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    Home » Cuisine » American

    Published: May 17, 2019 · Modified: Aug 23, 2020 by Preeti · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and Cucumber

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    This watermelon salad with basil and cucumber is a summer special thats fresh, zippy and crunchy! It can be dressed without the herbs and left in the refrigerator for a few hours till you are ready to serve which makes it perfect for potlucks, barbecues and beach parties.

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and Cucumber served on a plate with extra dressing on the side

    I've told you before that I don't like watermelon and yet, this is my second watermelon recipe this season. I guess I can't get enough lately. And I'm discovering my love for this right now. Better late than never.

    A good watermelon salad when it's hot and sweaty can immediately lift the mood as I'm discovering these days. We inhale this by the bowlful on most days now.

    Most watermelon salad recipe are feta based with a balsamic dressing. But this one's different. This is more like a mediterranean watermelon salad with fresh cucumber, basil, cilantro, roasted cumin, oregano and pomegranate juice in the dressing. There's a sharp flavour from the mustard and red onions that's a nice balance to all the sweetness. And the herbs really make the watermelon shine. If you can't live without the saltiness of feta, go ahead and add it if you want, but I don't mind leaving it out.

    All the ingredients for watermelon salad with basil and cucumber in a bowl ready to be tossed with the dressing

    Pick the right watermelon

    It's really important that you pick watermelon thats ripe. Here in India, the fun thing is you can ask the vendor to cut open the watermelon and even let you taste it before you have to buy it. But I guess that's just India. Here are some tips that can help you choose watermelon.

    Make this watermelon salad ahead

    This watermelon salad can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. I recommend chilling it for at least half an hour. Leave the herbs out and dress everything else and store it in the fridge. Just before serving, toss the basil and cilantro in, so that they don't wilt completely by the time people start eating.

    Closeup of watermelon salad with basil and cucumber

    You might notice that the dressing pools at the bottom if you leave the salad in the fridge for too long, but just give it a quick toss and you are good to go.

    This recipe really makes me feel like I'm summer ready! A watermelon under my arm and I can tackle everything.

    Also try: This Watermelon Lime Smoothie for a quick pick me up!

    Check Out Easy Healthy Salads:

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    Watermelon Salad with Basil and Cucumber served on a plate with extra dressing on the side

    Watermelon Salad with Basil and Cucumber

    This watermelon salad with basil and cucumber is a summer special thats fresh, zippy and crunchy! It can be dressed without the herbs and left in the refrigerator for a few hours till you are ready to serve which makes it perfect for potlucks, barbecues and beach parties.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salads
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 Portions
    Calories: 130kcal
    Author: Richa

    Ingredients

    For the Salad

    • 4 cups Watermelon (chilled)
    • 1 ¼ cup English Cucumber diced (chilled)
    • ½ cup Onions sliced
    • 3 tablespoon Coriander leaves Cilantro, chopped
    • 3 tablespoon Basil torn

    Salad Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon Pomegranate Juice
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
    • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • ¼ teaspoon Cumin Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Oregano dried
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper ground
    • ½ teaspoon Salt

    Instructions

    • Put all the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and whisk together till combined.
    • Place the watermelon, cucumber, onions in a salad bowl and drizzle the dressing over. Toss together. Refrigerate for at least half an hour to let the flavors seep in. Toss the cilantro and basil with the salad just before serving.

    Notes

    Watermelon: It's important to choose a ripe watermelon for its firm flesh and sweet flavour that we love so much. Here's how to pick a ripe watermelon.
    Chill the ingredients: This salad is best enjoyed cold. I like to place the watermelon and cucumbers in the fridge for sometime before tossing the salad together. I also refrigerate the salad for some time before serving so that it stays cold, and this also gives a chance for the flavors to seep in.
    Other Add Ons: This is a really well balanced salad and has a robust flavor from the spices. The only other addition I would make to this is crumbled feta.
    Substitute for Coriander (Cilantro): If you don't like coriander in your salad, swap it with mint leaves.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 337mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 998IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Steven Jepson says

      March 15, 2021 at 1:34 am

      5 stars
      Made this up but added mango to serve with a red lentil vegan curry. Really lovely flavours and loved by everyone

      Reply
      • Richa says

        March 25, 2021 at 4:06 pm

        Sounds fantastic! So glad you liked this salad

        Reply
    2. Playful Cooking says

      May 21, 2019 at 10:55 pm

      Absolutely loving this salad! It will so good with some grilled chicken on the side. Will let you know when I try it.

      Reply
      • Richa says

        May 27, 2019 at 3:01 pm

        Grilled chicken would be amazing! So glad you like it

        Reply
    3. memmsta says

      May 18, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      nice

      Reply
    4. preeti says

      May 17, 2019 at 8:22 pm

      5 stars
      p.s. your husband did a great job with the website! tell him kudos!

      Reply
      • Richa says

        May 18, 2019 at 2:25 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    5. preeti says

      May 17, 2019 at 8:22 pm

      5 stars
      i rarely bookmark recipe websites, but I love your recipes! i tried a couple and they were a big hit. i look forward to new posts from you all the time. great recipes, fantastic photography and not too long or rambling articles. just perfect for someone whose attention can't be monopolized for too long 😀

      Reply
      • Richa says

        August 07, 2019 at 9:37 pm

        Awww this is the sweetest comment Preeti. Thanks for following along 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi I'm Richa! the cook, writer and photographer behind this little blog. I’ve grown up in the kitchen along side my mum and grandmothers and conversations in my family are always about the next meal. I’ve picked up their love for food along the way, and with this blog, I share my food story with you.

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