🥗 Melon, Avocado & Mozzarella Salad
A fresh, colorful summer salad ready in 15 minutes!
Light, flavorful, and bursting with freshness, this melon, avocado, and mozzarella salad is perfect for sunny days. The combination of sweet melon, creamy avocado, and smooth mozzarella is enhanced by a lemony basil vinaigrette. An elegant starter or light meal that will delight all your guests.
⏱️ Preparation time: 15 minutes
❄️ Resting time: 15 minutes (optional)
👥 Serves: 4
⭐ Difficulty: Very easy
🛒 Ingredients
🍈 500g ripe melon (Charentais variety preferred)
🥑 2 ripe but firm avocados
🧀 120g mozzarella (or mini balls)
🌿 A dozen fresh basil leaves
🍋 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
🫒 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
🧂 Fine salt
⚫ Freshly ground pepper
Optional
A handful of arugula
A few toasted pine nuts
Prosciutto (Parma, Serrano, or Bayonne)
A few black olives
A drizzle of balsamic glaze
👩🍳 Preparation
1️⃣ Prepare the melon
Cut the melon in half, remove the seeds with a spoon, then peel off the skin.
Cut the flesh into approximately 2 cm cubes.
Set aside in the refrigerator.
2️⃣ Prepare the avocados
Cut the avocados in half.
Remove the pit and then the skin.
Cut the flesh into cubes.
Immediately drizzle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
3️⃣ Prepare the mozzarella
Drain the mozzarella thoroughly.
Cut it into small pieces or use whole mini balls.
4️⃣ Prepare the basil
Wash the basil leaves.
Gently dry them, then finely chop them.
Keep a few whole leaves for garnish.
5️⃣ Prepare the dressing
In a small bowl, combine:
olive oil
lemon juice
a pinch of salt
a few grinds of pepper
Whisk until well combined.
6️⃣ Assemble the salad
In a large salad bowl, arrange:
melon cubes
avocado cubes
mozzarella cheese
chopped basil
Drizzle with the dressing.
Gently toss with a large spoon to avoid crushing the avocados.
7️⃣ Serve
Refrigerate the salad for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Garnish with a few fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, and a grind of pepper.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
This salad pairs perfectly with:
🥖 A crusty baguette
🥩 Barbecued meats
🐟 Grilled salmon
🍗 Chicken skewers
🦐 Marinated shrimp
🥂 A summer appetizer
💡 Chef's Tips
✅ Choose a fragrant but still firm melon.
✅ Use just-ripe avocados so they retain their shape.
✅ Drain the mozzarella thoroughly so it doesn't release any water.
✅ Add the dressing only when serving to preserve the freshness of the ingredients.
🌿 Gourmet Variations
🍖 Italian Version
Add 4 to 6 slices of Parma ham and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
🥜 Crunchy version
Sprinkle with lightly toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds.
🍉 Fruitier version
Add a few watermelon or cucumber balls.
🧀 Gourmet version
Replace the mozzarella with burrata or feta.
🌶️ Spicy version
Add a pinch of Espelette pepper or a few turns of a pink peppercorn mill.
❄️ Storage
Keeps for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
It's best to add the avocado and dressing at the last minute to preserve their freshness.
✨ A simple, elegant, and refreshing salad, perfect for a light lunch, a picnic, or a summer dinner!
🍓 Gâteau au Petit Beurre et aux Fraises 🍰 Le dessert frais et gourmand de l'été !
Reviewed by chef simo
on
June 28, 2026
Rating:
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