Watermelon & Chile Salad 🍉🌶

This watermelon & chile salad is colorful,
refreshing, healthy & delicious!

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons lime zest

1/4 cup lime juice**

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon minced or pressed garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 fresh Anaheim pepper (1/2 cup thinly sliced & chopped)

1 fresh Serrano or jalapeno pepper (1/4 cup thinly sliced & chopped)

8 cups bite sized chunks of seedless watermelon

1/4 cup finely chopped honey roasted peanuts

2 tablespoons chopped freas cilantro

Method:

In a large bowl, whisk together the zest, juice and salt until the salt is dissolved. 

Whisk in the honey and garlic. Crush the oregano leaves in a mortar and pestle or between two spoons. Whisk the oregano and olive oil into the juice mixture.

Stir in the chiles. Fold in the watermelon chunks. Sprinkle the peanuts and cilantro over the top of the salad. Serve as a side dish or on top of grilled fish or chicken. Makes 8 1/2 cups.

**Two limes produce about 1/4 cup of juice. I purchase limes and lemons by the bag. I zest and juice the fruits. I freeze the juice in ice cube trays and then transfer to freezer bags. I also freeze the zest so that I have both on hand when needed.

Notes: My dear husband isn't very adventurous when it comes to non traditional dishes, but he really enjoyed this salad. 

I served the salad along with grilled chicken, rice and street corn salsa. Here are the links for the chicken and corn salsa salsa salad:

https://carriekitchencreations.blogspot.com/2025/07/pineapple-baked-or-grilled-chicken.html

https://carriekitchencreations.blogspot.com/2025/07/street-corn-salsa-salad.html