Xanthan Gum Free Fig & Melon Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing

Total time25 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time0 min

Xanthan Gum Free Fig & Melon Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing

This is the kind of salad that makes summer feel effortless — sweet figs and honeydew, cool cucumber, and a shower of fresh mint and basil that perfumes every single bite. The dressing comes together in one small bowl: apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and a whisper of ground ginger that ties the whole thing together with a gentle warmth. Every ingredient here is naturally clean and whole, which means there are zero hidden additives or stabilizers to worry about — no thickeners, no gums, nothing processed sneaking into your bowl. That short rest at room temperature is the secret move: the fruit softens just slightly and releases its juices, turning the dressing into something almost syrupy and deeply fragrant. A final pinch of flaky sea salt over the top brings out the sweetness of the melon and figs in a way that feels almost restaurant-worthy. It's light enough to serve alongside grilled fish or chicken, but honestly impressive enough to anchor a summer lunch all on its own.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the dressing

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Bragg Organic Raw-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar - 32 fl oz Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Heinz All Natural Apple Cider Vinegar Spectrum Naturals Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Filtered Dynamic Health Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother
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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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