Watermelon is part the joyous, sweaty part of Summer for me. Indelibly marked with memories of kitchen tables and picnic benches past, watermelon is pure sweetness. Maybe its the size of the fruit that requires sharing, or the juiciness that refreshes more thoroughly than any can of soda ever could. The convergence of ripe watermelon, tomatoes and mint makes this salad inevitable, as if it existed in nature long before anyone put it together. Watermelon Salad with Spearmint is sure to be on repeat at your dinner table until Fall!
The Best Watermelon Salad is Simple
Watermelon is one of those fruits that you can eat out of hand and never tire of the sweet, juicy fruit. But don’t limit yourself- Watermelon is also a team player, able to shine in a salad alongside other foods. This salad is a good way to introduce your family to watermelon salads. With a touch of lime and olive oil, the melon is the sweetest thing in the salad, bringing out the savory flavors of the tomatoes. The bit of vegetal sparkle that comes from the scallions lets your palate know, this isn’t just a chunk of sweet melon.
Once you get into watermelon salad, you might want to try Watermelon Gazpacho
Plenty of Health Benefits from Watermelon
Sometimes when a food is as purely pleasurable as watermelon, it’s hard to believe that it’s a strong defender of your body, too. Watermelon is named for its main characteristic-it’s full of water, for hydration on a hot day. It’s also high in fiber. The unique part is the lycopene in red watermelon that helps prevent cancer and diabetes. Citrulline, an amino acid in watermelon, is associated with lowered blood pressure. Watermelon also delivers vitamin A for eye health, and potassium for heart health.
What You Need to Make Watermelon Salad
This one is easy. I used half of a mini seedless melon, so we would have half left for the next day. It made 4 cups of cubed melon. A big Heirloom yellow tomato felt right, and the low-acid flavor profile of yellow tomatoes works with sweet watermelon. I also liked the color contrast, but any good tomato will do, feel free to use purple, green, ir red tomatoes, as long as they are ripe and juicy.
I have plenty of spearmint growing in my garden, so I picked a bunch, and used about half a cup in the salad. A couple of scallions were easy to slice and throw in.
The dressing is a really simple mix of fresh lime juice and extra virgin olive oil. A little salt, and there you are, a watermelon salad that tastes like summer.
Chop the Watermelon, Toss It All Together
It’s not hard to make, but you need a good knife to cut the watermelon. Cut the melon and tomato in bite-sized pieces, about the same size. Add the freshly sliced mint and scallions. Then squeeze the lime to make juice, and whisk in the olive oil and salt.
I don’t usually buy single-use tools, but I’ve come to love the hinged lime and lemon juicers you see in Mexican grocery stores. I use one in the video and you can find it here:
If you need a good sharp knife, the one I used in the video is here:
The tongs make it easy to serve:
Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Mint
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed watermelon, preferably seedless
- 1 large heirloom tomato
- 1/2 cup fresh spearmint slivered
- 2 scallions chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cube the melon and tomato and place in a large bowl.
- Chop the spearmint and scallions and add.
- In a small bowl, juice the lime, then whisk in the olive oil and salt.
- Pour the dressing over the fruit, and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.
