• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Devil Wears Salad
  • Recipe Categories
  • Salad Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Salad Dressings
  • Pairings
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Salads
  • Recipe Categories
  • Salad Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Salad Dressings
  • Ingredient Pairings
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Dessert Fruit Salad Recipes

    Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

    Published: Sep 12, 2019 · Modified: Jan 13, 2021 by The Devil Wears Salad

    Jump to Recipe
    Best Watermelon Salad with Lime Dressing
    Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing
     

    Take advantage of the many varieties of melons to create a delicious fruit salad with a sweet and tangy flavour. This is the best dessert yellow watermelon fruit salad and is the perfect end to a great meal.

    Melon Salad with Maple Syrup and Lime Dressing this recipe

    Why I Love Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

    I love this yellow melon salad because it’s a great way to serve up a fruit salad with a slight twist.

    Melons are easily available throughout the year, so its lack of seasonality makes it easy for me to whip up anytime. Perfect as a winter fruit salad when there are less choices during the colder months.

    They are inexpensive and it’s a fruit that most people will eat.

    Maple Syrup and lime is just a match made in heaven and everyone loves the sweet and citrus combination. And it just gives the melon salad that extra pop in the end!

    How Many Types of Melons Are There?

    There are about 25 known varieties of melons in the world today. This ranges from winter melons to the lime green fleshed Horned melons to Hami melons.

    Some melons have higher water content whilst others are sweeter. And even though you can use any melon you wish for this salad, it is important to have a good mix of melons of different consistencies, flavours and sweetness. This will provide the balance required for a good melon salad.

    For example, the yellow flesh watermelon is high in water content so it helps to mix it up with the canary melon which has a firmer texture.

    What is Champagne Watermelon?

    Champagne watermelon is simply a yellow meat watermelon.

    From the outside, the rind and its shape are the same as a red crimson watermelon. To differentiate the two, I only ever buy them when they are cut up. I also prefer to buy them that way as I need to ensure the colours are vibrant enough to create that wow factor.

    Its flesh is slightly sweeter and sometimes you can get a hint of honey in its flavour. Which is why we also love it in our Yellow Doll Watermelon Salad with Bocconcini and Yellow Watermelon Salad with Mint.

    Yellow Watermelon Diced

    What is Canary Melon?

    for this yellow flesh watermelon salad recipe, we chose to also include canary melon in the mix.

    The canary melon is oval shaped with a bright yellow rind and a light green to white inner flesh. It is a sweeter variety and specifically chosen for this salad to offset the milder honeydew.

    Its flesh is juicier and slightly translucent in comparison to the opaquer flesh of the cantaloupe.

    The canary melon is not a melon I grew up with in Asia and have only recently become more available in Australia. The lucky North and South Americans get to eat this on a regular basis. Jealous much?!

    Yellow Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

    How to Make the Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

    Selecting the Best Combination of Melons

    Whilst you’re pretty much able to select any of the melon varieties to make this fruit salad, it’s still important to select the right combination.

    From a flavour perspective, not all melons are super sweet. On the other hand, you don’t want to select melons that are all too sweet. You need a good balance of both.

    As an example, the winter melon is more of a savoury melon, so it goes well with the sweet cantaloupe.

    Creating a good mix of textures is another factor to consider. The yellow watermelon is crunchy and watery whilst the honeydew has a softer, fuller consistency. At a minimum have both melons to ensure every mouthful has a variety.

    And as we always do when we entertain, the salad has to be visually stunning. Don’t just think, “oh, it’s just a melon salad”.

    When I made this for a dinner party recently, the best compliment I got was “how do you make these melons look so darn good?”

    To make the yellow flesh watermelon salad stand out, select melons of different colours. The yellow watermelon is by far my favourite melon as not only is it a lesser known watermelon, but the yellow is so vibrant.

    The orange flesh of the cantaloupe or light green honeydew make for a great contrast against the bright yellow.

    Don’t go choosing the canary melon, Piel de Sapo melon and winter melon for the one salad or you’ll just have a very bland, white looking salad (although super yum!).

    How to Ball the Melons

    I remember when I first saw beautifully balled melons at a party when I was a child. I thought they were lollies or candy to begin with. I don’t think I was bitterly disappointed to discover it was fruit, but I was definitely surprised!

    Ever since then I have always associated balled melons with special occasions and is somewhat nostalgic.

    I guess balling the melons also gives the impression that you’ve put some effort into the salad rather than just chopping them up. I love it when my guests say “ooo look at these!”.

    So, head on out and get yourself a melon baller if you don’t already have one. I have a dual ended one which gives me 2 different sizes, just to mix it up little bit. Also, I find the large end is too big for the smaller melons.

    Cut the melon into half but leave the rind on. It’s easier to ball the melon with the support of the harder shell as you push the melon baller into the flesh.

    Scrape the melon seeds out with a spoon.

    Then push the melon baller into the melon and in a rotating motion and a flick of the wrist, twist out a ball of melon. Start the next ball close to the first one and keep going until you’re not able to do anymore.

    To reduce wastage, I then chop up the remaining flesh and put aside for me to eat another time.

    Honeydew, Rockmelon, Canary Melon

    Cut the Yellow Watermelon

    Cut the yellow watermelon into small bite size cubes.

    I just prefer to have one of the melons in a different shape. Mix it up a bit!

    Tear the Mint Leaves

    Tear the mint leaves gently off its stem. They tend to bruise easily so don’t be too hasty.

    Tear the leaves into small bits. I prefer to tear them as I like the inconsistency of shapes and sizes. And it just looks more natural.

    You can of course just chop them up!

    How to Make Maple Syrup and Lime Dressing

    In a small mixing bowl, add honey, maple syrup and the juice from the orange and lime.

    Whisk well.

    The consistency should almost be like a juice rather than a drizzle. If you prefer the dressing to have more of a syrupy consistency, half the juice from the lime and orange.

    How to Assemble the Melon Fruit Salad

    Mix all the melons, dressing and fresh mint in a medium sized  mixing bowl.

    If you like the melon salad to have a lot of dressing left so your guests can slurp it up in the end, serve it in a bowl or a glass.

    If you don’t, make sure you drain the dressing by using a slotted spoon before placing it on the plate. Serve immediately so the watermelon doesn’t water too much.

    This is perhaps one of my favourite melon recipes hence I keep telling you it’s the best watermelon salad ever! To top it off, it is also an easy fruit salad recipe.

    The yellow watermelon creates the subtle tones and its lack of a bright coloured ingredient makes it even more appealing. It’s a simple yet pretty ensemble with a dressing that compliments it perfectly. Great end to a fabulous dinner party!

    That’s all!

    More Dessert Fruit Salad Recipes

    Get inspired by the biggest collection of salad recipes in the one place. We have recipes to suit lifestyle preferences and different occasions. These salads are both delicious and stylish. Search for your favourite ingredient to find a salad you’ll love!

    • Stone Fruit Salad with Tapioca Pearls
    • Passionfruit and Kiwi Salad with Tangelo Granita
    • Blueberry Salad with Plum Wine Infused Dragon Fruit
    • Cherry Tamarillo Salad with Lemon Thyme
    • Fruit Salad with Berries and Prosecco Cream

    Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

    Salad dressings are incredibly easy to make in the comfort of your own home. This way you can control the ingredients to suit your palate and you can make the exact portion you need for that one meal. Check out our collection!

    • Creamy Mustard Dressing
    • Apple Cider Vinaigrette with Orange Juice
    • Yuzu Dressing
    Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

    DON’T WANT TO MISS RECIPES? Click HERE to get them sent to your inbox.
    Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.


    Melon Salad with Maple Syrup and Lime Dressing
    Print Recipe
    5 from 14 votes

    Best Watermelon Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing

    Take advantage of the many varieties of melons to create a delicious fruit salad with a sweet and tangy flavour. This is the best watermelon salad and is the perfect end to a great meal.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: International
    Dietary: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: Amy Chung

    Ingredients

    Salad

    • 300 g Champagne watermelon, cubed
    • 150 g canary melon, balled
    • 150 g honeydew, balled
    • 150 g rockmelon, balled
    • ¼ cup mint, torn

    Salad Dressing

    • 3 tsp honey
    • 3 tsp maple syrup
    • 1 lime, juiced
    • ½ orange, juiced

    Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.

    Instructions

    Salad

    • Cut the Champagne watermelon into bite size cubes. Remove rind.
    • Cut the Canary melon, honeydew and cantaloupe in half. Leave the rind on and remove the seeds with a spoon. Ball all the melons using different sized ballers if available.
    • Hand tear the mint leaves.

    Salad Dressing

    • Whisk the honey, maple syrup and the juice of the lime and orange in a small mixing bowl.

    Assembly

    • Add the melons, mint and dressing together and mix gently.
    • Serve immediately if you don’t want the watermelon to water.

    Notes

    • If Champagne watermelon is not available, use the traditional red crimson fleshed watermelon.
    • If Canary melon is not available, try looking for the Piel de Sapo melon.
    • If you don’t want the dressing to be too juicy, reduce the amount of lime and orange juice added to the dressing.
    • On a truly hot summer’s day, you can serve a cold fruit salad by using melons straight out of the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 3138IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

    *Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.

    Tried this recipe? We’d Love To See It!Mention @thedevilwearssalad or tag #thedevilwearssalad!

    Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

    « Orange Juice Dressing
    Vegan Soba Noodle Salad with Yuzu Dressing »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jere

      October 04, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      Is Champagne Watermelon the same as a yellow watermelon? I never think of putting a dressing on melons but I love the flavors you have, the whole salad looks refreshing.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        October 22, 2019 at 12:37 pm

        Yes essentially it is. It is also the same as Yellow Doll watermelon although I still think the Champagne watermelon as a very slight tinge of honey flavour through it. The melons absorb the dressing so easily so every mouthful is just yum!

        Reply
    2. Brynn McDowell

      October 04, 2019 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      Your plating is always so stunning! I love how you elevate something as simple as melon. Delicious.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        October 22, 2019 at 12:35 pm

        Thank you Brynn! We like people to know that you can do so much with, as you said, something as simple as melon.

        Reply
    3. Deanna

      October 02, 2019 at 12:05 am

      5 stars
      I love anything with lime and the colours of the melon are so vibrant! I can’t get most of those melons here in Canada (at least where I am), but I will make do with the melons I can get using this dressing. My mouth is watering.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        October 04, 2019 at 1:42 am

        They are lovely shades of colour aren’t they? Yup, any melon will do! Beauty of this recipe:) Super easy salad recipe!

        Reply
    4. Tamara J.

      October 01, 2019 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love the idea of maple syrup and lime together! This is such a refreshing salad.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        October 04, 2019 at 1:41 am

        Its such a great combination. They both balance each other out and when absorbed by the melons, so delicious!

        Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The Devil Wears Salad Team

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
    • Roasted Asian Eggplant with Gochujang Glaze
    • Air Fryer Parsnip Fries
    • Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad]
    • Miso Mayo Dressing
    • Yuzu Dressing
    FEED YOUR FOMO

    We send delicious emails & hate for you to miss out.

    Spring Salad Recipes

    • White Asparagus Salad Recipe
    • Watercress Salad with Apple and Pear
    • Creamy Cucumber Avocado Salad
    • Spicy Asian Chicken Salad

    Fall Salad Recipes

    • Pear Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts
    • The Best Waldorf Salad Recipe
    • Vegan Couscous Salad with Blistered Tomatoes
    • Roasted Maple Carrots with Stracciatella Cheese
    The Devil Wears Salad | Salad Gazette
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    The Devil Wears Salad Team

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
    • Roasted Asian Eggplant with Gochujang Glaze
    • Air Fryer Parsnip Fries
    • Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad]
    • Miso Mayo Dressing
    • Yuzu Dressing
    FEED YOUR FOMO

    We send delicious emails & hate for you to miss out.

    Spring Salad Recipes

    • Chickpea Salad with Feta
    • Spicy Chinese Tofu Skin Salad
    • Mushroom and Water Chestnut Salad (Vegan Lettuce Wraps)
    • Thai Prawn Salad with Chilli Tamarind Dressing

    Fall Salad Recipes

    • Pak Choy Salad with Coriander Lime Dressing
    • Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Asparagus
    • Salad with Persimmons and Beetroot Dressing
    • Salad of Dutch Carrots, Hummus and Soft-Boiled Eggs
    The Devil Wears Salad | Salad Gazette

    Footer

    The Devil Wears Salad Favicon

    About Us
    Accessibility Statement
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
    Work With Us

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2022 The Devil Wears Salad