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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Menu / Salads / California Summer Rainbow Salad

    California Summer Rainbow Salad

    Jul 28, 2022 · Leave a Comment

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    This sweet, juicy, crunchy, salty, briny, and tangy seasonal salad celebrates the very best of California’s summers fresh fruit and veggie bounty!

    Eat the rainbow with this bright, colorful, and healthy salad filled with seasonal California produce.

    very colorful tomato and melon salad topped with basil, spices and vinaigrette.

    Food tastes best grown in its own season.

    Make this salad with ripe melons, tomatoes, and other produce at the peak of its season as it won't be nearly as good if made with out-of-season ingredients. Use the best of summer’s fruits and veggies you can find, sheep's-milk feta, fresh herbs, spices, and a lime vinaigrette or use another dressing of your choice.

    This salad recipe is more of a guideline for how to create your own seasonal rainbow salad. It's what summer cooking is all about – highlighting fresh and local produce, at the peak of their season, in an easy way with minimal prep.

    It’s the summer salad that celebrates every color of California’s produce rainbow!

    CALIFORNIA IS THE LEADING AGRICULTURAL STATE IN THE NATION

    Summer’s is prime time for produce in California, with the most impressive harvest in terms of variety. The over 700 farmers markets in the state are overflowing with an abundance of juicy produce, at the peak of its season, and bursting with flavor.

    The Golden State grows one-third of the veggies, two-thirds of the fruits and nuts, and over 80% of the wine in the nation. Our agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. 

    I love Cali for its produce and adore the summer season most of all!

    Melons and tomatoes are quintessential summer fruits.

    California is the highest producing state in the nation of both melons and tomatoes.

    Melons and tomatoes are the star of this version of the rainbow salad show.

    They’re in peak season in California July through September.

    California Melons

    The arrival of summer brings a bounty of melons varieties in all sorts of colors and sizes. Native to central Asia, the melon plan has been around for over 4,000 years.  There’s nearly 40 varieties including Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, crenshaw, canary, casaba, sugar melon, Piel de Sapo and many more.

    Although melons are grown throughout the state, most of our crop hails from the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys.

    Culinarily a fruit, melons are botanically a veggie. They’re in the cucurbit family related to cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and pumpkins.

    There’s two main families of melons: those with rough, netted, or reticulated rinds (muskmelons, cantaloupes, etc.) and those whose rinds are baby-smooth (such as honeydew).

    The most grown varieties are Cantaloupes and honeydews, with the state ranking first in the nation in the production of both.

    Eat the Rainbow

    Different colors provide different health benefits and eating a wide range of colors maximizes the variety of nutrients we’re consuming. The most vibrantly colored fruits and veggies are also the richest in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

    cubed melon, tomatoes, feta, mango and papaya arranged like a rainbow on a tray; overhead.

    What You Need for Cali Summer Rainbow Salad

    Summer in a bowl: salty and sweet, with a hint of acidity.

    Melons – any variety and heirloom variety works. To find the sweetest and juiciest melons, check out your local farmer’s market. Look for dense, richly colored, and deeply aromatic melons in the summer. They’ll be in a whole different league than the bland ones often found at the supermarket.

    Tomatoes - any variety and heirloom variety works. They’re more than 15,000 known varieties of tomatoes.  They range in flavor range from mild too sweet to tangy and even smoky, with vary degrees of acidity. Head to your local farmers market and find heirloom tomatoes can be found in every color of the rainbow!

    Feta – Look for sheep's-milk feta, which tends to be to be creamier and tangier than domestic cow's-milk versions. 

    Pro Tip: Buy feta in blocks. It's much more flavorful and consistently higher quality than pre-crumbled. 

    Fresh Herbs such as basil, cilantro, parsley, mint and more add a pop of color and freshness.

    Other Fruits & Veggies: mango, papaya, pineapple, cucumbers, avocado and more!

    The deliciously healthy salad packed with nutrients is gluten free and perfect for a light meal or as a side. Omit the feta to make it dairy free too.

    a very colorful fresh fruit and tomato salad on a pink plate with spices, basil and vinaigrette

    Favorite Recipes Featuring California Grown Produce:

    • Melon Paletas
    • Peach & Burrata Salad
    • Tomato Confit
    • Watermelon Gazpacho
    • Tomato Galette
    • Stone Fruit Galette

    Cooks Tips:

    • When possible, buy local and organic produce at the peak of its season.
    • The salad will only be as good as the quality of your ingredients.
    • Salad is best served immediately, or within the hour, of dressing.
    • The vinaigrette can be made in advance and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    Have ya tried this recipe? I’d love to hear about it and see it too! Please leave a comment below and take a pic and tag it on Instagram with @DanielaGerson. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food and awesome adventures!

    Let’s make waves in the kitchen!

    This post was proudly made in partnership with California Grown. All opinions are my own. California Grown is a 501c3 dedicated to connecting Californians with the people who grow and produce their food.

    very colorful tomato and melon salad topped with basil, spices and vinaigrette.
    Print Recipe

    California Summer Rainbow Salad

    This sweet, juicy, crunchy, salty, briny, and tangy seasonal salad celebrates the very best of California’s summers fresh fruit and veggie bounty!
    Prep Time30 mins
    Course: Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine: Californian
    Author: Daniela Gerson

    Ingredients

    • 1- pound melon in assorted colors, diced
    • 1- pound mixed ripe tomatoes in assorted colors, diced
    • ½ pound other produce such as mango papaya, cucumbers and/or avocadoes diced
    • 8 oz feta cubed or crumbled
    • 3 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 tbsp lime juice
    • 1 tsp lime zest
    • 2 tsp honey
    • 1/2 cup freshly herbs such as mint, basil, chives, tarragon, and/or cilantro, large leaves torn, and small leaves left whole
    • 1 1/2 tsp za'atar
    • 1 1/2 tsp sumac
    • kosher salt to taste
    • black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • For the Salad, using a sharp chef's knife or serrated knife, cut fruit’s & veggies and into an assortment of slices, wedges, and/or bite-size pieces.
    • For the Dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and zest, honey, za'atar, sumac and salt while slowly pouring in the olive oil until emulsified.
    • To assemble, in a large bowl, plater or tray, arrange the melon, tomatoes, other fresh fruit and veggies you’re using and feta. Top with fresh basil and other herbs, season with salt & pepper and drizzle with vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • When possible, buy local and organic produce at the peak of its season.
    • The salad will only be as good as the quality of your ingredients.
    • Salad is best served immediately, or within the hour, of dressing.
    • The vinaigrette can be made in advance and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
    Did you make this recipe? Please share and tag @DanielaGerson! I'd love to see how you're making colorful waves in the kitchen!
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    Meet Daniela

    VEGGIES ARE SEXY 

    Hi, I'm Daniela - a Los Angeles based food photographer and creative director. I began my career as a chef with a passion for sourcing colorful produce from local markets. I love emphasizing the beauty of real food with my images. I’m also a food stylist and recipe developer with a gorgeous prop-filled studio in Venice, California.

    Daniela Gerson Photography

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    64 shares