MSG Free Fig & Melon Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
Sweet figs, cool honeydew, and crisp cucumber come together in a salad that feels like summer in a bowl. The torn fresh mint and basil add an herby brightness that makes every bite feel a little more alive, while a short rest at room temperature lets the fruit release its natural juices and deepen the flavor. The dressing is nothing more than apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, sea salt, and a whisper of ground ginger — wholesome pantry staples that come together into something genuinely craveable. For anyone navigating MSG sensitivities, this kind of recipe is a breath of fresh air because every single ingredient is whole and unprocessed, with zero hidden additives to worry about. Packaged dressings and store-bought fruit salads are notorious for sneaking in flavor enhancers, so making your own from scratch is always the smarter move. A final pinch of flaky sea salt over the top adds just enough savory contrast to balance all that natural sweetness. It's light, refreshing, and elegant enough to serve at a dinner party but easy enough to throw together on a weeknight.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the dressing
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For the salad
- 8 fresh figs, stemmed and quartered
- 3 cups honeydew melon, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, torn
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
For serving
- flaky sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, fine sea salt, and ground ginger until the honey is fully dissolved and the dressing is smooth and slightly emulsified.
- 2
Combine the quartered figs, honeydew cubes, and cucumber half-moons in a large mixing bowl.
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