Name: Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups seedless watermelon, cut into bite-sized pieces; 1 large English cucumber, deseeded and cut into quarter bite-sized pieces; 1 large radish, sliced thin; 1/2 cup pickled red onions or raw red onions, sliced thin; 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice; 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped; Salt and pepper to taste; 1 recipe tofu feta (optional)

First, let me start this post by telling you how excited I was to find watermelon at the store today! When I walked into Sprouts Market, I spied something green in a big bin in the corner. I cannot begin to explain how much I love watermelon, not only because it reminds me of summer, but it is also my favorite fruit! For years, living in Michigan, I tried to grow watermelon in my backyard, which was an epic fail every time. For those of you who understand living in the midwest, deer eat everything! Now that I live in Arizona, watermelon comes early to the stores and my kitchen! So, today, I am making summer in a bowl; watermelon cucumber salad recipe.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I cut the top off watermelon and ate it with a fork holding the melon in my lap. And, Kristyn, my daughter, loves watermelon just like me!

One of my favorite salads to make in the summertime is watermelon cucumber salad. In Arizona, watermelon season begins in the spring, which makes a watermelon lover like myself giddy.

HOW TO PICK A QUALITY WATERMELON AT THE GROCERY STORE OR MARKET

Believe it or not, there is a science to picking a good watermelon. Nothing frustrates me more than buying a whole watermelon and cutting it open to find a tasteless watermelon. As a result, I end up throwing the watermelon away or hoping someone will be hungry enough to eat it. In fact, I hate wasting money more than I detest a tasteless watermelon. So, I have a few tips for avoiding these pitfalls.

Heavy for its size; a ripe, tasty watermelon is heavy.
Look for a yellow spot on the underbelly. Because watermelon grown on the ground, the yellow spot indicates its ripeness.
Knock on the underbelly; ou want to hear a deep not dull sound

WHAT SIMPLE INGREDIENTS DO I NEED FOR WATERMELON CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE

4 cups seedless watermelon
1 English cucumber, seeds removed, and cut into quarters
1 large radish, sliced thin
1/2 cup Simple Rosemary Infused Pickled Red Onions or raw red onions, sliced
3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Not only does watermelon cucumber salad scream SUMMER, but it is also so simple to make! My watermelon cucumber salad, however, is a bit different because it includes my favorite Simple Rosemary Infused Pickled Red Onions!

WHAT ARE PICKLED RED ONIONS?

Again, simple to make, Simple Rosemary Infused Pickled Red Onions not only enhances any dish but transforms watermelon cucumber salad. With its beautiful pink hues and tangy-sweet taste, pickled red onions are refreshing and sweet. The pickling process, for instance, removes the pungent flavor of the red onion and sweetens them to compliment the watermelon and other flavors in the salad.

PICKLED RED ONIONS

Red onion
White vinegar
Agave
Salt

OPTIONAL FLAVORINGS (PICK ONE OR MIX AND MATCH TO ACCOMPANY YOUR FOOD)

Black peppercorns
Rosemary
Thyme
Hot red pepper
Garlic
Whole cumin seeds

ADDING TOFU FETA TO WATERMELON CUCUMBER SALAD

Even though this salad doesn’t need anything else to make it fabulous, another option is to add tofu feta cheese to make it an entree. As a result, tofu feta adds protein and a salty savory component to the sweet, refreshing salad.

So, if you want to add tofu feta, I suggest making it in advance and using it for a variety of recipes.

6 servings