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Watermelon Salad

The perfect summer starter, Watermelon Salad, combines juicy watermelon and slightly sweet jicama with a honey-lime vinaigrette and fresh mint. It’s a crunchy, refreshing side dish that tastes like sunshine!

Watermelon has got to be one of the world’s best summer fruits, and it’s delightful in a salad. Many watermelon salad recipes include cheese or even onions, but I wanted to take a different approach and add jicama. This crunchy root vegetable tastes like a cross between a potato and a pear, and it pairs so well with ripe, juicy watermelon.

While it may not come to mind right away when you think about salad, fruit can make most any salad shine. Together with fresh berries, lemon yogurt tops off easy Berry Fruit Salad for a fruity brunch starter, picnic side dish, or even a light dessert. Or, for a heartier salad option that’s great for lunch or dinner, try Roasted Broccoli Salad with dried cranberries and almonds.

Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Salad

  • This easy and quick recipe can be prepared in 10 minutes, making it the perfect choice for busy days and last-minute meals.
  • Hydrating, nutritious, and low in calories, this healthy salad is a flavorful indulgence you can feel good about.
  • Jicama’s crisp texture adds a satisfying crunch to this salad that will have everybody asking for seconds. 
  • It’s an excellent choice for barbecues, picnics, and potlucks. Go ahead and make a double batch of this crowd-pleaser for your next summer gathering!
  • To prepare it in advance, make the salad and dressing a day ahead of time, then dress it just before serving.

What You’ll Need

  • Watermelon – Fresh, juicy watermelon forms the base of this salad. Seedless is the easiest kind to use. 
  • Jicama – Thinly sliced jicama adds an irresistible crunch. 
  • Mint – Fresh mint makes this juicy salad twice as refreshing. 
  • Lime Juice – Adds a tangy acidity to the salad and helps it last longer without browning. 
  • Olive Oil – Forms the satisfying base for the dressing.
  • Honey – Adds a touch of mellow sweetness.
  • Salt  – Helps to enhance the flavors and balance the sweetness.
Jicima and Watermelon Salad {Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts}

What Is Jicama

Jicama might look unremarkable from the outside, but it more than makes up for it with its juicy crunch and subtly sweet flavor. 

To pick a high-quality jicama, it should feel firm. The skin should look dry, smooth, and unwrinkled. A few little blemishes are okay, since you’ll need to peel it before using it. A lot of stores sell it pre-sliced and ready to use in the produce section.

To store jicama, keep it in a dry place in your refrigerator. Try to use it within 3-5 days after buying it for the best flavor and texture

How To Make Watermelon Salad

  • Make the dressing. In a bowl, whisk the lime juice, olive oil, honey, and salt together thoroughly.
  • Combine the salad ingredients. Toss together the watermelon, jicama, and mint. 
  • Dress and serve. When you’re ready to serve the salad, pour the dressing on and stir it all together to coat the ingredients evenly.
jicama and watermelon salad in a bowl

Recipe Tips & Variations

  • Choose the perfect watermelon. Look for a watermelon that feels heavy for its size and has a uniform shape. Check for ripeness by tapping on it and listening for a hollow sound.
  • Chill the ingredients before serving. On a hot summer day, a cold salad is extra refreshing. Chill the watermelon and jicama in the fridge before making and serving the salad.
  • Slice the jicama nice and thin. Thinly-sliced jicama will be easier to chew, so you can enjoy its crisp and crunchy texture to the fullest. You can absolutely buy the pre-sliced stuff at the store, it is in the chilled area in the produce section.
  • Add a touch of spice. To make this salad a little spicy, add some cayenne or black pepper to the dressing. 
  • Try it with orange juice. For a sweeter dressing, substitute orange juice for half of the lime juice in this recipe.
How Do I Make This Vegan?

For a vegan option, use agave or coconut nectar instead of honey. This will make the salad vegan-friendly without sacrificing taste.

Can I Make This Without Mint?

If you don’t have mint on hand or prefer not to use it, you can omit it or use cilantro instead.

Can I Use Cheese?

Watermelon Jicama Salad would be delicious with crumbled queso fresco or bits of creamy chevre (goat cheese) or even feta. Feta is very common with watermelon, so if you can find jicama, you could also use that instead.

Storing Watermelon Salad

Store any leftovers of this salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container and enjoy it within 2-3 days.

More Delicious Summer Side Dish Recipes

Yield: 8

Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad, combines juicy watermelon and slightly sweet jicama with a honey-lime vinaigrette and fresh mint. It’s a crunchy, refreshing side dish that tastes like sunshine!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 cups watermelon, cubed
  • 2 cups jicama, cut into thin slices
  • 1/4 cup mint, finely chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. In a bowl whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey and salt until well combined. You can also put in a small mason jar, and shake until well combined.
  2. Toss together watermelon, jicama and mint in a mixing bowl until evenly blended.
  3. Pour dressing over when ready to serve, stirring to coat.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

8 Servings

Amount Per Serving Calories 105Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 0mgSodium 78mgCarbohydrates 19gFiber 2gSugar 12gProtein 1g

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Judith

Tuesday 26th of May 2015

Hate to be a wet blanket but "jicima" is not the correct spelling. The correct spelling is "jicama" and it is a wonderfully useful food in the low-carb world. A little more than half its carbs are fiber, very low in its total net sugar and its taste and crunch make it very satisfying to eat. It's also available year round at least in Mexican stores if not in all stores.

Janice

Saturday 9th of May 2015

We had snow on Mothers Day last year here in Arvada Colorado. About 10 days straight of rain is getting a little tedious. ;~}}

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