Ripe, red watermelon just screams summer to me! Every year I look forward to to those ultra juicy, fresh melon slices… My kids love a good rind-on wedge — sooooo messy, but SO worth it!
Of course you can always remove the rind and slice it so that you can eat it in a more civilized manner. It takes some of the fun out of it, but it’s actually really easy to do! And slicing it this way also makes dicing the watermelon a snap (as you’ll want to do for the yummy watermelon salsa recipe I’m going to share below).
How To Choose A Watermelon
I’ve got some simple tips for choosing a ripe watermelon:
- To start, look for a watermelon that’s uniform in shape, without any weird bumps or blemishes.
- Next look for what’s called the “field spot”. This is the lighter colored side where the watermelon rested on the ground. Ideally you want to find a melon that has a deep yellow field spot, but a white patch is better than no spot at all.
- Finally, pick the watermelon up to check its weight. It should feel heavy for its size.
- You can try the “thump test” too, as Texas Watermelon Farmer Jack Wallace demonstrates in this video.
Unfortunately, while these tips increase your chances of picking up a perfectly ripe and delicious watermelon, it’s not always guaranteed.
However, this is one of the reasons I love to shop for produce at Walmart. Their 100% freshness guarantee means that if I’m not completely satisfied with my produce purchase, I can just bring back my receipt to receive a full refund, no questions asked.
I know a lot of stores have a freshness guarantee, but Walmart’s stands out to me because they don’t even require you to bring the produce back into the store — no hassle!
Anyhow, back to to this yummy watermelon salsa recipe… If you’ve never considered swapping watermelon for tomatoes in a salsa recipe, you’ve been missing out! Light and fresh, with a touch of sweetness, this watermelon salsa is amazing on your favorite tortilla chips (Food Should Taste Good multigrain tortilla chips in this case).
Turn up the heat by using diced jalapeño chile peppers or make it milder with Anaheim chile peppers. Either way, it’s a winner!
Watermelon Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon, seeded and diced
- 1/2 cup cucumber, seeded and diced
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 tablespoons jalapeño (hot) or Anaheim (mild) pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- zest of one lime + juice of half
Instructions
- Combine the watermelon, cucumber, yellow bell pepper, red onion, cilantro and chile pepper in a medium mixing bowl.
- Drizzle with honey and lime juice. Sprinkle with salt, and toss gently to combine.
- Refrigerate for one hour to allow the flavors to combine. Serve with tortilla chips.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 70Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 131mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Try these other yummy fresh salsa recipes:
- Fresh Tomato Salsa Recipe — Sweet, juicy tomatoes, red onion for a little bite, cilantro, lime juice, and a little diced jalapeño pepper, plus a dash of salt are all you need for a deliciously homemade fresh tomato salsa… SO simple and packed with flavor!
- Pineapple Salsa — Serve your guests up a heaping bowl of this easy pineapple salsa recipe at your next cookout! The sweet and spicy flavor is delicious with your favorite tortilla chips or pairs perfectly as a refreshing topper for grilled chicken, pork, and fish…
I’d love to see how your watermelon salsa turns out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!