Citrus-mint Melon Salad Recipe

Citrus-mint melon salad

This is perfect for a sunny Spring day! Fruit salads are the epitome of Spring and Summer, so I thought it would be great to share one with you. This fruit salad is completely versatile, you can even go as far as mixing different melons, such as cantaloupe or watermelon. Another super delicious addition could be adding fresh strawberries. Either way, this is light and refreshing, and perfect for Spring and Summer.

I used a touch of agave nectar, my new favorite sweetener, for the citrus-mint syrup. Agave nectar is really sweet and almost flavorless, and a healthier alternative to simple syrup. If you don’t have agave nectar, you can use honey - it will give a slightly different flavor to the syrup, but I’m sure it will taste great either way. I also used mandarin orange zest, but naturally, I bet any citrus would go great with this salad, such as oranges, grapefruit, or lemon zest. All of these ingredients are interchangeable, you just can’t go wrong with fresh fruits and melons.

Below are two ways you can enjoy this refreshing treat:  as a fresh fruit salad, or as a popsicle.

Citrus-mint Melon Balls (Version #1)

Citrus-mint melon salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups of honey dew melon, balled or cubed
• 2 teaspoons of agave nectar
• 1/2 teaspoon mandarin orange zest (or any citrus fruit if you like)
• 4 mint leaves, minced

Directions

1. Mulch your minced mint leaves, mandarin orange zest and agave nectar together (I just used the back of a metal spoon to achieve this, and only a few mulches will do the trick)
2. Drizzle over melon balls and toss together
3. Serve chilled

Citrus-mint Melon Popsicles (Version #2)

Citrus-mint melon popsicle

These popsicles came out better then I imagined, icy and sorbet-esque, which made me realize you could just freeze your puree in a freezer safe bowl and scoop it out like sorbet, too.

Directions

1. Blend your melon, mint, citrus zest, and agave nectar, plus 1 more teaspoon of agave nectar until smooth
2. Pour into a freezer safe bowl for sorbet, or into popsicle molds and freeze (about 3-4 hours)

Related: Healthy Recipes, Healthy Snack Recipes, Salad Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes