Hot days call for hot food, and this spicy watermelon tomato salad is the perfect grilling side! A punchy ginger dressing ties it all together.
This salad covers all of the flavors! It’s sweet. It’s spicy. It’s tangy. It’s savory. It’s…it’s ALL the things right now, especially if you make it with all those homegrown peppers, basil, and heirloom tomatoes you have in your garden or find at the farmer’s market. (But even if you don’t, it’s still fabulous.) If you want it extra spicy, add in a scotch bonnet or other habanero-type pepper. Want to cool it down? Add less. The super unique flavor profile really hits the spot on a warm summer day!
This spicy watermelon tomato salad is delicious & refreshing – the perfect summer side dish! If you’re sensitive to spice, start with less jalapeño and add more to your taste.
How to make Zesty Watermelon Tomato Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1 Tablespoon tamari
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2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
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2 teaspoons rice vinegar
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1 small garlic clove, minced
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½ teaspoon minced ginger
For the salad:
- 3 heirloom tomatoes, sliced into wedges
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5 cups cut watermelon (about 2-inch triangles)
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1 thinly sliced jalapeño and/or a few Thai chiles
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2 Tablespoons Thai basil or regular basil
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2 Tablespoons toasted cashews
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½ avocado, diced
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Sea salt, to taste, if desired
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Lime wedges, for serving
Directions:
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the tamari, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
- Arrange the tomatoes, watermelon, and jalapeños/chiles on a platter or in a shallow bowl. (Depth of bowl is important–a shallow bowl keeps the juices on the fruits and veggies.)
- Drizzle with the dressing and top with the basil, cashews, and avocado.
- Season to taste and serve with lime wedges.
Recipe from Renewal by Andersen
Ingredient Notes
Watermelon: For this salad recipe we prefer Black Diamond watermelons. They have a vibrant pink flesh and a dark green rind. They’re super sweet and labeled as “seedless watermelons,” which just means they have less seeds than traditional watermelons.
Tomatoes: You can use any variety of tomato for this salad. We like to use big, juicy red tomatoes because they blend in with the watermelon and create a striking salad. These types of tomatoes include vine-ripe, Better Boy or Big Beef varieties. However, feel free to use roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, or even cherry tomatoes.
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