Brazil Nut Free Basil-Pesto Cucumber Melon Salad
This vibrant summer salad brings together juicy cantaloupe or honeydew, cool cucumber slices, and a bright homemade pesto that you'll want to put on everything. The pesto itself is built from fresh basil, parsley, garlic, and olive oil, with a little lemon juice and zest for lift and a pinch of turmeric that gives it a gorgeous golden-green glow. Because the sauce is made entirely from scratch in a food processor, there's no guesswork about what's hiding in a store-bought jar — every ingredient is right there in front of you, and none of them include tree nuts of any kind. That matters a lot when so many commercial pestos rely on pine nuts or other tree nuts that can share processing lines with more allergenic varieties. A short rest in the fridge lets the pesto cling to the fruit and cucumber so every bite is deeply flavored rather than just lightly dressed. Torn fresh mint scattered over the top at the end adds one more layer of cool, herby freshness that makes the whole bowl feel like peak warm-weather eating. It's the kind of dish that disappears fast at a cookout or works just as well as a light lunch straight from the bowl.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For the salad
- 3 cups cantaloupe or honeydew melon, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups english cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼-inch thick
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the basil, parsley, and garlic in a food processor and pulse 8–10 times until coarsely chopped.
- 2
With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until the mixture is smooth and bright green, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides, then add the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and turmeric. Pulse 3–4 more times until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust salt.
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