Watermelon Salad Recipe

Watermelon is a sweet tasting fruit that grows on the ground and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family which includes fruits like pumpkin, cantaloupe, etc. As watermelons were originally found in Southern Africa, they are often called African melon too. This heavy, spherical shaped melon usually contains flesh that is red in color. However, you can also find watermelons in different colors including orange, white, brown, pink and yellow. Though people love eating watermelons because of its refreshing and sweet taste, there are actually many health benefits attached to this fruit. Moreover, even though most people like to consume watermelons just like a fruit, watermelon juice and salads are popular with many. Let us first understand some watermelon facts.

Nutritional Facts about Watermelon

Watermelons possess high quantity of nutrients and minerals that are necessary for the human body to function properly. This fruit is a good source of magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium and potassium. Other nutrients present in watermelon are vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin B5 as well as folic acid. As the nutritional value of watermelon is so high, it helps in preventing as well as treating many diseases or health issues that affect human beings. Watermelon is the best treatment recommended to people who have the problem of constipation as it helps in clearing the intestine by eliminating the toxic wastes. It is also believed to treat as well as prevent diseases like itchiness, skin blemish, arthritis, cholesterol, heart attack, prostate cancer, etc. As watermelon has so many health benefits, it is important that this fruit should be included in your daily diet. However, if you are bored of eating watermelons, here are some interesting recipes of watermelon salads.

Watermelon Salads Options

Watermelon Summer Salad

This refreshing watermelon salad is perfect for having on a warm sunny day.

Ingredients

• 48 ounces watermelon
• 3/4 cup red onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 cup crumpled feta cheese
• 3 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 4 ounces pitted black olive halves
• 8 ounces fresh mint

Preparation

Slice the red onions into thin slices and place it in a small bowl. Sprinkle lime juice over it and keep it for ten minutes till the onions lose its raw flavor. During these ten minutes, chop the watermelons into cubes and add them to a big salad bowl. Combine it with other ingredients like feta cheese, onions with lime juice, chopped mint and olives to it. Pour olive oil over the salad and mix thoroughly.

Watermelon Fruit Salad

This watermelon salad is delicious as well as healthy as it made with the assortment of fruits and is one of the best watermelon recipes for kids.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe watermelon
• 2 bananas
• 12 ounces grapes, seedless
• 12 ounces fresh peaches
• 1 can frozen orange juice, melted
• 10 ounces blueberries and strawberries
• 1 medium-sized cantaloupe, sliced

Preparation

You can either scoop out the watermelon and cantaloupe with the help of a melon scoop or slice them into cubes. Along with these, chop the bananas, grapes and fresh peaches too. Take watermelon in a large mixing bowl and add the other fruits including grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries and peaches into it. Pour the orange juice over these fruits and mix gently. Chill the salad in the refrigerator till the time of use.

Grilled Watermelon Salad

Though not many people know about grilled watermelon salad, those who make it have said that grilling helps to enhance the flavor of the fruit.

Ingredients

• 1/2 watermelon, seedless
• 16 ounces fresh baby arugula, washed and dried
• Fresh finely cracked black pepper
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
• Kosher salt- as per taste
• Extra-virgin oil

Preparation

Remove the rind of the watermelon and cut it into one inch thick slices. In a sauce pan, take vinegar and bring it to boil in a medium to high flame. Once the vinegar becomes thick, take it out from the heat and keep it aside. Prepare the nonstick grill pan by heating it on a medium to high flame. Sprinkle olive oil over watermelon and keep it on the hot grill pan. Once grill marks appear on one side, turn it to the other side. Once the pieces are fully grilled, take it on a plate and sprinkle some kosher salt. In a serving dish, place some baby arugula and a piece of grilled watermelon over it. Add some cheese over it and repeat the whole procedure beginning with the baby arugula. Drizzle some olive oil over the top and also sprinkle some black pepper over it and serve.

Watermelon Salad with Alcohol

One of the best watermelon recipes for adults will be to make a watermelon salad by adding alcohol to it.

Ingredients

• 1 watermelon, chopped into 1 inch pieces
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons crème de cassis

Preparation

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, take fresh lemon juice and sugar and beat them together. Add crème de cassis as well as the vodka and blend well. Add some salt to this mixture and set aside. Take watermelon pieces in a large mixing bowl and add the prepared mixture to it. Cover the bowl with a lid and keep it in the refrigerator for an hour or two. Garnish with chopped fresh mints before serving.

These are some of the refreshing recipes that you can try at home. Be it a picnic, party or a sunny day, I feel that these mouth-watering watermelon salads will not only help in refreshing your taste buds, but also your spirits.