Watermelon Crunch Salad with Mint Vinaigrette

This Watermelon Crunch Salad is so summery and delicious! A spinach and arugula dish is topped with fresh watermelon, avocado, goat cheese, pickled onions and pistachios and drizzled with mint vinaigrette. Precious!

I’m back with another summer salad!

So there is absolutely no excuse for not having the best salads ever this season. I am here for you!

This watermelon and arugula salad is filled with avocado, goat cheese, pickled onions and loads of roasted pistachios for an epic crunch. Drizzle with a mint vinaigrette for a fresh, tangy bite that just screams summer. We love it!

Okay, I realize it seems like my mission is to make a hearty salad out of every fruit. And while that’s not necessarily wrong, we just madly love melons in salads. This combo is such a classic and, like many of my other meat-free salads, makes a wonderful base when you want to add more.

There are so many ingredients in this salad that I love. We have:

watermelon cubes. I like to make them smaller than 1 inch cubes because that makes them easier to eat. Imagine a chopped salad where you get a bite of whatever goes on the fork. This is how this watermelon should be cut.

Baby spinach and arugula. Basically all you need is a bed of greens. The crispier and crunchier, the better! Peppery arugula is a nice complement to the sweet melon here.

Creamy goat cheese. If you don’t like goat cheese, you can use feta cheese or even cotija. You can also use fresh mozzarella if one of these isn’t your favorite.

Pickled onions! Yes, I use them in almost everything. Yes, they are so worth it. And yes, I keep a serving in my fridge every week.

pistachios! I like to use roasted and even salted ones. Leave some whole, chop others. Toss in a bunch so you get some crunch in every bite.

avocado. The rich, buttery avocado pairs so well with every flavor and texture in this bowl. It also gives the dish a great feeling of satiety.

Now for the fresh mint vinaigrette! This is FRESH. That’s all I can say about it.

First, be sure to use a blender like the Nutri Bullet to blend everything. This is how I prepare my basil vinaigrette and that makes all the difference.

Next, you probably have all of the ingredients for this dressing, especially if you have an herb garden. If not, just get some fresh mint. The remaining ingredients are white vinegar, honey, garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper — likely things you have in your pantry. Simply!

Finally puree and pour over the salad. This makes a wonderful garnish or dressing for just about any summer salad or fruit. It’s so minty and bright.

It’s so vibrant and bright and beautiful! I want to paint my life with these colors.

This salad also tastes great with grilled chicken or salmon. It also tastes very good with some white beans. It’s super versatile and makes a great appetizer or side salad, as well as a base for something a little fancier.

All in all, this is the ultimate bowl of summer flavor!

Watermelon Crunch Salad

Neon salads for life.