Watermelon Quinoa Salad

This refreshing watermelon quinoa salad recipe is meant for hot summer days! Dig into a savory, sweet summer fresh salad! Quick and easy to make in 20 minutes!

Watermelon is one of my favorite summer fruits! So, this week, I grabbed a watermelon at the farmers market and made a refreshing watermelon quinoa salad for dinner. I've made watermelon cucumber salad in the past, and my family loved it. So, I took this watermelon quinoa salad recipe to the next level by adding some savory ingredients to create a refreshing savory and sweet salad.

Jump to:

• How to Choose a Watermelon
• Watermelon Quinoa Salad Ingredients
• Watermelon Quinoa Salad Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make Watermelon Quinoa Salad
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• More Delicious Salads to Celebrate Summer
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

How to Choose a Watermelon

One of the biggest frustrations is choosing a whole watermelon, cutting it open, and discovering it isn't ripe or worse; it's overripe. Returning a heavy, cut-open watermelon is a pain! So learning some secrets to picking a perfect watermelon help to avoid such problems.

• You want to find a melon that is heavy for its size. This usually means it will be sweeter and will have more water content.
• Look for an orange-creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor.
• Pick a melon that has a strong, consistent stripe pattern. The green stripes should be a deep, dark green, while the pale stripes should be a creamy, light yellow.
• Additionally, you may want to choose a dull-looking watermelon. If the melon is very shiny, it is likely underripe.
• Inspect its stem, which should be dry and yellow-brown. A green stem may signify that the watermelon is not yet ripe and will lack flavor and sweetness.
• Knock on the watermelon. If the pitch sounds deep and hollow, the fruit has more water and is likely riper. By contrast, if your knock sounds higher-pitched and denser, it may signify that your rind is too thick and your fruit has not fully ripened to its optimal state.
• Look for a rounder and more evenly shaped watermelon, unlike an oval one. The rounder melons are sweeter, while the more oval ones tend to be watery and less flavorful. 
• And, last but certainly not least, shop in season. Seasonal fruit is the freshest and the most inexpensive, especially for this watermelon salad recipe.

Watermelon Quinoa Salad Ingredients

• Watermelon: Summer fresh watermelon is delicious this time of year. I chose seedless watermelon.
• Red Quinoa: Quinoa has a mild and slightly nutty flavor. It is commonly used in place
• Pickled Red Onions: Pickled red onions are tangy, a bit sweet, and crunchy all at the same time.
• Cucumbers: I used English cucumbers containing less water and removed the seeds. Because the watermelon contains a lot of water, and so do the cucumbers, I removed the seeds to reduce the water in the salad,s o it doesn't get soggy.
• Basil: I used fresh basil for the best flavor.
• Balsamic Glaze: Balsamic glaze is also called balsamic reduction. It is a sweet and tangy syrup that you only need a little of, depending on the recipe you are using it for. It is quite intense in flavor, so start adding slowly.
• Lime: I used fresh lime juice!
• Salt: A little salt enhances the flavor of the ingredients in the watermelon quinoa salad. If you are a salt-sprinkled-on watermelon fan, this is right up your alley!
• Mint: I used fresh mint, which is added at the end as a garnish, rather than stirring it into the ingredients.
• Tofu Feta (Optional): Adding tofu feta cheese adds another level of flavor.

Watermelon Quinoa Salad Ingredient Substitutions

• If you aren't a watermelon fan, choose cantaloupe or honeydew melon.
• Choose any color of quinoa, or try barley, farro, or couscous instead.
• Instead of pickled red onions, use raw red onion slices.
• Zucchini is similar to cucumbers with fewer seeds. Or if you can't find English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers are similar to English cucumbers.
• Substitute 1 teaspoon of dried basil for every 2 teaspoons of fresh basil.
• When in doubt, use bottled lime juice when fresh juice isn't available.
• Another option is to add balsamic vinegar rather than balsamic glaze.
• Skip the tofu feta and add white beans for an added protein source.

How to Make Watermelon Quinoa Salad

1. Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. Allow to cool completely before adding to the salad.
2. The pickled red onions should be made a day before, or use raw red onions.
3. Place pickled onions on a paper towel to drain an excess brine from the onions.
4. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl, except for the mint leaves.
5. Toss. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
6. Serve in a bowl or on a platter and add mint leaves a garnish and drizzle with extra balsamic glaze.
7. If adding tofu feta cheese, crumble it on top as a garnish.

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Do not cut the watermelon until you are ready to make the salad.
• Use seedless watermelon when adding watermelon to salads.
• Quinoa only takes 15 minutes to cook, but it needs to cool completely before combining with the other salad ingredients.
• If purchasing balsamic glaze, not all balsamic glaze is vegan. Some contain honey.
• Add lime zest for even more flavor.
• Include tofu feta cheese, grilled tofu, or white beans for added protein.
• Serve with toasted crusty bread.
• Make this salad a day ahead so the flavors develop.
• Drizzle with additional balsamic glaze for more flavor.
• The salad will stay fresh for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.

This summer, make a refreshing watermelon quinoa salad as a side or main dish! You will love this simple savory, sweet salad recipe.

More Delicious Salads to Celebrate Summer

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