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Garlic & Zest

Gourmet Cooking at Home!

Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
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This hydrating watermelon cucumber salad with honey lime dressing is light and fresh.  I’ve added crumbly queso fresco, blueberries and a smidge of piment d’espelette  to the dish for a unique watermelon blueberry salad that stands apart from the rest. 

 

I was in New York about a month ago when the temperature hit 105°.  Let me repeat that –  105°.  Here in Florida, it’s not the heat — it’s the humidity and with feels like temps that range from 100°-105°,  we look for every opportunity to hydrate and stay cool. That’s why this watermelon cucumber salad with honey lime dressing is a regular guest on our summer table.

 

sliced watermelon

I’ve always been crazy about ice cold watermelon in the summer months, so much that we’re constantly making this watermelon agua-fresca.  Watermelon is sweet, but not overly so — and crazy juicy.  In fact, watermelon is 92% water – so it’s a great hydrator and it contains potassium which is essential for regulating a body’s water balance.

 

thinly sliced cucumbers.

Cucumbers are the other main component in this healthy summer salad and believe it or not — they’re 96% water — yes — even more than watermelon.  I had no idea…

 

using cutters to cut watermelon into shapes.

Begging your indulgence for just a moment — I am a food blogger which means  I take pictures of my food and talk incessantly about it… I don’t expect that you have the same level of interest or intensity that I do about this — and therefore I DO NOT expect you to actually use shaped cutters to create fun designs for your watermelon and cucumbers THE WAY I DID.

 

slicing cucumbers with cutters.

I agree — I’ve gone a bit overboard here — and this summer side salad would taste every bit as delicious if you simply cut them into bite-sized chunks.  However, if you’re feeling a little whimsical — or are trying to teach shapes to a toddler, use these fun cutters (affiliate link below) to make them. (Side note: this particular set of cutters also includes card suit shapes – for all you poker bridge players).

 

arranging Watermelon Cucumber Salad in a dish.

Watermelon cucumber salad has been a popular summer side dish for years, because it’s light and refreshing.  Many watermelon salads use feta cheese for a briny, salty bite.  I like feta, but for my tastes, it’s a little strong combined with the sweet melon.

 

crumbling queso fresco.

Instead, I prefer queso fresco. A mild Mexican cheese that crumbles the same way as feta does.  It’s salty, but not overly so.  If you don’t have any, feel free to use feta or even crumbled goat cheese for your cucumber watermelon salad, but if it’s available where you are, give the queso fresco a try.

 

 

making honey lime dressing.

Honey Lime Dressing For Fruit Salad

To dress this simple salad, use a simple blend of honey, lime zest and lime juice.  It’s sweet, tart and light.  I like that because it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients, just ties them all together. This honey lime dressing makes a great dressing for fruit salads all year round.

 

sprinkling Piment D'espelette on the Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

The final ta-da to the watermelon cucumber salad with honey lime dressing is a sprinkle of Piment D’Esplette – a pepper grown in the Basque region of France, and one that I’ve been eating my whole life thanks to my grandparents and their French heritage.

 

Adding piment D'Esplette to the watermelon cucumber salad.

This pepper is slightly smoky and spicy and it comes in powdered form at specialty food shops or online (don’t worry, I’m giving you affiliate links below). Piment D’Esplette complements the sweet summer fruits, adding a complex spicy, smoky nuance that you wouldn’t expect.  If you’ve ever had Tajin (a Mexican chili/lime seasoning) you’ll know how well the chili spice enhances the sweet watermelon cucumber salad.

 

Serving Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

How To Make Watermelon Cucumber Salad:

  1. Cut the watermelon into bite-sized chunks, or use a shaped cutter tool and cut out fun shapes for the salad — this would be great for 4th of July, Memorial Day, Father’s Day or Labor Day!
  2. Peel and seed the cucumber. Cut the cucumber into bite sized chunks — or slice the cucumber into 1/4″ planks and use a shaped cutter to create fun designs.
  3. Transfer the cut fruit to a shallow dish and add the blueberries and queso fresco.
  4. Make the honey lime dressing by whisking together lime zest, lime juice and honey until well blended.
  5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
  6. Just before serving, sprinkle with Piment D’Esplette to taste.

 

Perfect 4th of July salad.


Garlic & Zest is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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4.86 from 7 votes

Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Strangely irresistible, this Watermelon Cucumber Salad gets a lift from the honey lime dressing and a sprinkle of Piment D'esplette.
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword blueberries, cucumber, honey, lime, queso fresco, watermelon
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 151kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups watermelon cut into 1" cubes (or use a 1" cutters in different shapes)
  • 1 large cucumber peeled and sliced into 1/4" thin vertical slices around the seeds - discard seeds)
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 2 tablespoons red onion finely diced
  • 3/4 cup queso fresco crumbled
  • 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • sprinkle Piment d'Espelette - Red Chili Pepper Powder from France 1.41oz" class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" target="_blank">Piment D'Esplette

Instructions

  • Combine the watermelon, cucumber, blueberries, onion and queso fresco in a shallow serving dish.
  • In a small prep bowl combine the honey, lime zest and lime juice -- mix until well combined.  Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat.
  • Sprinkle the Piment D'Esplette over the salad to your tastes.  Piment can be very spicy so check your tolerance before adding too much.

Nutrition

Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 905IU | Vitamin C: 17.7mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 0.6mg

“Pin Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing” For Later!

 

More Summer Salads:

Rum Spiked Tropical Fruit Salad
Rum Spiked Tropical Fruit Salad
Tipsy Fruit
Tipsy Fruit
Tropical Fruit Salad with Sweet n Spicy Dressing
Tropical Fruit Salad with Sweet n’ Spicy Dressing

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Fruit// Salads// Vegan/Vegetarian8 Comments

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Comments

  1. Claudia Lamascolo says

    August 3, 2018 at 1:58 PM

    I could literally eat this everyday for breakfast and lunch I am a try diehard watermelon fan and this looks fabulous!

    Reply
  2. Nancy says

    August 3, 2018 at 1:48 PM

    Perfect. Summer. Salad. Very hot here, too. And watermelons and cucumbers are on sale this week. I’m going to try it out!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      August 3, 2018 at 2:16 PM

      Bonus that they’re on sale!

      Reply
  3. Shinta Simon says

    August 3, 2018 at 12:55 PM

    I love the simplicity and freshness of this salad. Watermelon is what gets me through the hottest days always! This is what I need to beat this heat wave we’ve been having here. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Marie – Not Enough Cinnamon says

    August 3, 2018 at 12:33 PM

    I have the same kind of hot and humid summer so I could definitely use a hydrating and refreshing salad like this one. Really love your twist on this classic!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      August 3, 2018 at 2:15 PM

      Glad you like it, Marie!

      Reply
  5. Chris says

    August 3, 2018 at 11:59 AM

    So refreshing looking! Can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
  6. Beth says

    August 3, 2018 at 11:16 AM

    This looks like the perfect summer salad! It is hot here in NY lately! Not 105, but hot for us in Upstate! Perfect weather to enjoy this salad! Lol! Food bloggers and their silly cookie cutters! Normal people would tell us we have too much time on our hands! 🙂

    Reply

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Meet Lisa

Lisa

Calling all cooks! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table! At Garlic & Zest, I’ll show you how to make hundreds of seasonal, fresh recipes and indulgent comfort foods with easy step-by-step instructions and photos to help you master the dish.

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