This recent watermelon salsa pairs candy melon with lime, jalapeño, and cilantro for a zingy dip! Great with excellent with chips or grilled proteins, this simple recipe is a enjoyable summer time appetizer that’s additionally vegan and gluten-free.
One summer time Alex’s mother served watermelon salsa at a household barbecue and at first I used to be somewhat skeptical—however one chew modified every thing! The mixture of candy, juicy watermelon with zesty lime and spicy jalapeño was magical. She recommended Alex and I make our personal spin on the recipe: and I’m so glad she did.
Now this recent watermelon salsa is a summer time appetizer staple at my home! It’s simple to make, requires no cooking, and at all times disappears inside minutes at events. It’s apparent with tortilla chips, nevertheless it’s additionally nice for serving with grilled fish, rooster or tacos. Just make sure that to serve it with a slotted spoon, as a result of it’s tremendous juicy!
Key substances in watermelon salsa
Salsa merely means “sauce” in Spanish, and refers to all kinds of sauces in Mexican delicacies that may be made with or with out tomatoes. The hottest salsa is with purple tomatoes, however there are dozens of well-liked variations like corn salsa, peach salsa, and mango salsa.
This watermelon salsa makes use of the identical idea as a recent tomato salsa however makes use of cubed watermelon as an alternative! I like reducing the cubes fairly small to make it an built-in texture, however you may also depart them in larger cubes for a bigger, chunky look. The substances you’ll use are:
- Fresh ripe watermelon: The star of the present
- Tomato: Adds conventional salsa taste (non-compulsory however advisable)
- Red onion: I favor this over white onion for its milder chew
- Jalapeño pepper: Start with half and alter to your warmth desire
- Fresh cilantro: Essential for that genuine Mexican taste
- Fresh lime juice: Never use bottled—recent is essential
- Granulated sugar: Balances the acidity and enhances the fruit
- Kosher salt: Brings all of the flavors collectively
How to chop a watermelon into cubes
Often we used to really feel daunted when making watermelon recipes as a result of this melon is notoriously difficult to chop. But right here’s a technique for the right way to reduce a watermelon that makes it fast, easy and painless:
- Cut in half via the center. Use a big Chef’s knife to slice the watermelon in half via the center (not lengthwise).
- Cut into slices. Flip the half over onto the flat base, then reduce it into slices.
- Slice off the rinds with a paring knife. Switch to utilizing a small paring knife (utilizing a smaller knife provides you extra management). Slice off the rind of every slice.
- Cut a grid sample to make cubes. Switch again to the knife. Make a grid sample to chop the watermelon into cubes.
Pro suggestions for watermelon salsa
Watermelon salsa is like several recent salsa: the one time consuming half is chopping all of the fruit and veggies! But there are some things to notice about adjusting the flavors. Here are a number of notes on the tactic:
- Adjust the warmth stage to style. This watermelon salsa recipe comes out delicate since we’ve referred to as for eradicating the jalapeño seeds. But when you like spicy salsas, use a number of the seeds: or you may even use your entire pepper.
- Add sugar or salt to style. Depending on the ripeness of your melon, you could wish to add extra sugar to the salsa. It additionally may have a pinch or two extra salt: make sure that to style and alter as obligatory!
Storage info
This watermelon salsa tastes greatest the day it’s made. However, it shops as much as 2 days refrigerated. It will collect liquid throughout refrigeration so you could want to empty or use a slotted spoon for serving. I favor to eat it day of, although: with a number of further tortilla chips!
Ways to serve it
The greatest option to serve watermelon salsa? Add a giant bag of tortilla chips and also you’re in enterprise! It additionally works nice with plantain chips or your favourite dipper of alternative. But don’t cease there: it’s a zingy sauce to serve with grilled fish and extra. Here are some concepts for serving:
Dietary notes
This watermelon salsa recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Watermelon Salsa
This recent watermelon salsa pairs candy melon with lime, jalapeño, and cilantro for a zingy dip! Great with excellent with chips or grilled proteins, this simple recipe is a enjoyable summer time appetizer that’s additionally vegan and gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegan
- 2 cups finely diced recent ripe watermelon
- ½ cup diced tomato (non-compulsory)
- ¼ cup diced purple onion
- 1/2 jalapeño pepper, minced and seeded
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar (non-compulsory or extra to style)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Tortilla chips, for serving
- Prepare the watermelon, tomato, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro as listed above.
- In a bowl, combine all substances gently along with the lime juice, sugar and salt. Serve instantly or wait 5 minutes to let the flavors meld. Taste and add extra sugar or salt to regulate the flavour as desired. Serve with chips or with grilled fish, shrimp or rooster, utilizing a slotted spoon to empty juices earlier than serving. Tastes greatest the day it’s made, nevertheless it shops as much as 2 days refrigerated (it would collect liquid throughout refrigeration so you could want to empty or use a slotted spoon for serving).
Other watermelon recipes
When it’s watermelon season, you’ve acquired to take benefit! Here are a number of watermelon recipes to attempt: