Spicy Watermelon Salad

This juicy Spicy Watermelon Salad is a summer hit! Sweet, salty, spicy… it checks all the boxes! Time to grab a summer watermelon and make this tasty salad STAT!

Step-By-Step Instructions

The first step will be to make your dressing by combining your olive oil, lime juice. honey, chili powder, salt and cayenne in a small bowl.

The second step will be to add your sliced red onion to a bowl and cover with water. You’ll let them stand in the water while you prepare the rest of the salad. This will help take away some of the sharpness of the red onion. This step is optional. If you like strong red onion taste, no need to do it.

The third step is to add your cubed watermelon and jalapeño to a large bowl followed by your drained red onion and then toss with your dressing.

You’ll gently toss everything together until the watermelon is well coated with the dressing.

I usually toss everything in a large bowl and then I add the salad to a large platter.

The final step will be to top your watermelon salad with as much of the crumbled cotija cheese as you prefer and then sprinkle with your finely chopped fresh cilantro. I always serve my salad with any extra cheese on the side.

I have so many great salads here at the BHK and this is definitely one of my summer favorites. You know I don’t go for boring salads, so this one checks all my boxes!

Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!

Spicy Watermelon Salad

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Servings: 6 servings

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This juicy Spicy Watermelon Salad is a summer hit! Sweet, salty, spicy... it checks all the boxes! Time to grab a summer watermelon and make this tasty salad STAT!

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients  

Dressing

• 3 Tbsp. lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne

Watermelon Salad

• 6 cups seeded watermelon, cut into roughly 1-inch cubes
• 2/3 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
• 1-2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions 

Dressing

• Make your dressing by combining your olive oil, lime juice. honey, chili powder, salt and cayenne in a small bowl. Set aside.

Watermelon Salad

• Add your sliced red onion to a bowl and cover with water. You'll let them stand in the water while you prepare the rest of the salad. This will help take away some of the sharpness of the red onion. This step is optional. If you like strong red onion taste, no need to do it.
• Add your cubed watermelon and jalapeño to a large bowl followed by your drained red onion and then toss with your dressing.
• Gently toss everything together until the watermelon is well coated with the dressing. I usually toss everything in a large bowl and then I add the salad to a large platter.

  Top your watermelon salad with as much of the crumbled cotija cheese as you prefer and then sprinkle with your finely chopped fresh cilantro. I always serve my salad with any extra cheese on the side.

Notes

I love cotija cheese which is a salty Mexican cheese, but feta will also work here.

The jalapeño I used was rather large because I love jalapeño. You can use as much as you like.

Keyword: summer recipes, watermelon

Cuisine: American

Course: Salad