Packed with fresh summer produce, this Sweet Heat Watermelon Salad recipe is simple to make, feeds a crowd and pairs well with classic grilled recipes.
My entire family gathers at our lake house over Memorial Day weekend every year to kick off the summer season. In addition to Memorial Day, you’ll find us there for the 4th of July, Labor Day weekend and pretty much every summer day that allows us to sneak away! When we gather with friends and family at the lake, one thing is guaranteed–amazing food, festive drinks and one heck of a good time!
A summer salad recipe that Iāll definitely be making this weekend is Sweet Heat Watermelon Salad. Watermelon is the quintessential summer food to me and is one of those foods that Iām always trying to find new ways to use in recipes. This refreshing salad features summer favorites like fresh cantaloupe, seedless watermelon, cucumber, red onion, citrus and mint. The salad pairs perfectly with burgers, hotdogs, barbecue…literally whatever is on your grill…and is a refreshing way to balance out starchy sides like potato salad, pasta salad and chips.
Follow along with the pictures as I walk you through this refreshing summer salad, and get the full recipe below.
Zest the limes.
I like to zest the whole lime first because if you slice the lime and THEN zest, it is much more difficult (and sticky).
Juice the limes.
Add orange juice.
Squeeze fresh orange juice or use the bottled OJ you have in your fridge. No OJ? No problem! Sub with lemon juice.
Add sugar, crushed red pepper, and salt.
The heat from the crushed red pepper helps to balance the sweet flavor. Feel free to leave this out or reduce the amount if youāre afraid it will be too hot for some.
Add jalapeƱo.
See the note aboveāthe same rule applies.
Whisk in olive oil.
Chop a fresh, seedless watermelon.
If you love watermelon salad, then be sure to check out my Tomato-Watermelon Salad featuring juice ripe tomatoes, sweet watermelon, Vidalia onions, crumbled feta and mint.
Chop cantaloupe.
Chop mango.
Add diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and diced bell pepper.
Add fresh cilantro and fresh mint.
Toss with the vinaigrette.
Go on! Click that little āPinā popup and file this amazing recipe on your āMust Make ASAPā board so youāll have it on-hand all summer long!
What are your favorite recipes during the summer? Share them with me in the comments below.
Packed with fresh summer produce like melons, cucumber, bell peppers, citrus, mint and more, Sweet Heat Watermelon Salad boasts a tangy, sweet, and spicy lime vinaigrette. It’s simple to make, can easily be doubled to feed a crowd, and pairs well with classic cookout staples like burgers, brats, and more.
Double the ingredients in the recipe to feed a crowd.