Watermelon Basil Salad. Sweet watermelon with fresh basil, red onion, topped with a sweet balsamic glaze! An easy recipe ready in 15 minutes! A refreshing summer side dish made with simple ingredients.
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What is Watermelon Basil Salad?
Watermelon Basil Salad is a tasty salad featuring watermelons, red onion, fresh basil leave with a sweet tangy lime balsamic reduction. The tastes of this salad recipe are perfectly balanced in every way!
This dish serves well as an appetizer or side dish. A great way to cool off during the hot summer months. If you prepare the balsamic reduction in bulk in advance, you could enjoy this dish without having to turn on the stove!
Watermelon is hands down one of my favorite summer fruit! Sometimes I actually have dreams of eating it especially when it's hot. So when I first tried a variation of this watermelon salad I knew I had to make my own simplified version. With enough testing, I am proud to share my version of this fruit salad.
This is a great way to enjoy this fruit and it's also a vegan recipe. This dish also uses minimal ingredients making it a very easy salad recipe. Perfect for those days when I have little energy to cook.
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Seedless Watermelon: I like using a mini seedless watermelon or a whole watermelon, cut enough to yield 4 cups worth. You can also use pre-cut watermelon but ensure the fruit is vibrant red and smells sweet.
- Fresh basil leaves: or feel free to substitute with fresh mint leaves. Either will work. I prefer basil. I don't recommend using dried basil leaves for this recipe.
- Red onion: The red onion gives this watermelon basil salad recipe a nice zing! I wouldn't substitute with white onion or green onion.
Salad Dressing
- Lime Juice: The lime really takes this fresh fruit salad to the next level by giving it a tropical fresh flavors! Make sure it's fresh lime juice and not the pre-squeezed kind. You may use lemon juice as a last resort.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: to help emulsify our dressing. If you don't have EVOO, feel free to substitute with a neutral oil like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid coconut oil or sesame oil.
​Balsamic Reduction:
- Balsamic vinegar: the key ingredient to making our balsamic dressing. Most grocery stores will carry this ingredient.
- Sugar:Â white sugar, cane sugar or even brown sugar will work. I prefer using white granulated sugar for this.Â
How to Make Watermelon Basil Salad
- Slice seedless watermelon into half. Using a melon baller, scoop melon into balls. If you don’t own a melon baller, scoop with a large spoon or remove the watermelon skin with a sharp knife and dice melon into cubes. Place into a large bowl.Â
- Add chopped basil and sliced red onion to your large mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, and whisk well. Pour over the watermelon, basil and red onion and gently mix. Transfer to a large salad bowl.Â
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, whisk together balsamic vinegar and sugar. Reduce until it is thick like a syrup. Drizzle balsamic reduction on top of the salad. Serve immediately and enjoy! Note: It is best to consume salad within the same day.
Storage
​This salad is best consumed same day. However, it will last up to 2 days stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
Expert Tips
- Choose a sweet watermelon. I can't stress how important this is for making the best watermelon salad! The sweetness really helps to balance the tangy balsamic vinaigrette. To choose a good watermelon, please read the FAQ section below.
- Dice or use a melon scoop. It's important that the size of the watermelon pieces are somewhat equal for a tastier bite.
- Fresh basil is recommended. I wouldn't suggest using dried basil. It just doesn't taste the same as refreshing basil leaves. If you can't find this herb, replace with fresh mint leaves.
- Don't over simmer the balsamic reduction. Once the vinaigrette is thickened, remove off heat immediately and don't over simmer it. It can easily burn.
FAQ
To choose a good watermelon, look for a large orange or dark yellow "field" spot and ones with a large web on the skin. Both signs usually mean that the watermelon is sweeter because it's been on the vine for longer. It should also smell sweet. Â The best season to source fresh watermelon is May and September. The watermelon must be sweet for this to be enjoyed. If you've tried watermelon that isn't sweet, you'll know how it can be a sad game changer.Â
​Yes! Feel free to add these suggested ingredients: pine nuts, crisp cucumber like Persian cucumbers, fresh blueberries, creamy feta, parmesan cheese,
goat cheese, or black pepper.
Other recipes to check out!
If you enjoyed watermelon basil salad, check out my other salad-like recipes!
📖 Recipe
Easy 15-min. Watermelon Basil Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon seedless and chilled
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- ¼ cup red onion sliced
Dressing
- 2 tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed (not the pre-squeezed kind)
- 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- â…“ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
Instructions
- Slice cold seedless watermelon into half. Using a melon baller, scoop melon into balls. If you don’t own a melon baller, scoop with a large spoon or remove the watermelon skin with a sharp knife and dice melon into cubes. Place into a large salad bowl.
- Add chopped basil and sliced red onion to your large bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, and whisk well. Pour over the watermelon, basil and red onion and gently mix.
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, whisk together balsamic vinegar and sugar. Reduce until it is thick like a syrup. Drizzle balsamic reduction on top of the salad. Serve immediately and enjoy! Note: It is best to consume salad within the same day.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
This is such a fabulously refreshing dinner salad recipe... and I simply adore your homemade dressing!!
Leanne
This is just the perfect summer salad! It would be great on the side with our grilled burgers this evening!
Rosemary
OMG watermelon and basil?! Okay I literally have sooo much basil growing in the garden... it is fate that I make this!!
Sherri
This is absolutely perfect for summer! Love the idea of the watermelon and red onion together! And the best part is how easy it is to make! 🙂
christieathome
Thanks Sherri! Yes so good! It's incredibly hydrating and delicious!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
We pretty much always have watermelon around during the summer, so this salad would be easy for me to whip up! What a perfect side dish! So refreshing, Christie 🙂
Alex
I just love the different textures in this delicious salad. It is beautiful and colourful - a real showstopper!