Spicy Watermelon Arugula Salad Recipe
This Spicy Watermelon Arugula Salad combines the sweet juiciness of watermelon and strawberries with the peppery bite of arugula, balanced by a zesty chipotle strawberry dressing. Topped with creamy goat cheese, crisp Persian cucumbers, spicy serrano peppers, and crunchy pepitas, this refreshing salad offers a vibrant mix of flavors and textures, perfect for a light summer meal or side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Chipotle Strawberry Dressing
- ½ pt strawberries (hulled)
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from canned chipotle)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 5 tbsp granulated sugar
- 4 tbsp fresh parsley (stems removed)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt (Diamond Crystal Brand)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup olive oil
Salad
- 4 oz arugula
- 16 oz watermelon (cut into ½ inch cubes)
- ½ pt strawberries (hulled and sliced)
- 4 oz goat cheese (crumbled)
- 2 Persian cucumbers (sliced thin)
- 1 serrano pepper (sliced thin)
- 2 oz pepitas
- 1 pinch kosher salt (Diamond Crystal Brand)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chipotle Strawberry Dressing: Combine the hulled strawberries, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, fresh parsley, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth or only small chunks remain.
- Emulsify the Dressing: With the food processor running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Continue blending until all the oil is incorporated and the dressing is emulsified and creamy.
- Assemble the Salad: Place the arugula in a large serving bowl as the base. Layer evenly with the cubed watermelon, sliced strawberries, crumbled goat cheese, thinly sliced Persian cucumbers, sliced serrano pepper, and pepitas on top.
- Season and Dress the Salad: Sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt over the salad to enhance flavors. Drizzle the prepared chipotle strawberry dressing over the salad just before serving.
- Serve Immediately: Toss gently if desired and serve the salad immediately to enjoy the fresh and contrasting flavors at their best.
Notes
- Make sure to slice the serrano pepper thinly for a balanced heat level.
- Use Diamond Crystal kosher salt for accurate seasoning, or adjust salt quantity if using a different salt brand.
- The salad is best served fresh, as the watermelon releases juices if left to sit too long.
- Substitute pepitas with toasted pumpkin seeds for a different crunch.
- The chipotle pepper can be adjusted or omitted if less heat is desired.
Keywords: Watermelon salad, spicy salad, arugula salad, chipotle dressing, summer salad, goat cheese salad, fresh fruit salad
