed of arugula and topped with a fresh mint-basil pesto and balsamic drizzle.

I’m pretty sure this is melon salad recipe is summer served on a platter ;).

Aside from the juicy sweetness from the melons, the arugula has a slight peppery-bitterness and perfect crunch to it and the Gorgonzola adds a creamy saltiness that pairs perfectly with the prosciutto.

Then the basil and mint pesto make it super refreshing and the balsamic brings it all together.

Sweet, salty, creamy, tangy and a little crunch=the perfect summer salad combination!

A large platter filled with arugula topped with chunks of watermelon and cantaloupe. There's Gorgonzola cheese crumbles and pieces of Prosciutto on top. It's drizzled with mint basil pesto and balsamic glaze. There's a stack of small white dishes with a wooden serving spoon in the background.

Ingredients for this Summer Melon Salad recipe:

watermelon
cantaloupe
prosciutto (Italian ham)
Gorgonzola crumbles
arugula
mint-basil pesto: fresh mint, basil, toasted nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil.

I like keeping it rustic and cutting my melon into chunks, but you can certainly use a melon baller (affiliate link) for a more uniform look :).

You can also use honey dew melon in this melon salad.

If you don’t like Gorgonzola, some other cheeses that you can use are: goat cheese, feta cheese or mozzarella.

For a vegan version: omit the prosciutto and Gorgonzola. Substitute nutritional yeast for the Parmesan cheese in the pesto.

A large glass bowl with chunks of watermelon and cantaloupe. There's a small jar of mint basil pesto and a handful of Gorgonzola cheese crumbles next to the bowl.

To make this easy summer melon salad with prosciutto:

Make the mint-basil pesto: combine all pesto ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor. Pulse to combine. Slowly stream in olive oil until mixture is smooth.
Evenly spread arugula on a large serving platter. Top with melon, prosciutto & Gorgonzola.
Place dollops of the pesto all over the salad. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

This salad is best served right away otherwise the moisture in the melon causes the arugula to wilt.

If you want to make this ahead, I suggest preparing the pesto and remaining ingredients and assembling only once ready to eat.

A bed of arugula topped with chunks of watermelon, cantaloupe, prosciutto & Gorgonzola cheese crumbles. It's topped with mint basil pesto and balsamic drizzle.

This summer melon salad is the perfect side dish for your next BBQ, cookout or party!

Or it even makes the perfect dinner because it’s light and refreshing, especially on brutally hot days when you just don’t feel like eating.

What to serve with Arugula Melon Summer Salad with Prosciutto:

Crusty Italian Bread-optional but highly suggested 🙂
Grilled BBQ Bourbon Apricot Chicken
Hasselback Peach Caprese Chicken
Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Steak Rollups

For some more delicious summer recipes try:

Triple Berry Custard Pie with Crumb Topping
Creamy Summer Corn Chowder
Pesto Quinoa with Grilled Peaches
Summer Panzanella Salad