Watermelon Salad Recipes
If there's anything about some of my recipe creations I know it's the 'unexpected.' Yes, I believe in mixing it up, trying new things, looking at ingredients in different ways, in different combinations. And, I think this beet watermelon salad falls into that genre of Ally recipes. Watermelon is such a diverse fruit. Most of us love eating this juicy sweet goodliness with just a sprinkle maybe of sea salt. But, wait, there are so many other things we can do with watermelon, including grilling watermelon!
Beet Salad
Beets are certainly considered a super food. And, I love combining red and golden beets to get more of those rainbow colors into the recipe.
I think what inspired me with this beet watermelon salad was first of all my visit to a farmer's market where I feasted my eyes on the harvests of the gods. Beets. Watermelon. Fresh spinach. Apples. And, more. The colors were spectacular. It was like an artist's paint brush had gently stroked everything I saw on the tables and in the baskets.
Goat Cheese on Salad
Goat's milk is just perfect for making delicious cheeses, and goat cheese is one of my favorites. But, there are many other types of goat cheese like chabichou, majorero, picodon, bucheron, garrotxa cheese. Yes, all probably not readily available, but, nonetheless made from goat's milk. Goat cheese is not to be confused with feta cheese. Just remember that goat cheese is made from goat's milk and feta cheese is made from sheep's milk. However, there can be a tiny bit of goat milk in feta!
Goat cheese with its tangy creamy flavor is perfect on a salad. And, it compliments the sweet watery watermelon and juicy beets. So adding just of goat cheese on salad brings on new palate dimensions.
Goat cheese is ever so versatile. Check out this Goat Cheese Spinach Tart! Perfect for Sunday Brunch.
Watermelon and Beet Salad
When I got home from the farmer's market with my bounty, my creative mind went into overdrive. Rather than do something expected with the beets, like a soup, I decided that the red and yellow beets would look amazingly gorgeous with the ruby red of the watermelon. Now, it did take a little bit of effort to dice all these beautiful ingredients, but it was so worth the extra time when I looked at the finished product. Plus, dicing the watermelon and beets just made it easier to eat. To pierce with a fork or scoop onto a spoon.
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon, seedless, diced
- 1 cup red beets, peeled, cooked & diced
- 1 cup yellow beets, peeled, cooked & diced
- 1 cup apple, crispy, red skin on, diced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, packed & chopped
- 3 cups fresh spinach, packed & chopped
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. coarse ground pepper
- 1 lemon, juice
- 3 Tbl. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup salty pistachios
Instructions
- Combine in a large mixing bowl the watermelon, beets, apple, basil, spinach and toss with your hands.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Whisk and blend. Pour over the salad mixture and toss.
- Top with goat cheese and pistachios. Serve immediately.
Notes
If you're not serving the salad immediately, do not put the vinaigrette on. Simply cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad.
Just in case you don't know how to cook the beets. Wash them. Slice off the top and bottom (just a little). Cut in halves or fourths. Put in a pot. Cover with water. Cover and cook over about medium heat. You'll know they're done when a toothpick or skewer can pierce them. Drain. Cool. Peel off skins. Then start slicing and dicing.
Your sharing is GOLDEN! Thank you!
Your sharing and comments help me stay in business! Share a photo if you make the recipe #allyskitchen Thank you! xo Ally
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon, seedless, diced
- 1 cup red beets, peeled, cooked & diced
- 1 cup yellow beets, peeled, cooked & diced
- 1 cup apple, crispy, red skin on, diced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, packed & chopped
- 3 cups fresh spinach, packed & chopped
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. coarse ground pepper
- 1 lemon, juice
- 3 Tbl. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup salty pistachios
Instructions
- Combine in a large mixing bowl the watermelon, beets, apple, basil, spinach and toss with your hands.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Whisk and blend. Pour over the salad mixture and toss.
- Top with goat cheese and pistachios. Serve immediately.
Notes
If you're not serving the salad immediately, do not put the vinaigrette on. Simply cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad.
Just in case you don't know how to cook the beets. Wash them. Slice off the top and bottom (just a little). Cut in halves or fourths. Put in a pot. Cover with water. Cover and cook over about medium heat. You'll know they're done when a toothpick or skewer can pierce them. Drain. Cool. Peel off skins. Then start slicing and dicing.
Your sharing is GOLDEN! Thank you!
Your sharing and comments help me stay in business! Share a photo if you make the recipe #allyskitchen Thank you! xo Ally
