Just the thought of watermelon makes us dream of summer, basking in the sun on the beach and burying our faces in a big juicy slice. But don’t worry if you can’t enjoy the joy of summer vacation just yet! We have a fun Watermelon Arugula Salad recipe that will bring the taste of summer right to your plate! It’s a fresh, vibrant, and absolutely delicious dish—not to mention it’s ready in no time!
All you need are five simple ingredients that are cheap and easy to find during the summer season: watermelon, peaches, arugula, cucumbers, and red onions. In just 10 minutes you can prepare a refreshing green salad that is perfect as a side dish or as a light bite. But before we get into that directly, let’s see what makes this summer salad so special:
-
watermelon – It is the star of our recipe, tasty and refreshing, with a beautiful red color. This fruit is over 90% water, which means it’s low in calories and helps you stay hydrated [1]. It also contains powerful antioxidants like vitamin C and lycopene.
-
arugula – Also known as arugula, arugula or roquette, it’s crunchy, peppery and slightly tart. It’s a member of the cabbage family, like kale and broccoli, which means it’s a powerhouse of nutrients like calcium, folic acid, and vitamin K [2].
-
peaches – You can use smooth-skinned nectarines or furry peaches. We recommend nectarines as you don’t need to peel them. Rather than just adding them as is, we sliced ​​them into wedges and grilled them until charred. If you’ve never tried grilled peaches before, you’ll be amazed at how good they are!
-
Cucumber – It’s a low-calorie, fresh, crunchy addition that pairs beautifully with the other ingredients. Quite similar to a watermelon, it’s 96% water, perfect for cooling down. Just remember to leave the skin on for extra fiber.
-
onions – Last but not least, a few rings of red onion add colour, crunch and a spicy touch to the whole dish.
As a condiment, we opted for a simple dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and black pepper. Alternatively, you can opt for apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar, or try our lime tahini sauce for a richer dressing.
A serving of this watermelon salad has only 112 calories, so top it off with some homemade falafel or meatless nuggets for a full meal. Or sprinkle with some plantain croutons for a crunchy finish.
You can also take it to a picnic or BBQ and serve as a fresh side dish – it will make everyone happy!