Minty Watermelon Cucumber Salad (Vegan)
Fresh watermelon and cucumber salad with red onion, mint leaves, and jalapeño! A refreshing plant-based side for summer and beyond! Just 10 ingredients and 20 minutes required.
Servings 4 (~2 cup servings)
Ingredients
DRESSING
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (if oil-free, omit)
- 3 Tbsp lime juice (1 large, juicy lime yields ~3 Tbsp)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 3/4 tsp maple syrup
SALAD
- 5 cups watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups cucumber, cut into 1-inch chunks (preferably English or Persian cucumber // if using regular cucumber, peel in strips to make alternating stripes of green and white)
- 1/4 cup very thinly sliced red onion
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 - 1 thinly sliced jalapeño pepper (or sub 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes)
- 1/4 cup pepitas or roughly chopped shelled pistachios
- 1/2 cup vegan feta crumbles (optional but recommended // we used Follow Your Heart brand)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, salt, and maple syrup.
- To a large bowl, add the watermelon, cucumber, red onion, mint, and jalapeño. Drizzle the dressing over the top and toss to coat. Add pepitas (or pistachios) and vegan feta (optional) and toss gently until just combined (avoid over-stirring). Taste and adjust as needed, adding more salt or vegan feta for saltiness, jalapeño for heat, lime juice for acidity, or mint for freshness.
- Best eaten fresh — leftovers become soggy and mint discolors with time. Not freezer friendly.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with pepitas and without optional ingredients.
Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)
Serving: 1 serving Calories: 130 Carbohydrates: 16.8 g Protein: 3.6 g Fat: 7.3 g Saturated Fat: 1.2 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.9 g Monounsaturated Fat: 3.7 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 151 mg Potassium: 339 mg Fiber: 2.1 g Sugar: 10.3 g Vitamin A: 853 IU Vitamin C: 18.5 mg Calcium: 32 mg Iron: 1.2 mg