Peppery greens and luciously sweet fruit make this Watermelon Arugula Salad a perfect summertime salad!
A few fresh herbs and the sweet-and-spicy chili honey lime dressing adds complexity and interest to this showstopper of a side dish that was originally inspired by a Minnesota State Fair offering.
Quick Look: Watermelon Arugula Salad
⏲️Ready In: 15 Minutes
🍽Servings: 4
🥗Nutrition: 169 Calories
🥘Main Ingredients: Arugula, Watermelon, Arbol chiles, Lime juice, Basil, Mint
📋Dietary Notes: Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy Free, Nut free
⭐Why You'll Love It: Savory and sweet, this simple summertime salad comes together quickly for a showstopping side dish!
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With less than 5 ingredients in the dressing and 5 in the salad, this recipe is pretty simple while still packing in TONS of spicy-sweet flavor!
Peppery arugula and dried arbol chiles get balanced out by sweet watermelon and honey-lime dressing. It's the perfect kind of salad with complex flavors and textures!
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Ingredients
ARUGULA: Historically, arugula is not my favorite leafy green. Arugula booms with peppery flavor, and that turned me off. But the older I get, the more I crave it! If arugula isn't your jam, you can substitute a spring greens blend.
WATERMELON: Sweet fruit tamps down the bite of arugula! Obviously you'll want to select a ripe watermelon. Pick a watermelon that's heavy, has a yellow field spot, and has a duller matte rind color.
DRIED CHILES: One of the secret ingredients for the dressing is dried arbol chiles! They can be pretty spicy, so I recommend starting with just 1 arbol chile OR use 1 Guajillo chile instead (they're much milder. You can substitute dried chile flakes if you'd rather skip the dried chiles altogether.
MINT + BASIL: A couple fresh herbs add interest and depth to this salad. While you can omit these if you're in a pinch, I do think this watermelon arugula salad is better with than without them!
Variations and substitutions
This salad is pretty simple as-is, but here are some suggestions if you'd like to change it up a bit!
- Swap out watermelon for another fruit: Melons work well (think cantaloupe), but I recently made a version of this salad with grilled peaches and it was amazing!
- Add cubed cucumber for more refreshing crunch: While we're talking summer product, cucumber makes a great addition here. A large cubed cucumber adds more cooling crunch to this arugula salad.
- Take the spice out of the dressing: If you're worried the dried chiles will overwhelm you, just omit them and for a citrusy honey lime dressing.
- Use spring greens instead of arugula: Not an arugula fan? Use a spring greens mix OR a blend with arugula to have a little peppery flavor without too much bite.
FAQs
Yes - feel free to omit the slivered almonds and the salad will be nut free!
If you'd still like a little bit of crunch, you can substitute with toasted sunflower seeds or even cubed cucumber.
Many grocery stores carry dried chiles in the "Mexican" section, or near tortillas, salsa, taco seasoning, etc.
Otherwise, you can purchase dried arbol chiles or Guajillo chiles online!
Arbol chiles are spicier than Guajillo chiles - so if you're worried about the spiciness level, I suggest starting with just 1 arbol chile OR use 1 Guajillo chile for the dressing.
That said, if you don't mind the heat - go for the 3 arbol chiles. Definitely adds a kick that works so well with watermelon!
Serving suggestions
Crafted with summertime produce, watermelon arugula salad accompanies grilling recipes and gatherings perfectly!
I've made this salad numerous times for laid back get togethers, paired with Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs or Grilled BBQ-Rubbed Chicken Drumsticks.
Or serve this spicy-sweet salad alongside burgers like Easy Bunless Burgers with Cilantro Dill Mayo Sauce or SunButter Bacon Burgers!
Did you try this Watermelon Arugula Salad recipe? I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and rating or tag me on Instagram - I appreciate your feedback.
Print📖 Recipe
Watermelon Arugula Salad with Chili Honey Lime Dressing
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Bake
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Simple and spicy-sweet, this watermelon arugula salad features a chili honey lime dressing for a refreshing summertime side dish! Dried arbol chiles add spiciness and pops of color to the dressing, but you can use dried red pepper flakes instead.
Ingredients
- 3 small dried arbol chiles or 1 Guajillo chile (or ½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup lime juice (from approximately 2 limes)
- 4 cups cubed watermelon
- 2 cups arugula, packed
- ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds
- ¼ cup fresh basil, ribboned
- ¼ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Place the dried arbol chiles in a shallow bowl and cover with hot water. Let soak for 10 minutes to reconstitute. Once chiles have soaked, discard the water. Slice each chili open and remove the seeds. Slice into thin strips.
- Add the sliced chili strips, honey, lime juice, and extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- In a large bowl, add the cubed watermelon, arugula, basil, and mint. Drizzle with dressing and toss to combine. Garnish with almonds (they tend to sink to the bottom so I add them last). Best if served immediately.
Notes
If you're worried about the spiciness of the dressing, feel free to start with just 1 dried chile - you can always add more later! Otherwise, Guajillo chiles are much milder.
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