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    Home / Recipes / Vegan Salads

    Watermelon Quinoa Salad

    Published: Jun 10, 2025 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    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 quinoa salad recipe served in a bowl garnished with mint.

    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 Vegan 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, also called balsamic reduction, 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 it 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, 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.
    Quinoa watermelon salad in a dish on the table.

    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

    The salad ingredients are in a glass bowl on the counter.
    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. Garnish with mint leaves and drizzle with extra balsamic glaze.
    7. If adding tofu feta cheese, crumble it on top as a garnish.
    I am mixing the salad ingredients in a bowl.

    Recipe FAQs

    What can I add to blad watermelon?

    Lime and lime zest bring bland watermelon to life. Others sprinkle watermelon with salt.

    How do you keep watermelon fresh after cutting it?

    Wrap the cut side tightly with cling wrap. When you remove the cling wrap, replace it with a new one. If the melon is cut into pieces, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    How long is watermelon good for once it is cut?

    Watermelon is best for 3-5 days. However, it can last longer if stored properly and remains in the rind rather than cut into pieces.

    Watermelon quinoa salad recipe served on a platter on the counter.

    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 Vegan Salads to Celebrate Summer

    • Spinach Strawberry salad recipe
      Spinach Strawberry Salad
    • Cowboy Caviar
    • Chopped vegan Greek salad recipe
      Chopped Vegan Greek Salad
    • Mediterranean Salad With Chickpeas recipe
      Mediterranean Salad with Chickpeas

    If you love this watermelon quinoa salad recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

    📖 Recipe

    Watermelon Quinoa Salad

    Kathy Carmichael
    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!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Entrees, Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 160 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups watermelon cut into bite-sized cubes
    • 2 cups cooked red quinoa or an color quinoa
    • ½ cup pickled red onions or raw red onions, sliced thin
    • 1 English cucumber seeds removed and diced
    • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
    • 1 lime juiced and zested
    • ¼ cup balsamic glaze + more for drizzling or balsamic vinegar
    • ⅛ cup mint leaves added as garnish
    • ½ teaspoons salt

    Optional

    • ½ cup tofu feta cheese or white beans drained

    Instructions
     

    Quinoa

    • Cook the quinoa according to the package instructions.
    • Allow the quinoa to cool completely while preparing the other ingredients.

    Pickled Onions

    • Prepare pickled onions a day ahead of time so they have time to absorb the brine in the refrigerator.
    • Remove ½ cup of pickled onions and place on a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

    Assembling the Salad

    • Place all the ingredients, except for the mint leaves in a large bowl.
    • Toss together.
    • Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
    • To serve, stir and add mint leaves as a garnish.
    • Sprinkle with tofu feta if using, or consider adding white beans.
    • Drizzle with additional balsamic glaze.

    Notes

    • 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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 4gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 101mgPotassium: 321mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 725IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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